Peoples Republic of South Devon

Umbrella Factory - art review

September 26th, 2008

Umbrella Factory Event, The Hub, Exeter, September 25, 2008
by Butterside Down

Desolate tearooms by Butterside Down

.

The last few days have seen me struggling with so-called ‘quick and simple’ clip frames in an effort to have some sort of exhibition ready for September’s Umbrella Factory event, marking the first birthday of the organisation celebrated for promoting a thriving arts and culture community in the heart of Exeter.

Typically off to a smooth start, as soon as I got there I bent down to pick up a photo and my debit card snapped in my pocket. I lurched away, hand over my hip as though I’d had an embarrassing ‘little accident’ in a bizarre anatomical mix-up. Thankfully, impossibly skinny uber-cool type Phil Wyatt was there to save me from further mishap as he put up my photos for me, although the size of the nails meant that most of them hung at a jaunty angle several centimetres from the wall.

“Oh dear, that’s not straight is it?” murmured Phil, chewing a nail. I shrugged: ”It’s probably alright as long as they don’t fall off,” and wandered to the bar. Thankfully, when I returned he’d performed some technical miracle with the hammer and all photos were hanging straight and looked, though I say it myself, pretty good.

The Hub (formerly Three Fat Fish) is one of those industrial-looking places shrouded in dim lights and decked out in punkish colours that makes you feel as though you’re underground even though you aren’t. An edgy yet unpretentious open space transformed into an eclectic showcase of new artistic, musical, and even (as the clientele filtered in) sartorial talent. A testament to the anarchistic interior is a blue plaque by the door which simply states:
‘Sid Vicious
1957 - 1979
Punk Rocker
Gobbed Here.’

The live entertainment part of the evening kicked off with Steve Smith (44), who has been a performance poet ever since a CND benefit gig in Poole in 1982. His moon and water-themed spoken words were enhanced on this occasion by improvised instrumental backing by Tom Harrisson and Laurence Foster, and his narrative-poetry performances often feature a versatile mix of musicians from Native American flute players to classical violins.

A surrealist touch was added with Maddie’s Mobile Makeovers, a complimentary service including chill-out treatments, free tic-tacs and ‘Tie massage’, which turned out to be a light head and shoulder rub whilst, that’s right, wearing a tie. Several merrymakers gathered round to watch as a faintly-smiling man donned a pair of sunglasses and headphones in preparation for a ‘chill-out session’, and was anointed with relaxing scents and gently wafted with a newspaper as he listened to tranquil music.

Benoit Bennet (aka Object) was much in evidence as he was also exhibiting new artwork having recently returned from driving through Europe. The 24-year-old describes his art as ‘instinctive doodling’ and his distressed urban pieces are mostly created from scrap materials and other people’s rubbish. Not always intended for pure visual enjoyment, his work can carry more serious social statements, such as the privacy-themed piece ‘Complacency is Complicity’.

I briefly caught up with main event organiser Matt Ashford on my way to the bar. Commenting on the success of the Umbrella Factory’s first birthday, he said: ”These things never go exactly to plan but really that’s kind of cool. I think it’s going ok, it’s great to see so many people here.’ He soon disappeared into the crowd to organise the auction, in which artwork was being sold in aid of charity Hospice. Organiser Phil Wyatt was equally thrilled: ‘It’s a great turnout tonight, we spent a lot of time redecorating and making it look nicer, the only down note is having to introduce this new on-the-door charge but putting on these events does cost us. It’s hard work but I can’t wait for the AllHallowsEve event next month.’

Sadly, I had to leave before Finn Fintain and Kid Klanny, epic 80s duo Choirpad (unmissable in blindingly shiny clothing and a tonne of waterproof mascara), sent us back to the good ol’ shoulder-pad days with their singing time warp. I packed up my pictures and left them to the relaxed, appreciative crowd in the Hub where a good time, as they say, was being had by all.

The next Umbrella Factory event takes place at the Hub, Exeter, on October 30.

Butterside Down 2008.

Image is copyrighted to Natasha Kuler-von-der-Luhe, Butterside Down Ltd

.
Related articles

%RELATEDPOSTS%

Get all the latest, subscribe to the People’s Republic of South Devon

———————————————————————————–

————————————————————————————

Random Posts:

• Poetry in motion
• Jump for the Joy Collective
• The Yeats connection
• Arthouse roundup: Nov 3-9
• Unholy launch

Entry Filed under: Arts