Gallery 31: Find Falmouth within Falmouth

20 May 2010



New gallery opens on Arwenack Street



Gallery 31 opens on Friday 28th May 2010 with a huge range of fantastic affordable prints ranging from £5 to £90. Showcasing local artwork and hoping to build relations with the students of University College Falmouth the gallery is set to provide an array of prints for everyone’s taste.

Proud ties: Martin Trevorrow, owner of Gallery 31, stands by his mother's artwork in the gallery.



Gallery 31 on Arwenack Street is the new art venture of Martin Trevorrow, although he doesn’t start his adventure alone, his family are completely behind him. His uncle and aunt own Gallery 38 in St Ives where his father also works and his mother Judi Trevorrow exhibits some of her own renowned work in both galleries.



“The best thing is being able to work with family,” explains Martin as he looks around the shop as friends paint the walls ready for the imminent opening. “Not only can I show my mother’s work but I am with my uncle and father doing the same as they do in St Ives with Gallery 38.”



If you are in need for something to finish off any home, guest house, hotel or if you want to give a special present to someone you love why not go to Gallery 31 for a beautiful print; with such a range in stock there is sure to be something for everyone. If you are not ready for a piece of wall art just yet then make sure you browse the exquisite handmade jewellery or silk scarves on display.



The Trevorrow family are also very keen to accept new work from local talent to provide tourists with knowledge of the area around the gallery that only a resident’s pencil can capture. Knowing that the University College Falmouth is maturing many fine artists and craft artists into graduation they are keen to see their work as well.



Gallery 31 is sure to become a wonderful link to Falmouth talent for all that visit.



ENDS.



Press Contact Natalie Venning natalie.venning@gmail.com



Gallery Contact Martin Trevorrow gallerythirtyone@aol.com 01326 210036



Notes to Editor



Gallery 31 is owned by Martin Trevorrow who has not been in the art industry before now but is working alongside uncle Bryan Trevorrow who owns the locally popular Gallery 38 on the Wharf at St Ives.



Gallery 31 will be open ten am till five pm Monday to Saturday. It also will be open Sundays ten till four. There will be limited and open edition prints in stock with or without frames, also jewellery and silk scarves will be on display and for sale.



If anyone takes own work into the gallery and Martin feels it would benefit the gallery there is a chance that he can publish and get prints licensed. The artist would receive money from the sale minus a commission for selling through the gallery.



Martin Trevorrow’s mother, Judi Trevorrow, is a popular local artist who showcases and sells her work in her families’ galleries as well as lectures on art courses. www.juditrevorrow.com

Guest Speaker: Connor Nolan

Connor Nolan


CNC- Connor Nolan’s Company

www.Connornolan.co.uk



As we approached our first guest speaker lecture we found Mr Nolan idly chatting with our tutor awaiting our arrival. He smiled as we walked in ahead of the clock, exclaiming that the essence of a good PR is punctuality.

A short biography of the man with the business studies degree who now specialises in entertainment, retail and leisure PR with clients such as American Airlines, Harrods, Holly Valance and Warner Village Cinemas started the lecture.

Nolan explained that we are now in the business to create news headlines. This may seem obvious but his use of ‘create’ was the important part. It is part of our description that we make a news item, so we have to find a way to make something, or someone news worthy. His example was a case study of Holly Valance. After leaving Neighbours TV programme to further her pop career in 2002 she managed to get a few top ten singles from her debut album and even a number one, but by 2003 her fame dwindled. Nolan then took over in 2003 and secured her a deal with Schwarzkopf hair colourant. This showed us that we don’t just make information for the press we create the source. Holly Valance has now graced every glossy magazine and tabloid and is now in major motion picture roles.

A similar re-launch of the band ‘Bond’ was done too. Bob Carlos Clarke an erotic but extremely stylish photographer was called in for the transition to CNC in 2004 from 2001. Nolan also made them brand ambassadors for LaRedoute catalogue to make more headlines and reputation.

