Editorial - Edition 2
Jeanie Farmer
So we decided to make a free magazine; spend hours telling other people about it, pester friends to write us articles, interview strangers and along the way become more and more sure that Sheffield needs more of this. More words, ideas, pictures, paintings, music, poems, opinions and enthusiasm from other people in our city. I definitely need to hear about other people doing the things that I value in my daily life. It gives me a sense of belonging to something valuable. That I’m not just a solitary bubble in the ocean of Sheffield but part of something huge, diverse and worth celebrating.
I spoke to a couple of kindred spirits running an open mic night last weekend. They wanted to help mould the section of the city they could get their hands on into a place where people think more and more. Think. If this magazine can contribute to encouraging people to think more and perhaps even go about their daily lives with a deeper sense of the worth of the community around them then we’ll have hit jackpot.
If you have an urge to contribute to encouraging thought and celebrating this city and its talents then contact us! If not then read on and hopefully we can instil some of our enthusiasm for Sheffield and its inhabitants into you...
It’s worth a try...
Words Aloud
Olivia Madin
You can’t really go wrong with poetry, people, tapas…and three minutes to have your say…..And you don’t at Words Aloud. The spoken word event held at the Runaway Girl on Arundel Street.
This Sheffield success takes place on the first Wednesday of every month, when writers, poets, musicians and anyone who has anything they want to shout to the world congregate and share their thoughts. You can test out a new piece, trial the beginning of a novel or just get that voice that’s been eating at the back of your mind out into the vibrant air of the night.
Everyone is welcome, to either perform or just listen and help shape the eclectic atmosphere. Sometimes people can get the impression that such events are for a particular elite….but it is a misconception; it is an open opportunity….and you get those vibes when you arrive. It is a social community as well as a good night out. One thought and feeling is only as valuable as the next, and our individuality is what shapes the society we live in, and this event is another way to appreciate our diverse thoughts…and recognise the similarities that make us human. It provides an excellent forum for writers who want to get their voice heard, but is equally beneficial for those who want to donate something they found scratched on the back of a bus seat.
It is about spreading the word….whatever that word may be.
Its popularity is growing and growing, and there are new faces every month….who tend to return the following month too! You can book a place, or you can just turn up on the night. The grub is pretty popular as well though, so if you want to eat, it’s recommended that you bag yourself a table in advance.
The Runaway Girl provides a brilliant venue for the cosy atmosphere of the group. If you fancy a bit to eat, their tapas is a perfect accompaniment. Entry is free and nobody is turned away!
Sheffield is a place with a vibrant pace of life….you walk around the city and you feel the buzz of lifestyles and cultures….and that is embraced in the room of the Runaway Girl on those pulsing Wednesdays! The content varies from melancholic prose to miscellaneous poetry. From humorous laughs to heart felt lines. Current trivialities to just good tunes.
So if you have something to say, shout, scream, sing….Words Aloud is the place to get it heard. It is organised by the people down at The Workshop, so if you want to find out more, they are the people to contact:
The next Words Aloud event is Wednesday 17th October at the Runaway Girl. Visit their web site for loads of poems and some pod casts
Lucci’s Geishas
James Williams
There seems to be more and more bars and cafes in and around Sheffield that are more than happy to exhibit decent artwork. This is not just great for the bars and the public that gets to see it, but also a very real way to support local artists.
If I’m totally honest I have to say I was a bit anxious when I went to meet Lucci, one of Sheffield’s resident artists. I wasn’t sure exactly what to ask her- (Her inspiration?!? Pollack or Picasso?!? Her favourite colour?!?). And I wasn’t sure if she would be happy talking to a complete stranger (albeit a friendly one).
What I was sure of was that I like her paintings and wanted to find out some more about her.
Her paintings are full of bright colours with bold clear lines that give them a certain 2-D cartoon element. The women depicted are strong and provocative. Her paintings of, what you might call, ‘21st Century Geishas’ are surprisingly sexual. There is definitely an edginess to
her paintings that I like, so, over a beer at the Lounge, we chatted about her, her paintings and what she enjoys about her artwork.
Hailing from Doncaster, Lucci always loved drawing and was encouraged to pick up a brush and palette by her granddad who was also a painter. After doing graphic design at Doncaster Collage, and Fine Art at Sheffield, she now teaches art at local schools. She started displaying some of her Geisha paintings in BrB’s a few years back and after some interest she started selling them. Having had her paintings exhibited in the Millennium Gallery, she’s currently showing some at the Lounge on West Street.
One of my first questions was what she thinks about her own artwork, I know some people say that it’s not really art, and to be honest I don’t think it is. I understand different areas of art and different concepts, but personally, I just enjoy visual images....something that has an instant impact
.
The paintings definitely have that impact, although I’d disagree about them not being art, after all, she is producing creative work.
When I ask her about what she would consider art she talks about the portraits she has done of friends, and of herself. These have a more intimate feel with softer tones and softer brush strokes. She tells me that its fun getting her ...friends painted with little mannerisms...
I ask Lucci if she minds selling something that she has created, to a stranger, especially as they might not appreciate it in the same way as she intended? This doesn’t seem to bother her as the paintings she has created of friends and keeps hold of, are more important to her than the ones she chooses to sell. In fact, so long as Lucci can paint the next one she seems happy to sell them to whoever is interested.
This, I think, is great. Lucci seems to value the process of painting above all. She sells one canvas because she wants to paint the next one. It’s fantastic that she can continue to be artistic and original.
This is definitely something worth shouting about.
The paintings in the Lounge (on West Street) are for sale, so if you like them and want to purchase you can either speak to the manager or contact Lucci direct on: luccilu@hotmail.co.uk Lucci also has a MySpace page so check that out to look at more of her paintings.
