Today sees the start of an important weeekend of events in the Midland’s art scene. If you have an interest in contemporary art, want to know more about some of the best artists the West Midlands has to offer, art interested in collecting art or have a view on the scene then the Art of Ideas is for you.

There will be a number of events happening around some of the West Midlands’ cultural centres, including Grand Union in Digbeth, Ikon Gallery, mac at Cannon Hill Part, New Art Gallery Walsall and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

A special publication devoted to developing collections of art in the private, corporate and public sectors has also been launched. The magazine contains a range of essays and texts to help strengthens connection between the West Midlands and the national and international art markets, developing business both with and in the region.

You can view the publication here…

The weekend of events have been introduced to help people kick-start their own collections and where better to get involved than picking some top pieces from your own backyard? To learn more about the artists and what is going, there will also be a chance to pick up an exclusive Arts of Ideas publication, giving a background and breakdown of what is going on as well as advice on where and how to start collecting.

The Witching Hour
Curated by Matthew Collings and Matt Price
Waterhall Gallery, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
11-14 November 2010

What happens in the depths of the night is unearthed in this exhibition curated by TV broadcaster Matthew Collings and writer Matt Price. Photography, painting, sculpture, printmaking, film and animation are used to explore darkness and the uncanny through the work of over 20 artists from, or based in, Birmingham and the West Midlands.

The exhibition includes internationally renowned artists such as Gillian Wearing, Idris Khan, George Shaw, Hurvin Anderson, Richard Billingham and Roger Hiorns, along with emerging artists such as Tessa Farmer, Stuart Whipps, Juneau Projects and Harminder Singh Judge, and offers the perfect chance to see some of the region’s finest talent up-close.

You can view The Witching Hour catalogue here…

Other events include:

Collection Intervention by ‘Laundry’
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
11-14 November
Multi-disciplinary artist group Laundry have been commissioned to create a site-specific intervention within one of the art collection galleries. The project aims to engage directly with the concept of collecting and explore the link between historical collections and contemporary artists.

Pennies into Pounds: Getting your Audience to Give
mac
12 November 2.30-4.30pm
Arts and Business guest speakers consider the rising importance of philanthropy and individual giving for arts organisations.
To book a place email katja.ogrin [@] artsandbusiness.org.uk or call 0121 238 1200.

What is an Art Collector?
Ikon Gallery
12 November 6.30-8.30pm
A discussion about private and domestic collections chaired by Matthew Collings
To book a place email katja.ogrin [@] artsandbusiness.org.uk or call 0121 238 1200.

Grand Union Editions
Grand Union, Fazeley Street
12 november 7.30pm till late
The launch of the new Grand Union Editions patrons scheme, with a talk by Jamie Shovlin, Mike Harte and Euan Rodger.
To book a place for the talk email info [@] grand-union.co.uk

In Conversation with … Paul Hedge
New Art Gallery Walsall
13 November 3-5pm
Join Jo Digger, Head of Collections, and Paul Hedge, Director of Hales Gallery, London, for a discussion on public and private collecting and the relationship between artists, dealers and collectors.

The Future of Public Collections, Collecting and Spending £1m
Ikon Gallery
13 November 6.30-8.30pm
Professor Chris O’Neil, Executive Dean of Birmingham City University, chairs a discussion about the future of public collections, the Art Fund International award and a major new public collection for the region.
To book a place email katja.ogrin [@] artsandbusiness.org.uk or call 0121 238 1200.

Brokerage, Endorsement and Representation
BIAD, Birmingham City University
14 November 3-5pm
A discussion for artists and visual arts organisations on how to navigate the sometimes impenetrable contemporary art world, chaired by Wendy Law of Turning Point West Midlands.
To book a place email katja.ogrin [@] artsandbusiness.org.uk or call 0121 238 1200.

Both the publication and catalogue are for sale. If you would like to know more please email info [@] fusedmagazine.com for details.

When discussing portraiture, people continually refer to seeing into the soul of the person captured, but what if the focus is less on individuals and more on contemporary issues around identity, history, culture and representation? Behind the Mask, one of a series of portraiture exhibitions at The New Art Gallery Walsall this Summer, brings together the work of 10 diverse artists that employ a wide-range of media, from performance to painting.

In her latest photographical series, Cindy Sherman represents the lengths women of wealth and status will go to respond to the media pressure to remain young and beautiful, whilst Glenn Brown’s etchings layer works by Lucien Freud, to challenge the perceptions of well-known imagery.

Faye Claridge (image above) consistently engages with portraiture within her work. This series see Morris men, women and children photographed in their full traditional regalia with elaborate costumes and props, sometimes with their faces covered or blacked-up.

This exhibition also includes the work Self-Portrait as my Uncle Bryan Gregory by Gillian Wearing. The work is drawn from the Album series in which the artist has represented herself as different members of her family including her mother, father, sister and brother as well as herself.

Behind the Mask’s artists distort and disguise to create compelling works of art that challenge traditional stereotypes, and break down the presumptions society has of topics and portraiture itself.

The New Art Gallery Walsall, Gallery Square, Walsall, WS2 8LG
01922 654400
Until 12 September

Welcome to the (not at all) spooky Fused Halloween mixtape. Shiver to the sounds of The Make Up, Daniel Johnston and The Cramps, Quake in your boots to the spine chilling sounds of The Birthday Party, The Specials and Thee Oh Sees. Keep on Destroying all monsters and keep on fighting satan kids!

If you are stuck for ideas on what to do this Halloween Weekend then here are our picks…

Celebrate Halloween with killer style this year at The Flapper in Birmingham, in all it’s ghoulish glory!

The Halloween party on Saturday 31st starts from 7pm until 3am giving you plenty of time to get your claws into free vodka jellies, sweets and cupcakes which will be available all night!

Get your costumes sorted in time, as the photographer will be snapping the best looks. There’ll be music from the resident DJ, as well as live music from Just Like Jimmy, LYU and Morgue Orgy in the dungeon. Entry to The Flapper, which is on Kingston Row and five minutes from Broad Street is free, with entry to the gig at £5.

The House of Fairy Tales ‘Travelling Art Circus’ comes to Gallery Square, Walsall on Halloween from 11am – 11pm.

Founded by artists Gavin Turk and Deborah Curtis the launch event will take place over the Halloween weekend around the square outside and throughout the New Art Gallery Walsall building. There will be over 60 artists and performers from all over the country taking part in this celebration of all things dark and ghoulish.

Join in the feast of spit roasts and miniature toffee apples served from the Witches Gingerbread House as a series of characters welcome you to the past. Visit the haunted fairground with its sideshow booths and games. There are lots more things taking place including a lantern parade at 6pm. Visit thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk and www.houseofairytales.org for more information.