Nolan was not subtle with his name dropping, and by the time he began his anecdotes of AlFayed we all knew he was just proud of his achievements. But it never made him seem arrogant. He held himself well but he was proud of his clients as well as his company, note company not self. He was enthusiastic but it was through his passion which created a sense that he was indeed a good professional.

Praise for Mr Nolan was that between all of his case studies he told us he gave a reason for telling them and gave a tip each time, like nostalgia is a good selling point particularly in music, where we should go to get the higher money and to get paid upfront in independent films.

A good PR and a good lecturer. Mr Nolan’s guest lecture was enjoyable.

JSM 1002 Approches to Journalism: Fiona Hackney

There should be a rule for students that at least five hours sleep is mandatory before attempting lectures within twenty four hours. On this one fine occasion I ignored my own advice and thought I could fight the yawns, what ensued was an intriguing evening lecture where Ms Hackney’s utterances didn’t quite match up either side of black spots in my memory.


Ms Hackney was presenting from her PhD thesis ‘They Opened Up a Whole New World’: Feminine Modernity and Women’s Magazines, 1919-1939.’ She opened with explaining the role of magazines and their subtle effects on readers. She said that Anderson’s ‘imagined community’ played a vital role to create a sense of familiarity with readers and the magazine creators; it begins to show them how they relate to each other and how they have a mutual understanding on lifestyles. Realising the implications of this concept led me to think about how any magazine could create its own cult just because of the intimacy of shared interests and the diverse distribution that they can obtain.

Moving on from femininity in my mind it would seem that we praise magazines for their services that they provide for our social characteristics in the community. Ms Hackney even professed this point, stating the sections that magazines frequently feature such as sport, home, safety, fashion, etc. They were used as entertainment and a place of reference.

She continued on with how in modern versions of news and magazines we will see ordinary women used more so than celebrities unless it is a feature or specific promotion, although these are balanced with equal ordinary women too. Ordinary being defined as a woman who is not famous or had previous exposure to the press. Her reason was that the use of ordinary will attract ordinary, who make up the vast quantity of the public, and that is where the profit will come.

Hackney stated that magazines were made to the notion of Herrick, 1939 “Sell each page and subject through eye appeal.” This meant that aesthetics would have to be desirable on all levels from the graphics to the model. Obvious it seems but it was important for her later points.

Her thesis though was about the comparison to magazines from the 20s and feminine culture now. She explained to us that married women were actually forced to leave employment if they were married up until the 1950’s due to the ‘marriage bar.’ It was so that the wife could concentrate on keeping her husband happy.

It then went to human rights for equality; with many adverts about careers appearing in all magazines, but Hackney noticed a trend in contemporary articles where housekeeping women were being shown as more inspirational and portrayed similarly to movie stars but in their own homes. Her conclusions of these effects were interesting as it makes us remember what a fight was made to create our balance of men and women careers to now want to return to what was forced upon us by choice.

Hackney, to me, was strategic in her definitions as she presented her thesis, and made valid points throughout.

JSM 1002 Reflective Writing

Academia requires a student to learn to filter opinion and to take an objective view of the life and world around them. After this the authorities will demand personality within the text; this can be confusing and many students fumble with keeping it objective but individual, alas, it is possible and frequently students to succeed.

Yet the final curse of academia is to request an emotional outpour of reflective writing. What, may it be asked, does one write about when there is only the numbness?

Often the feedback of work is due to my love of circumlocution, a most wonderful way to dance with words. As amusing as it can be for small-scale writing projects it seems it is the enemy to academia. Needless to say, it makes you want to incorporate this style into essays more so when annoyed at the questions.

Talking of enemies, grammar is mine. I become irate just thinking about it, I do not care for it. People have tried to explain it to me many a time but it washes through my mind, leaving nothing but boredom; I continue to hope that writing just gets better with practise. I already know that this essay will annoy most people. “Your sentences are too long” and “It doesn’t make sense” are frequent remarks from an English degree studying friend.

