ARTISTS TALKING

# 71 [27 May 2009]

Th’Arctic Artist Talk
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Thurs 4 June, 18.00-19.30
FREE, Booking required
 
Join local artist Rebecca McKnight as she discusses and reflects upon her recent Arctic expedition experiences and shares her documentary photography.  There will be an opportunity to ask Rebecca questions and wine and nibbles will be provided.
 
Please call Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery on 01254 667130 to book your place or email arts@blackburn.gov.uk
 
Venue: Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Museum Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7AJ

# 70 [24 March 2009]

Th'Arctic is on BBC Radio Manchester today at 15.10!

I'll be chating about my project and current sleep deprivation on the Becky Want Show.  Tune in to listen here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_manchester/

# 69 [24 March 2009]

Th’Arctic Artist Talk in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University
Cornerhouse, Sat 18 April, 14.00-16.00
FREE, Booking required

During this Artist event you can chat with Rebecca live on expedition via satellite connection and see other artist’s responses to Th’Arctic. The artists who are from Manchester, Brazil, Peru and Romania and studying MA's at Manchester Metropolitan University, will present artworks which have been inspired by Th'Arctic and also host a Q & A with Rebecca live on expedition.

If you can’t make it to Cornerhouse you can tune into the Cornerhouse website where the event will be streamed live via web cam. View it at www.cornerhouse.org/art at 14.00!

For more information and to subscribe to Rebecca's expedition updates see: www.tharctic.com

Please call Cornerhouse Box Office on 0161 228 7621 to reserve your place for the Th'Arctic Event.
Venue: Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH

# 68 [24 March 2009]

Th'Arctic website is now launched!  You can view it at www.tharctic.com
 
Here you will find all the info about my project and my regular journal updates throughout my time in the Arctic.
 
You can subscribe to receive my expedition journal updates if you wish by going to http://www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/mcknight/newsletter/index.php
 
And you can also send me a free text message/question from the website to my satellite phone whilst I'm on expedition in the Contact page.
 
The website has a live tracker, so you can see where I am each day on a map and it also has information of forthcoming Th'Arctic events.

Over the next two months I will be sharing my journal updates through writing, photography and sound clips and doing my best to answer people's questions.

During April and May Th’Arctic blog ‘stations’ and visual updates from my journey will be on show at Cornerhouse as part of Cornerhouse Projects, BBC Radio Lancashire and on the BBC Big Screen in Manchester's Exchange Square.

There is also a special artist talk at Cornerhouse (Sat 18 April, 14-16.00) with a group of international artists from Manchester Metropolitan University and me live on expedition via satellite phone! Check www.cornerhouse.org/th'arctic

Bye for now,.,
 

# 67 [17 March 2009]

www.tharctic.com will be going live today! hurray! :)

And tonight I'll be hosting the Th'Arctic Launch Event at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery (Tues 17th, 17.30-19.30)!

Life is very hectic at the moment in the build up to leaving for expedition.
This avo I'll be giving a talk to Peel Park Primary School in Accrington who will be trying out my expedition gear (but not the ice axe! :) and then heading over to the museum to set up for the big launch!

I'll be giving an Artist Talk, showing off my new blog, taking questions and then mingling with the event guests afterwards!

I may also be speaking on BBC Radio Lancashire's 'The Late Show' with John Barnes at 22.00! You can listen live here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_lan...

On Wednesday (18th) I’ll be giving an Artist Talk at Cornerhouse 18.00-20.00 (see www.cornerhouse.org) and then heading to the bar with guests afterwards to chat. If you'd like to attend you can reserve a free ticket by calling Cornerhouse Box Office on 0161 200 1500.

Maybe see you there!

# 66 [14 March 2009]

Th’Arctic Launch Event – Artist talk and send off!

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Tues 17 March, 17.30-19.30, Free 

Join local artist Rebecca McKnight for the launch of Th’Arctic (Lancashire for The Arctic!). 

Th’Arctic explores personal identity in relation to situation and environment and follows Rebecca’s attempt to become one of the first British people to ski up to 300 miles pulling a pulk (sledge) from Resolute Bay to Grise Fiord, the most northerly Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic.

Rebecca will discuss her project prior to her expedition, with an opportunity to give her a warm send off afterwards!  Drinks, nibbles and central heating provided! 

During April and May Th’Arctic blog ‘stations’ and visual updates from Rebecca’s journey will be exhibited at Cornerhouse, BBC Radio Lancashire and on the BBC Big Screen in Manchester's Exchange Square. 

There will also be a number of Th’Arctic events taking place, including a special artist talk at Cornerhouse with Rebecca live from her expedition! 

Visit Rebecca’s Arctic blog at www.tharctic.com for more information and to subscribe to expedition updates! 

