Welcome to The Settlement!!!

AN interesting exhibition is currently being held in the Community Gallery, on the 3rd floor of St. George's Hall in Liverpool. (Entrance via the museum). It largely relates to Liverpool's past, in particular to its land ownership and commoners rights and the deeds of those whose deeds allowed Liverpool's expansion. To interactions with the powers that be and to the citizens who were prepared to challenge where necessary.

This is linked to aspirations for the future and there are message boards to share memories of what once was and maybe could inform the future. People are also invited to bring photos, to use surveys and contribute their knowledge in comment books. There are facilities to allow a wide network of community based organisations and individuals to make contact with each other and to discover common ground. Everyone is invited to this special show and to leave their comments and hopes about how they see the use of open space within the area, in the future.

Do you know of any unused or misused pieces of land lying idle in your area, which perhaps could be used to grow things productively and imaginatively?

It may only be tiny, but could be better used. Who owns it?

Could it be brought to better use?

If so, this is the sort of information, which can be added.

The exhibition is free and is open every day, 10am to 5pm until 15 March 2009. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Rotheram, will be formally visiting the exhibition at 1pm on Friday, 13 February 2009. All are welcome to attend.

This exhibition is part of an ongoing programme by 'pool; the leading Toxteth based environmental arts organisation leading to The Settlement, which is being launched on 13 March, affording a space for people to come together to consider what could be possible and to exchange ideas and information.  Also to inform a future 'People Plan'. 'pool say:- "The Settlement space is for you, the community, to develop and plan over the next three months. We will liaise with the City Council and others to make the plan happen.

Settle in. - Imagine our future with other people who want to join in.

Settle down. - Everyone is welcome.

Why? - It's up to us to look after our open spaces.

How? - Challenge the status quo. Plan action. Take action."

This project has the backing of the council, who will hopefully take on board much of what transpires. There are also picnics and walks and celebrations planned which should prove well worthwhile.

Alongside the exhibition, a series of workshops are being held. They seek to involve anyone with an interest. One such workshop took place last Saturday, 7 February 2009. It was open and very friendly, but importantly did not require that attendees possessed specialist knowledge: although obviously much experience lies in the hands of the Creative Director, Jean Grant and her colleagues.

If you do decide to go along to the exhibition and hopefully to join in a workshop, the next of which is 1pm to 3pm, Saturday, 14 February 2009, you will be made very welcome.

For a much more detailed outline of this and associated project can be found online on:- poolproject.co.uk.

FASHION V SPORT

THE Walker Art Gallery William on Brown Street, Liverpool, is getting stylish this week with the opening of a new touring exhibition fresh from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A.

Exploring the relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands over the last 20 years, Fashion V Sport opens on Friday, 13 February 2009, running until 31 May 2009.

Divided into four sections, Dare, Display, Play and Desire, the exhibition guides the visitor through a range of styles, outfits and objects to reveal the creative connections which interlink factors affecting the way we dress today.

Pauline Rushton, curator of costume and textiles at National Museums Liverpool said:- “Liverpool has a reputation as a fashion conscious city and is especially well known for sports-related fashion. The influence of the street has always been very important to the city’s ‘wardrobe’ and we’re often adapting and customising trends especially where sportswear-turned-leisurewear is concerned.

From the label-obsessed football casuals on the terraces in the late 1970s and early 1980s to today’s designer-loving WAGS, we’ve been quick to create our own style. It’s therefore not surprising that the city is the first venue for this touring exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London.”

Displaying around 50 outfits and 120 objects including contemporary sportswear, streetwear, accessories and shoes, the exhibition reflects the convergence of fashion and sport, showing the extent to which designers take inspiration from each other to score hits on both the catwalks and sports fields.

Designers such as Stella McCartney, collaborating with well known sports brands like Adidas, illustrate sportswear’s popularity as a fashion statement. Fashion V Sport shows how designers such as Dries van Noten and Vivienne Westwood have
reworked original sportswear staples such as the grey jersey tracksuit, redefining them as high-end must-have fashion items.

The Dare section looks at how sportswear is rated highly as an essential part of the modern wardrobe. With the lines becoming blurred in the use of sportswear for its main purpose, sports technologies are being integrated into every day fashions, and the exhibition highlights the struggle that has developed between traditional and innovative design.

The sections Display and Play highlight the street as the most crucial space where sportwear is worn as fashion.
 
Particularly relevant to Liverpool, it is common practice to wear a t-shirt of a certain colour, not only as a piece of casual wear but also to pledge allegiance to the football team you support, therefore making the t-shirt’s purpose two-fold.

These sections trace the customisation of sports fashion including a jacket reconstructed from sections of Nike clothing by
cult designer Dr Romanelli, and show how the creativity of customizers such as I-Saw and Nash Money has been embraced by global superbrands.

Desire features examples of advertising campaigns for fashion brands, including sports personalities such as David Beckham
and David James modelling for Armani along with designer sporting accessories including a Paul Smith-designed snowboard and Chanel fishing bag.

This final section also uncovers the world of sportswear obsessive, from collectors who own hundreds of pairs of trainers,
to the Japanese fashion designer Hirofumi Kiyonaga who has created a brand named after his virtual football team ‘Football
Club Real Bristol’, for which he designs two fashion collections each year.

The exhibition is free to visit and open from 10am to 5pm every day. For more information please phone 0151 478 4199 or visit:- www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker.

Church holds Charity Auction

CHURCHTOWN'S St. Cuthbert's Church will be holding a "Charity Auction" on Saturday, 21 February 2009. The proceeds will go the Church Building Fund with priority being given to remedial work on the roof. Approximately 200 items will be auctioned starting at 10:30am. Viewing will be from 9:00am. Admission is free. For more information go to:- www.stcuthbert.org.uk.