It's the last week of term and Christmas, for many of us, is just around the corner. We in the Expressive Art department would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope you all have a great but productive break. Spend time with family, speak to your friends and be mindful, some won't be having the same joyous experiences as you, hopefully will. Let's all be supportive, present and aware to ensure everyone gets a little bit of joy during this holiday period.
In Expressive Arts component 1 has 3 weeks left on our return and so we will need to ensure we are ready to hit the ground running when we get back. You'll all have targets to do following Assessment 4, give yourself some time off and then chip away each day, so it is not a giant chore at the end. Some great work has been happening so far this year, culminating in many of you being part of the Bolton Open, a great achievement. Today's blog is a Christmas Special with loads of cool things to see, watch and explore. Could some of it help develop ideas going forward into the new year.
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS ART
Home for Christmas, saw Tate Britain covered in shop bought Christmas lights, to celebrate the creativity of the unknown artists, weather that be the making of the lights or the decoration of thousands of homes with Christmas decorations. A salute to the everyday person, to keep going and stay creative.
Magnum Photos: Christmas Lights: The Garish and Gleeful
Above is an image by Photographer Martin Parr, featured in this Magnum Photos blog, where the world's most famous photographers have lovingly documented the amazing lights people put up at Christmas, whether you like it or not, they are often incredible feats of Creativity and engineering, celebrated above by Alex Kane.
Peter Brugel the Elders painting Census at Bethlehem, 1566 (Picture Left)
In 1566 Peter Brugel, made a politic statement about the state of the nation, as taxes rose and those who were in need were tossed aside. He hid the message in a Christmas story, juxtaposing Flemish life with that of Jesus' birth. A scene, you can argue would also reflect the UK in 2022.
Fiona Banner Christmas Tree 2007
Fiona Banner decorated a Christmas Tree at the Tate in 2007 with fighter jets, to reflect the 123 different types of fighter jets in the world today. In this time of peace, many people don't have that luxury, living in fear of attack. In some cases, from their own governments.
There are many more, you can strat by looking at the Tate's Website here and find your own interests, from Abstract to cartoon, to traditional with a twist.
Between the lines: I'll share some of my favourite alternative Christmas hits from across the years. Something for everyone hopefully. Starting with Indy brilliance from the The Strokes' Front man. there are selection of 30 on Esquire.com too, if you wanted to explore even more.
PENTAGRAM CHRISTMAS CARDS
Each Christmas, Pentagram, the home to the world's best graphic designers, designs and publishes a small book and sends it to a very select group. Intended to provide diversions during what, for many, can be a hectic period, the booklets traditionally avoid any direct reference to the festive season, adopting a strong graphic vocabulary, setting them apart from the myriad of cards received at this time of year. Since John McConnell's first design in 1974, they've grown to become a cult collectors' item.
A classic in our house, a modern take (in the 80s) of a BAch Christmas Classic.
FILM: KRAMPUS
I'm going to share a couple of my favourite Alternative Christmas films. The first being Krampus. This film about the shadow of Santa, who comes after children who don't believe or are naughty, stems from folklore. The trailer makes it look terrifying but it is a horror comedy, with monsters who are demonic toys. It's great!
Highly reccomended and is available on Netflix how.
The best of the christmas songs, for me currently. A lovely happy song, to celebrate the new year.
FILM: RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE
Another horror comedy with a political message of sorts. When a Finnish town begin to mine the local mountain, lots of strange things start to happen. When the children start to go missing, everyone assumes they are out playing, then a sinister Santa Claus is caught which begins a much more serious wave of events.
A brilliant film again, acted with enough humour to fit the absurd nature of the plot but done seriously enough that it is serious and believable.
Here is the trailer which is also a parody of other Christmas films and does not reflect the tone or nature of the film. It's available on Amazon, as far as I can see, but it is 12 years old so there will be other avenues to find too.
Others worth a watch, which I have featured previously. Klaus (Netflix) Gremlins 2 and of course Die Hard (though, not technically a Christmas film)
A new one for me this, only discovered yesterday when listening to The Guardian Football podcast. It's The Fall, so pugnacious, exciting and raw. Also not very Christmassy! HAHA!
TV: ALL ABOARD: THE GREAT REINDEER MIGRATION
This great programme is part of the BBC's Slow TV programme. Designed to be on in the background and relax you whilst, entertaining and informing you about what is happening and why. A camera is mounted on a sleigh and you watch as you explore this winter paradise.
Loads of beautiful imagery and nature, a great relaxer, on Boxing day maybe?
Watch this capitvating and relaxing spectacle here.
When Bob Dylan released his Christmas Album years ago, I thought it was really quite strange. However, this one is an absolute banger! 2 minutes of pure joy.
When the school choir did this at my old work, it became an instant Christmas Hit for me and my friends. It brings back great memories of the brilliant performance and our joyous renditions thereafter.