It was desired from Anna that we take the Honey and Mumford learning styles questionnaire; the results portrayed me as a reflector learner. Defining this is to believe that I work better looking back over my work and others and drawing up conclusions and thoughts. One would believe that this essay would appeal to me. Alas, life is not so simple. I am vain in the traditional mirror way, but when the reflection comes back to my work I would rather forget and break the bonds. I have realised with some passion I detest academic work. Yet I love writing, giving informed opinions, reading and article/feature writing. But I just cannot stand essays, even if the topic is something I like.

Here we see my weakness. I am not the greatest writer, I admit, you can enjoy something without being very good at it. But that is not my weakness, but my disability to go for help when I so obviously need it is. “Don’t be too proud to accept help,” My mother has told me off for; easy to say, but I do not want to burden others with my menial woes. Most of all though I refrain from seeking help so as not to appear inferior.

To understand a broken mind is to follow the cracks, a depressive attitude can be easily covered with a laugh. Such as when the wind blows a flower, you would not see the detail on the petals, just the affirmation of colour dancing, looking pretty. You wouldn’t see the decay, the death of the flower that plagues almost every petal you look at. My lowest point in this course is the continual fear that haunts me. I am petrified that I am not good enough, that I will fail, my family has never made it to university, I am the first, and every day I think is there a reason for that. I absolutely adore the knowledge, and the course as a whole is delightful to be on, I honestly feel in the right place. But I can’t escape that fear, it makes me hide away from the responsibility, and life doesn’t wait around. It will leave you behind if you don’t keep up. And I am barely holding it in view as I try to catch up.

But life is not lived alone. My high points are the people. Every person I have met has helped me in some way. Be it Emma who shares my hatred of essays and love of writing, who will always laugh and doodle through the boredom with me. Be it Jon, who unknowingly is the most relaxing tutor as he never, raises his voice or gets angry so that I don’t suffer panic attacks like I often do with authority, I barely miss his seminars because I am confident enough to relax around him. My flatmates will cheer me up with random checks and coffee/toast stops to keep us all going till deadline.

It’s a bipolar lifestyle, but this course is probably worth getting out of bed for after all.

p.s thank you most of all to my beloved iPod who stayed awake with me every early morning or late night that everyone else slept through.

Not Another Political Parallel Horror Movie. A film review.

You don’t have to be a film student to enjoy international cinema. The Host (Korea, 2006) tells the usual tale of polluted water creates mutant that wants to attack humanity. Based, as you probably guessed, in the Korean Seoul's Han River, the monster quite quickly attacks and causes fear of a virus that affects anyone it touches, although if it touches you it’s probably trying to eat you, thus a virus isn’t that scary in the greater scheme of things.

The plot centres on a family as the protagonists; one is the victim, who the monster catches but the family go in search of her believing her still alive.

However, this film does not keep the characters conventional. True for a film there must be some evidence of individual talent but they are human and make very human mistakes as if they were truly trying to fight a monster with no knowledge of combat before. The main hero Gang-Du, is ridiculed for his apparent stupidity, but the script never gives him a pivotal Einstein moment where he becomes the worshipped hero. He just becomes accepted and continues how he is.

My favourite part of this film is tied between the actual monster; which is literally a big fish who flops around with arms and feet (not even legs, just feet) chasing screaming people, or the portrayal of Americans; wait till you see that sexy cross eyed look for scientists in charge of everything.

Trying to say something bad about this film is difficult, it is a horror but it has that continuous Korean humour that will emit a few giggles between the gasps and ‘almost’ screams because we wouldn’t be foolish enough to scream at a film...

The Host is technically engaging too; to keep the stupidity of Gang-Du the timing of shots is used to extract intense emotion from him. This tends to be slowing most things down but it works, the heartbreak in his eyes is drawn out in the harrowing moment as he sees the monster grab his daughter.

The film is obviously trying to be political, and as a friend said, “I do not want to ruin it by trying to analyse the messages,” and I refuse to do that for myself or for you. But I will say: Ungraceful, slimy monster that can barely keep itself upright when it runs about causes mayhem and governmental disarray in a few days.

