FROM October 14-30, Firstsite art gallery in Colchester is hosting ‘Flipside’ organised by the Young Art Kommunity comprising people aged from 15 to 25.

There are parallel workshops, events and exhibitions all of which are changing as the show progresses.

The media used is also varied including visual, audio, 3D and even dance.

Even the changing exhibitions by various resident artists are dynamic and hands-on with visitor involvement.

I find this ‘take over’ of the gallery by the youth very exciting, refreshing and inspiring.

When I visited, the resident artist for the day was Tom Armstrong, who cleverly created art using table football.

Ordinary multi-coloured soft pens were attached to the footballer figurines, a paper sheet was laid underneath and as visitors played games, multi coloured tracings with various patterns were born.

Sheets of patterns produced by many games played by visitors were hung on the wall, creating a wonderful mural.

Gazette:

On the other end of the same gallery another young resident artist had produced art on the wall using ordinary multi-coloured tapes.

Here again the visitors were encouraged to contribute their own art alongside the artist’s work.

Gazette:

Both artists had used low tech approach with inexpensive, ordinary material but the results, as one can see in photos, are amazing and I find their works inspiring. The whole show is a wonderful contrast to the usual static exhibitions by established artists and highlights the potential of the youth, their clever ideas and brilliant creativity.

I thank the team of gallery staff who have enough faith in the youth to let them take over and unleash their creativity and the funding authorities who made the show possible. My hat off to the young artists whose show definitely lifted my spirit and made my day.

Wynn Aung Squirrels Field, Colchester

  • Thanks for your help and concern

PLEASE can I ask you to publish my very sincere thanks for the help given when I fell on the corner of Duncan Road, Shrub End, on October 17 around 4.30pm.

A young woman stopped in her car and several children hurried over too, all very concerned and kind. The lady and a young boy got me to my feet.

I was only a few minutes from my home and my son and daughter-in-law were soon on the scene. My main injury was a very sore knee.

Thank you so much again to the lady and children who helped me.

Doreen Thomson Willett Road, Shrub End

  • Convenient excuse for removing art

PICTURED is an artwork which I believe could grace the stairway at Colchester Library. I have entitled it ‘Censorship, October 24, Colchester Library’. I also give below a clear and succinct definition of censorship.

Gazette:

Censorship is the suppression of free speech, public communication or other information which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by governments, media outlets, authorities or other groups or institutions (source:Wikipedia).

‘The Crucifixion of Mankind’, a sculpture with Christian overtones, is considered inconvenient by our local government.

It is nothing to do with ‘remodelling the foyer’.

The blank brick wall stands as testament to that.

Surely at the very least the councillors who removed this work of art should consider the objections that have come from all quarters.

The anodyne excuses are an insult to our intelligence.

This work of art should hang in a highly visible public space - the blank wall at Colchester Library.

Ian Parker Bounstead Road, Colchester

  • I prefer town of 60 years ago

HAVING been fined £35 for not putting the correct time in my wife’s disabled badge as she popped into Boots on her way to Broomfield Hospital, we cautiously decided to use Vineyard Gate car park again.

On entering the lift, we found drink cans and food boxes and the hand rail was so sticky I had to go and wash my hands. 

On exiting the lift, we were welcomed by a busker who was singing the F-word into a microphone.

It being a nice day, we then got a meal from Boots and went to the park.

Visiting the toilets, the stench of urine burnt my eyes. 

What visitors to Colchester must think of the place, I don’t know.

Oh how we miss the Colchester of 60 years ago.

Perhaps someone can pull the old place around again. 

James Cocks Elmstead Road, Wivenhoe