Papergirl Cardiff is back again this year, organised once again by a collaboration of ThinkARK members, Cycle Training Wales and The PrintHaus arts collective and print studios.
Papergirl is a global art and cycling event that originated in Berlin following a city council ban on flyposters. Papergirl events are also happening this year in Dublin, Leeds, Birmingham and Brisbane, with more being announced monthly.
The general idea of Papergirl is the distribution of free, original artwork to the general public by bicycle. Artwork is donated by professionals and amateurs alike, exhibited and then distributed to random people on the city streets.
Last year Papergirl Cardiff distributed 300 pieces of artwork over the course of an hour long bike ride through the city. People who took part in the ride last year really enjoyed themselves but wished that the ride was longer. So this year we need even more artwork submissions!
We try to get as many people involved as possible, contacting artists, galleries, schools and colleges and putting out world-wide calls for artwork. We also run half-term print workshops at The PrintHaus to give children a chance to submit artwork and learn about screen printing.
If you would like to get involved in Papergirl Cardiff 2012 or would like more information check out the blog http://papergirlcardiff.blogspot.com
Last Thursday we had an initial meeting about running Trade School Cardiff. Trade School Cardiff will be running from May 12th-20th, which coincides with Adult Learners Week.
What is Trade School?
Trade School is an informal learning event at which those wishing to learn barter for the knowledge of those willing to teach.
Why Trade School?
Trade School puts a value on all type of knowledge, skills and experience. It promotes the belief that everyone has something valuable they can share with other people, and encourages learning and the exchange of ideas in an environment of mutual self respect.
How does Trade school work?
Anyone who wishes to share a skill or knowledge with a group of people registers to run a class in exchange for goods. Those wishing to learn bring along the goods required by the 'teacher'. Trade School Cardiff will have a special page on the Trade School website on which people can register classes or sign up for classes. Any type of skill, knowledge or experience can be shared as long as it is not about exploiting other people or the promotion of a business.
Who can get involved?
Everyone from any background, community or age group can get involved as long as they are prepared to respect everyone else taking part.
What kind of knowledge can you share at Trade School?
For anyone who's interested in getting involved in Trade School Cardiff, there will be an opportunity to put thoughts and ideas together next week on Thursday 12th of April. Come to the Owain Glyndwr pub on St. John St in Cardiff city centre from 7-9pm to find out more about the project and see how you or other people can get involved as organisers, teachers or learners.
We thought we would look at an old game and make it that bit tougher. Fancy an egg and spoon race but with space hoppers thrown into the mix?
Your chance to relive those sports day challenges.
Game designers
yellobrick
Game Type
12+
Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself and your game face
We hope you can join us for drinks after the days exertions.
ThinkARK will bring along a Story Car and invite passers-by to contribute to a story pieced together from anyone willing to take part. We will ask people to build stories on a theme revealed on the day and encourage the inner storyteller to emerge.
Put 15 April in your diary – and come along on the day at the Art Car Bootique - more info about the event here: http://www.chapter.org/22325.html
Milkwood Gallery, 11 March 2012 3pm-6pm
For International Women's Day this year, ThinkARK will be running a workshop at Milkwood Gallery using Barbie dolls to explore our own and prevailing attitudes to the female body.
Playing with Barbie dolls as a child is a happy memory for many women.The Barbie Hack is intended as a playful way to encourage people to consider popular views and ideas about the female form, and to challenge those Frankenstein forms presented to us by mass media. Poor Barbie is a representation of what the media tells us we should be - to the extent that her feet were moulded into a permanent tip-toe stance ready for her stilettos!
Come along to Milkwood Gallery on 11th March and mould Barbie into a shape that more accurately represents you. Following the event, the hacked Barbies will be on display at Milkwood Gallery.
Introducing Barbie...
Created in 1959, Barbie is the best-selling fashion doll of all time.
Hello game lovers!
We had so much fun last year running our games festival that we have reached for our fun calendar and set a date for 2012. We can now announce that we will be running the playARK Alternative Olympic games on.........(epic drumroll).........Saturday 7th July.
The festival will be packed with our usual exciting menu of pervasive games, digital games and board games featuring some oldies and some crazy new games including Space Hopper Sports.
We are looking for game designers and creators to submit their games to be part of this year's festival. We are looking for all kinds of games from street games to board games - let your imagination run free. Deadline for submissions is Friday 8th June.
Check out the highlights from last years festival:
PlayARK Game Festival, Games, October 2011 from Jorge Lizalde on Vimeo.
If you want to submit a game or want to find out more information about this year's festival please contact (me) Allie at alison.john@ark-lab.co.uk
Just putting a note in here, the digital equivalent of sticking a twig in the sand.
Gareth at Welsh ICE would like to discuss the possibility of running games at the official opening of the Welsh ICE in April. A huge big empty building to play with!!! Hmmmm... Gareth will make it down to ARK sometime soon to talk about this. So this is just a heads-up.
Also, because I said I'd mention it to you guys and then *completely forgot*, he showed me an app called Aurasma - https://twitter.com/#!/aurasma and http://www.aurasma.com/what-is-it - it could be put to very good use in games... (provided the wifi coverage is decent).
Signing off for now. x
Why not come along to our meeting on Wednesday evenings and see how you can get involved! Click here to view our calendar.
