Save UTG... more!

This is cut and paste from Dave Officer's heartfelt email - but we share his sentiments 100% - so I don't think he'd mind the direct copy!

Ok after a week of fairly outrageous propaganda from the City Square camp and Aberdeen Journals, the petition to Save Union Terrace Gardens is still outperforming the rival City Square petition.

Please if you want some information on the current situation go to: http://www.comparethesquare.com and read Fraser Denholm from I Heart UTG's blog at: http://fraserdenholm.blogspot.com/2010/02/real-architectural-blight.html

Most importantly we need signatures, so please please please sign the petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-new-contemporary-art-centre-in-union-terrace-gardens.html

If you haven't already taken part then please also take a moment to register your view on the city square consultation: http://www.thecitysquareproject.com/

if you're against it then just scroll straight to the end and select 'no' as your answer where it asks if you support City Square.

If you could please forward this onto as many people as you can and try and persuade friends, family and co-workers to sign that would be amazing. The only way to get compromise is to persuade Sir Ian and ACSEF that his 'vision' of destroying the gardens forever is not what the people of Aberdeen want.

I'm really sorry to keep harping on about it, and I know people are getting fed up hearing about it but all we have is our ability to shout. ACSEF and City Square have millions and almost £300,000 of public money to spend on persuading people to say yes to it, plus the chairmen of some of the areas biggest companies putting pressure on their employees and business partners to support the square. There's more of us though and we can shout louder! This will decide the future of our city for generations and we need to have our voices heard. We can't be bullied into letting them create real estate on our last city centre green space.

We've been told City Square will bring jobs and prosperity but everytime we've asked one simple question, how? It's never been answered.

Thanks folks

Save UTG (Union Terrace Gardens) Aberdeen

There's a bit of a stooshy going on in Aberdeen at the moment. Some people want an elegant, world class arts centre that will re-energise and invigorate the sadly dilapidated Union Terrace Gardens (to the cost of £13 million pounds - 75% of the funding is in place from many sources).

Some people want to concrete over the 6 acre site and "create a civic square to be proud of" - yes, Aberdeen's only central green space (without dead people in it!) has been earmarked to be turned into something we can't describe - as there are no solid plans for it yes - just artists impressions of slabbed expanses, unreal mature trees etc.

There are some people who don't want anything - and are happy to not have any progress in re-vitalising the gardens - a real travesty!

We are obviously on the side of the Arts Centre - after all, Aberdeen is woefully under provided with artistic venues (per capita) - not quite the same can be said for Oil related business ventures! - no wonder people think the Arts don't contribute "financially" to our economy (not that that is even a valid point, as life doesn't always have to be about profit and money and spend spend spend!).

Anyway - make up your own mind - check out the comparison site www.comparethesquare.com on the "facts" that we do know - after all - the ACSEF plans are still being visioneered and consulted on - as opposed to the PVA plans that got full planning permission and were about to be built last summer (2009) - until ACSEF & Sir Ian decided to put the breaks on that one.

New work at The Lemon Tree with Itchee Wasp

Gabi and Phil are showing new work at the group show "10 Architects" in the Lemon tree.

Architects and artists unite in an inspirational exhibition at Art @ The Lemon Tree. 10 architects, members of the Aberdeen Architects Network Group, are showcasing their designs, drawings and photographs of commissioned works in an exhibition at Art @ The Lemon Tree. During the exhibition members of the public will be able to have a one to one surgery session with one of the architects to discuss ideas and possibilities of extensions, conversions or even a new house! Architects will be available at designated times to discuss your individual planning/design problems for a small fee to be donated to charity.‘lucky dipped’ an envelope and was asked to create an artwork in their desired medium in response to the image they selected. The result is a stunning, diverse exhibition of contemporary artworks and architecture that is truly inspirational.

Don’t miss your chance to view this unique exhibition and have the chance to speak to an architect in the inspiring environment.

The exhibition previews Thursday 21 January 5.30 – 7.30pm and continues until Sunday 14 March 2010.

The exhibition is open daily 10 – 4. For details of the architect’s surgeries please phone the Lemon Tree on 01224 337652.

tfaw #50! ratmnumberone!

well, we've added a typeface in honour of the news that Rage Against the Machine knocked the x factor guff for 6 - beating it to number one in the UK charts. Hell Yeah. http://typefaceaweek.blogspot.com/2009/12/50-ratmnumberone.html

new typeface up on TFAW

number #49.... of 52! - wow! nearly there! Inspired by going to Newcastle on the dreadded A1. long drive..tired people.... go get it! http://typefaceaweek.blogspot.com/2009/12/49-tired-travel.html

TFAW featured on the Kiosque website

The fantastic website "the Kiosque" has featured our last typeface about union terrace gardens and ACSEF's plans to concrete over them (but not concrete over them, according to their publicity).

We thank the Kiosque for the support and help, and for being an upstanding organ (!) in the Aberdeen City & Shire's cultural front.

To see the article, please visit : www.thekiosque.com/2009/12/10/arts-type-casting-in-union-terrace/

Peacock class this weekend

Gabi and Phil will be running a workshop this weekend for Peacock Visual Arts for 12-16 year olds.
They will be exploring portraits without faces... utilising drawing, photography, digital and printing methods. The work will be featured in the OMG exhibition still on at Peacock's, running until 23rd December

See the making of OMG on flickr!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peacockvisualarts_printmaking/4169519814/

typeface #48 - citySquare

Philip has produced a font in reaction to the events unfolding in union terrace gardens, Aberdeen...  Worrying times for artists and creatives in Aberdeen, interested in contemporary art... do we need another car park and to destroy the only green space left in the centre of Aberdeen?...

read all about it at :
http://typefaceaweek.blogspot.com/2009/12/48-citysquare.html

gabi & Phil showing at the BV / NEOS exhibition.

Gabi and Phil will be showing some work to help raise funds for NEOS 2010 (an early start to get some extra cash to make this year bigger and better!)

The opening night is on Thursday (3rd December) at Bridge View, on Market Street (near the Tory Bridge). 6pm - 8pm. Always a fantastic opening at Bridge View!

for more info, please download the invite here

Gabi showing at teacosy too

Gabi will be showcasing more Small Stories work at Tea Cosy Too on December 5th & 6th

The highly successful venture "tea cosy" at Aberdeen royal infirmary by Aberdeen based SMart consultants is getting a second life! It will be held in the old Pier building (Belmont street) and will feature a fantastic array of local makers & artists. for more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=177358808492&index=1



or download the PDF poster from here