Even if horror isn’t for you, just watch this film because it animates so many emotions within you. How many horror films can claim that? Get it on DVD for £4.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Assignment, Histories and Practices. PR Jobs

Assignment: Take a look at the jobs section of PR Week. What kind of skills are employers looking for? Are there differences between sectors? Is there a sector that appeals to you?




Browsing through the job opportunities on www.prweekjobs.com it became obvious; as was expected, that all sectors require an applicant has ‘excellent writing skills.’ A large part of communication is written, be it a press release, an email, a newsletter, etc; therefore an enjoyment in writing and the ability to enchant a reader throughout the text is a desirable quality that is necessary within any Public Relation role as PR is basically the art of communication.

They all made casual references to ‘B2B’ as well as consumer relations; a few on the list saying that they wanted/or would accommodate an applicant who was specialised in either. At first the B2B acronym didn’t make sense to me, but after researching it was business to business it was just another expected characteristic of ‘what public relations people do’ (Fawkes, 2004: 45). It was intriguing that employers would want specialists in either B2B or B2C (business to consumer) when it shows the mark of a good writer when they can easily adapt to different styles. Alas, it seems comforting that employers do have a sense of reality and understand that not everyone is going to be the best at everything and will play to an applicant’s strengths, as, at the end of the day, it is results that matter for the agency and client, and we cannot wait around forever for the perfect person.

In sectors that were concerned with travel and government they specified intimate knowledge of the area, to the point of political agenda and contacts. Prior knowledge is useful in most careers but PR practitioners need to know more than just media related topics, they need to know what goes into the media and every influence; which can just grow in every sector. They need to be omniscient. As amazing as it could be to know a lot, to try and keep so much knowledge, especially in the media where it changes daily, would be intensely difficult. It would become too easy to neglect something unless your time management and observation skills were acute; therefore it can be concluded here that PR practitioners need to be very devoted people.

This statement is reinforced with some examples of skill descriptions such as ‘enthusiastic and passionate about PR’ and ‘willing to go the extra mile for the client.’ To have the loyalty to your career for this, as it is a 24/7 role, would be terrifying for most, and so a strong personality is needed. This is not said explicitly but the cumulative ethos of skills listed so frequently within the jobs description almost screams warning to the weak willed.

Carrying on from an earlier claim; it was surprising to see how often the requirement of contacts came up in the descriptions. Looking at both senior and junior level applications I knew senior roles would already need to have a place within the media industry, but for the juniors it was still necessary, and nobody would take anyone with under a year experience. Therefore, placements whilst in education are really important as Emma Newman, marketing manager at Decca records said in a guest lecture at UCF, Friday 23rd April 2010.

The media is about knowledge of what you know, but there is a very big emphasis on who you know, as friendship relationships will get favours done quicker in the industry, it can be the difference between a press release printed or thrown out.



References

TENCH, Ralph. YEOMANS, Liz. 2006. Exploring Public Relations. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

Chew TV Film Review: April 2009 Winner

The bad mouse


Rodent Rascal and Demise

An animation of a pest in a house that leaves mess everywhere and the emotional consequence on the family when they try to rid themselves of said bad mouse. This animation is presented 2d, with a children’s cartoon style narration; this decision f production works well with the narrative as the juxtaposition of a childish aspect for an audience of teenagers who constantly try to act mature is not patronising but amusing. I really enjoyed this short, the voice kept the steady rhythm expected of a child’s story-telling throughout. I fell in love with the mouse from the start, its stereotypical image is adorable, I expect this was the desired effect as it made all the mischievous acts something to laugh at and think sweet, whereas, when it actually happens, it is a pain and you quickly get out the traps. I like how Sykes gave an assortment of catching devices in the plot as it kept it real, plus the ending of the ‘it’s brain’s came out’ reinforces the true audience in contrast to what the film looks like. I find it very difficult to say something bad about The Bad Mouse, Sykes has been completely constant in the film in relation to target audience and the animation itself so the artistic impression drawing is clearly iconic of what it should be but retains the juvenile not-quite-perfect appearance that is vital for the film. I raise my hat to Mr Sykes on his clever and quite philosophical film, or at least I would if I were wearing a hat, but I am inside and it would give me hat hair. :P