Best of Manchester Awards 2009
The Best of Manchester Awards
Run annually, for 3 years between 2007 – 2009. The Best of Manchester Awards celebrated innovation in art, music and fashion. Organised by Urbis and judged by a panel of industry experts, these annual awards put a spotlight on the boundary-breaking, genre defying kind of work for which Manchester has long been renowned.
The Best of Manchester Awards 2009: 24 July to 20 September
The awards were run via an online, entry based submission system and culminated in an exhibition representing the very best of our city’s creative talent, and featured mixed media works, the artists winning creations, a wider portfolio of their works as well as that of the shortlisted nominations.
“The awards are about recognising intelligence, innovation and hard work. They’re designed to support artists, designers and musicians when they need it most – and help them succeed in their creative careers. This year’s shortlist is our strongest yet – all nine nominees are ones to watch.”
- Vaughan Allen, Chief Executive of Urbis
Art winner 2009
Owl Project is an art collective comprising three artists: Simon Blackmore, Antony Hall and Steve Symons. Drawing on a wide range of influences and interests – including woodwork, hobby-style electronics and open source software – Owl Project has produced a range of semi-sculptural musical instruments that have been exhibited across Europe and premiered at events such as the Sonic Arts Network EXPO, Lovebytes and Futuresonic. These portable ‘rustic’ instruments, with names such as the iLog, m-Log and the Log1k, are working digital instruments that mimic popular handheld gadgets such as the ubiquitous iPod. The only difference is that Owl Project’s instruments are crafted from simple, untreated pieces of wood. The Log1k was Owl Project’s first such foray into art, electronics and woodwork. ‘There was something about the image of the performer standing behind a log that made us laugh,’ said the collective, describing an artwork created at a time when many musicians were using laptops during live performances. ‘But it also felt really natural to be working with the raw materials of wood, batteries and switches.’ The Log1k evolved from pastiche to an instrument capable of producing complex polyrhythms, and drew interest from musicians, designers and software developers. ‘It stands in resistance to music made within the rigid structures of commercial audio software,’ said the collective.
special commendations
Were awarded to Nick Jordan, who, with fellow artist and collaborator, Jacob Cartwright, is an artist research fellow at Manchester Museum, and Maurice Carlin, an artist who founded the Islington Mill Art Academy and co-founded the Sounds from the Other City festival.
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Music winners (jointly awarded)
In 2009, for the first time, the judges awarded a joint first place in the music category; a decision reflecting the high standard of entries and the equally impressive skills of both winners.
Jayne Compton was selected due to her diverse portfolio of work including the long-running experimental club night, Club Brenda, ‘a genuinely uncompromising underground art happening’, according to Compton, which blends live music, art and performance. Compton also won praise for her Switchflicker Records label and an upcoming Arts Council book, Strange Trees. Established in 2000, Switchflicker has given voice to some of Manchester’s most esoteric performers, such as Divine David and Chloe Poems, whilst remaining tuned into new pop talent, including 2008’s surprise hit, the Ting Tings, who launched their career at the label. Compton’s current signing, Magic Arm, is fast becoming one of the most talked about acts in the country. Compton’s ethos, follows Manchester’s punk/art tradition, fusing the contemporary art scene with the underground music scene.
Max Moran was selected by the judges for an energetic portfolio of work that includes the video-based music blog, ThisTownSounds.com, his sell-out club night, Hot Club, its laid back sister session, Hat Club and, more recently, Moran’s burgeoning record label, Hit Club. Running since 2007, ThisTownSounds has premiered White Lies’ first ever filmed interview, as well as early performances from the likes of Florence & The Machine. Moran won particular praise for his entrepreneurial attitude and his contribution to the music scene in Manchester as a whole. As well as managing much of the filming and writing for his blog, Moran also puts on club nights, handles their promotion, runs a weekly Friday night session at Trof in Fallowfield and is in the early stages of setting up a record label.
special commendations
were awarded to Paddy Steer, an ‘unsung hero’ according to one of our judges, for his contribution to the Manchester music scene over the past 25 years; and to classical composer Joe Duddell who curated (and conducted) the Elbow and Hallé Orchestra performances that formed the centrepiece of this year’s Manchester International Festival.
fashion winner
Holly Russell is an alumnus of Manchester School of Art whose shimmering, stunning graduate collection features hundreds of hand-sewn scarab beetle wings. Russell has also collaborated with a metal worker to incorporate aluminium into her designs and an astronomer to create embellished digital prints. Russell has an interest in working with unusual materials in order to create interesting surface textures, creating bold and distinctive designs in the process. Hugely ambitious but with a realistic approach to the fashion industry, Russell has already taken part in a placement at the independent label, Aminaka Wilmont and, later this year, hopes to take up an MA in Fashion Womenswear at the renowned Royal College of Art.
Lady Gaga has also requested to wear one of Russell’s designs, which featured in the show (pictured)
www.fashioncapital.co.uk/News/The_Weird_And_Wonderful_World_Of_Holly_Russell.html
A special commendation was awarded to Jen Scott-Russell, the milliner who runs the successful Northern Quarter-based shop, H’atelier.
Click Here – To see who the 2009 Best of Manchester Judges were…
Press Comments
“The best Best of Manchester Awards yet. The exhibition looks great and there was a good atmosphere at the launch”
- Kwong Lee, Castlefield Gallery
“The real winner was the ‘Best of Manchester Awards’ exhibition. The dark David Lynch-esque illustration work by Rachel Goodyear was top notch. Also, the mashup of wood, sound waves and carpentry by the Owl project was intriguing. Overall, the quality of work was brilliant – which left me feeling satisfied with that post exhibition glow you still get occasionally”
- Nick Forsberg, www.seventy6.com
“Another fine initiative from a resurgent Urbis that should be applauded.”
- Manchester Confidential
Gallery
Press Comments
“The best Best of Manchester Awards yet. The exhibition looks great and there was a good atmosphere at the launch”
- Kwong Lee, Castlefield Gallery
“The real winner was the ‘Best of Manchester Awards’ exhibition. The dark David Lynch-esque illustration work by Rachel Goodyear was top notch. Also, the mashup of wood, sound waves and carpentry by the Owl project was intriguing. Overall, the quality of work was brilliant – which left me feeling satisfied with that post exhibition glow you still get occasionally”
- Nick Forsberg, www.seventy6.com
“Another fine initiative from a resurgent Urbis that should be applauded.”
- Manchester Confidential
