Weekly events and exhibitions - 24 - 29 June
We can’t believe that we’re already nearly at the end of Blast! Festival! It’s been a fantastic journey, and we’re looking forward to this last week’s programme of events. There’s still time to visit exhibitions across the six towns of Sandwell, with exhibitions open until 29 June 2019. For a full list of artists exhibiting work throughout the Festival, you can download the brochure or visit the artist pages.
This week, Blast! Festival of Photography, Talks and Walks comes to a close while shining a light on the town of Wednesbury, with artist talks, panel discussions, poetry readings, workshops, guided walks and film screenings to attend. Visit the Five Decades of Self Portrait exhibition at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery while you’re there, showcasing photography by David Attie and The Handsworth Self Portrait Project.
WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE
Artist Talk: Dawinder Bansal
Join Dawinder Bansal 'in conversation' with a dynamic guest panel of South Asian women who are passionate about cars, driving and influencing social change for South Asian girls and women in the UK and India.
Time: 6PM - 8PM
Location: Town Hall, West Bromwich, B70 8DY
Free event / Book here
FRIDAY 28 JUNE
Workshop: Niall McDiarmid
An amazing opportunity to discover Niall McDiarmid’s secret to approaching and photographing people in the street, after which he will challenge participants to make their own portraits.
Time: 10.30AM - 4.30PM
Location: Wednesbury Library, Wednesbury, WS10 9EH
£20PP / Book here
Celebrate Sandwell
A fun event showcasing a wide range of local organisations and community groups in Sandwell. For Blast! Festival, local students will run a pop-up photo booth.
Time: 11AM - 3PM
Location: Town Hall, West Bromwich, B70 8DY
Free event / No booking required
Panel discussion: Photography for Whom?
Join Anthony Luvera (artist, writer and educator), Janice McLaren (The Photographers’ Gallery) and Brian Homer (artist) for a panel discussion in celebration of the launch of Photography For Whom? – a new periodical focused on socially-engaged photography. Published biannually, Photography For Whom? seeks to shine light on significant yet overlooked work of the past and to generate debate about contemporary practice. Photography For Whom? is edited by Anthony Luvera, supported by Grain and Multistory.
Time: 6PM - 8PM
Location: Former Poundland, West Bromwich, B70 7NN
Free event / Book here
Poetry reading: Ere We Bin
Brendan Hawthorne presents Ere We Bin, top notch spoken word, poetry and acoustic moosic. Be transported to places only a live show can take you!
Time: 7.15PM - 9PM
Location: Wednesbury Library, Wednesbury, WS10 9EH
SATURDAY 29 JUNE
Workshop: Brendan Barry
A photography workshop led by artist Brendan Barry in his Caravan Camera, where you can experience a range of photographic analogue processes from start to finish.
Time: 10AM - 3PM
Location: Wednesbury Market, Wednesbury, WS10 7HB
Free event / No booking
Portfolio review
An opportunity for emerging artists to gain advice from a selection of photographers, curators and reviewers on how to develop their photography career. In association with GRAIN.
See website for application details.
Time: 10AM - 5PM
Location: Wesley Methodist Church, West Bromwich, B70 8ND
£25 / 18PP / Book here
The Great Barnfield Rambles
A guided walk of the haunts of artist and local legend, Fred Barnfield, culminating in live music at Brunswick Park’s bandstand played by students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, with cake and cold refreshments.
Time: 12PM - 4PM
Location: Meet at Wednesbury Library, Wednesbury, WS10 9EH
Free event / Book here
Centrala Discussion Film Club: Dziennik z podróży (A Diary of a Journey)
Join Centrala for their discussion club with the screening of Dziennik z podróży (A Diary of a Journey) from 2013, directed by Piotr Stasik. Tadeusz Rolke, an aged master of Polish photography, has more than just a typical teacher-student relationship with 15-year-old Michal. Together, they travel across Poland to take portrait photographs of the residents of small towns and villages while the dark room placed in their camper enables them to develop pictures on the spot and give them to the models who they meet accidentally. For the boy, this is an excellent opportunity to find out about the arcana of traditional photography. For both – an opportunity to experience a beautiful friendship.
Time: 1PM - 3PM
Location: West Bromwich Central Library, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ
Free event / Book here
Blast! Closing Party with The Caravan Gallery
A final chance to make your mark on The People's Map of Sandwell and admire the finished exhibition in a festive atmosphere! Refreshments and entertainment provided; all welcome!
Time: 6PM - 9PM
Location: Former Poundland, West Bromwich, B70 7NN
Free event / No booking required
Highlights from other towns include: Girl Gaze: Journeys Through the Punjab and the Black Country, UK; Polska Britannica // Stories of Home by Czesław Siegieda and Jon Tonks; Tipton Carnival Queens Shine Again by Erik Kessels; The Caravan Gallery; Five Decades of Self Portrait; Faye Claridge's Parody Pies; The Exiles by Billy Dosanjh; Black Country Sikhs; Mitti Di Kushboo - The Smell of the Land by Jaskirt Boora; Homemade in Smethwick by Liz Hingley.
If you’re making a weekend of it and are not local, our recommendations about where to eat and drink can be found here and the Premier Inn on the High Street in West Bromwich is the closest accommodation to the festival activities.