To book for this event contact Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery on 01254 667130 or email arts@blackburn.gov.uk

Venue: Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Museum Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 7AJ

# 65 [14 March 2009]

Th’Arctic Artist Talk and Send Off

Cornerhouse, Wed 18 March, 18.00-19.30

FREE, Booking required 

Join artist Rebecca McKnight for the launch of Th’Arctic, the latest project to take place in and around Cornerhouse as part of Cornerhouse Projects. 

Rebecca will discuss her project prior to her expedition, with an opportunity to give her a warm send off in the Cornerhouse Bar afterwards! 

During April and May Th’Arctic blog ‘stations’ and Photographs of her journey will be regularly updated in the Cornerhouse foyer and on the BBC Big Screen in Exchange Square.

You can also post her messages via blog stations set up in the Bar and Gallery Reception areas.

Visit Rebecca’s Arctic blog at www.tharctic.com for more information and to subscribe to expedition updates! 

To book for this event contact Cornerhouse Box Office on 0161 200 1500

Venue: Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH

# 64 [14 March 2009]

I've been a bit quiet with my blog, but basically it's because I've been so busy!

So I've written a brief update here and will try to update my research blog a few more times before I leave for the Arctic.

RECENT TH'ARCTIC NEWS

Th'Arctic has received business sponsorship from Cotswold Outdoor for my kit, which is amazing! Cash sponsorship from Lancashire based businesses: Brick Technology, Greengates Builders Merchants and Silicone Engineering, In-kind support from my personal trainer, David Brownley from The Fitness Works and last but not least funding from No Limits for my communications equipment bought from Human Edge Technology!

It goes without saying that my project wouldn't be happening without their support, so thank you!

I'm sufferring from mega sleep deprivation right now. I'm still leading creative workshops at Collegiate High School in Blackpool two days a week, based on Th'Arctic through Creative Partnerships Lancashire and also working with a group of Manchester Metropolitan University students to design a special Cornerhouse event where they are presenting artworks they have created which are inspired by Th'Arctic and speaking with me live on expedition!  (Apr 18, 14.00-16.00)

I don't really have time to get too nervous, but I have been having mad dreams about forgetting my kit and opening suitcases filled with holey jumpers! If I'm honest though I am a bit nervous,., ;0)

Next week I have two events, one on Tues PM at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery and the other on Weds at Cornerhouse, I'm also doing a talk at Peel Park Primary School in Accrington and talking on BBC Radio Lancashire on Thursday afternoon!

No rest for the wicked as they say,., I am shattered and I haven't even started my expedition! ha ;00!)

PS You can sign up for my expedition updates by visiting www.tharctic.com and be notified when the site goes live!

Thanks for reading!

# 63 [14 March 2009]

Here's a round up of Th'Arctic Social News (Facebook)!  There are plenty of new links on the group; from documentaries about polar bears, to other explorer's websites and other sites where you can view polar photography and videos. 

CHECK OUT LINKS TO THE FOLLOWING STORIES ON TH'ARCTIC SOCIAL:

A link to British Antony Jinman's website. He's been training for his forthcoming solo expedition on Baffin Island (Canadian Arctic) with world leading Polar Instructor, Matty McNair and explorer American, Eric Larsen. Antony will be setting off on his 2-week solo expedition on Monday and apparently there is a polar bear in the vicinity. Antony however is not allowed to take a rifle, so in his words, he is taking his shovel and bear spray and hoping he won't have to use them!

British based Italian woman, Christina Franco embarked upon her solo unsupported North Pole trip, with one resupply, but had to call it a day when her stove failed to work. Without her stove she had no way of heating her tent at night, nor making any food! She's still going to go to the North Pole, but from a Russain Base and she will make another attempt next year!

British explorer Pen Hadow (first man, solo unsupported to the North Pole) has set off on his latest Arctic expedition (The Catlin Arctic Survey ) which can be followed on Google Earth.

Producer Armand Dijcks and polar adventurer Philip de Roo collaborated in the production of a video clips series covering, among other experiences, "the zen of skiing on Greenland's icecap, the fear felt during a polar storm, and the thrill of dog sledding."

I have uploaded a couple of BBC documentaries on the Arctic. One on polar bears and brown bears and the other on the Great Salmon rush in Alaska; and

The Scott Polar Research Institute in the University of Cambridge launched a brand new website where you can see loads of photographs illustrating polar exploration from the nineteenth century onwards.

Visit and Join Th'Arctic Social here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=24442663455&ref=ts

# 62 [4 February 2009]

Th'Arctic Schools Work

January has seen me begin to work with two hundred, Year 7 pupils from Collegiate High School in Blackpool.

I was asked to work with the school by Creative Partnerships Lancashire, linking my Arctic art project to their Humanities lessons (Geography, History and Religious Education).  We've been looking at Arctic exploration (what goes into the expedition preparation and life on expedition).  We've also been looking at the history and culture of the two communities I'll be visiting (Resolute and Grsie Fjord and developing creative gifts for me to give the two schools. 

I'm working with two other creative practicioners (drama) and we are focusing the workshops on developing the pupils confidence, sense of self, communication and presentation skills.