VentnorBlog - absolutely essential reading for anyone who lives or has any interest in Ventnor. Amazing number of readers and contributors for such a small town. Democracy at its very best. - Bill Newman
Film director and Michael West exhibitor, Thomas Hicks, visited Medina High School to lead an experimental animation workshop as part of their Art Blast Week.
The students explored music and drawing and basic film-making techniques including traditional, as well as digital, to create this collaborative animation.
Quay Arts presents Maria Korsnes, Hagit Yakira, Portia Winters and Tal Jakubowiczova in LEAHS Evening next month.
LEAHS is an evening of work by four female artists working around the theme of femininity and womanhood.
It is an intimate and personal dialogue between voice and movements, expressing a sensation of femininity, women’s relationships to themselves and their observers.
The Ventnor Film Society Presents …. I’m Not There. Todd Haynes’ film about Bob Dylan, is one of the greatest rock‘n’roll swindles of all time.
The hero is “not there”. He’s officially a ghost.
Yet this mythic account of his life is one of the best pieces of cinema of 2007. Six brilliant actors play Dylan and they are as madly various as the artist’s album covers.
For the record, Dylan himself was so bewitched by the project that, for the first time, he actually yielded up his precious song rights.
If when perusing VentnorBlog, your eyes wander no further than the river of news, then you might not have noticed the advert on the far right offering the chance to spend a day with the legendary David Cassidy.
During the 1970s, David’s fan club had more paid-up members at any one time than any other in history, so we’re sure that there will be many fans on the Isle of Wight who will grab this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to meet David in the flesh.
The great man himself will be coming to the Wight on Wednesday 12th November and if you manage to snap up one the last remaining tickets for the event, you’ll have the chance to spend the day with him.
You’ll get to chat to David throughout the day and ask questions, perhaps about the time when he posed nude for an edition of Rolling Stone magazine, for Annie Leibovitz in 1972?
Quay Arts’ Quay Comedy Club returns next week with a great lineup of three hilarious comedians.
Headline act, Mark Olver, is a fearless compere, fast-witted, original and will ad-lib with any audience, anywhere, anytime!
He will be supported by newcomer, Seann Walsh with a sharp set of dense punchlines and Luke Toulson whose appealing self-deprecation and exasperated observations combines to ensure a laugh per minute!
Over the last few weeks the idea for an artist’s networking evening has been evolving at Quay Arts in Newport.
Tonight sees the first official Artist’s Networking Evening and organisers are hoping that artists, actors, musicians, photographers, craft makers, film makers, writers, theatre directors, designers and anyone interested in the creative industry come along, be inspired and stimulated, share ideas and network.
For more information please contact Box Office: 01983 822490 or email info@quayarts.org
The Earl Mountbatten Hospice will be the beneficiaries of a gala screening of the forthcoming James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.
This ‘dress for the occasion’ takes place at the Deluxe Screen of Cineworld in Newport on Thursday next week.
For your chance to see the film a day before general national release and help out the Island’s hospice at the same time, book your tickets pronto, because they are on a first come first served basis.
The Ventnor Film Society Present … The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
Nothing in director Julian Schnabel’s career so far has anticipated the sweetness, sadness, maturity and restraint of this lovely movie.
It is a very moving and deeply satisfying version of the bestselling 1997 memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby, the 43-year-old Parisian fashion magazine editor who, at the very height of wealth, health and success was paralysed by a stroke and suffered from “locked-in syndrome”.
Tickets went on sale this morning for the 2009 Isle of Wight Festival.
The festival takes place in Seaclose Park again next year over the weekend of the 12th-14th June 2009.
No headliners have been officially announced yet, but as we mentioned last week, Oasis are tipped to be on the lineup.
For those hoping to perform at the Festival next year, entry deadline for the Live Wired band competition is this coming Friday, 24th October, so you’d better get your skates on if you haven’t applied yet.
Thanks to Stella Childs for sending through details of Raw Samba taster sessions. Ed
Raw Samba will be holding taster sessions at the Carnival Learning Centre (next door to Waltzing Waters) for people to come and join in and have some fun, have a coffee then stay and listen to them practice.
This is with a view to holding formal beginners classes early next year.
On previous visits we’ve decorated mugs, sugar bowls and my son’s treasured breakfast bowl, which he’s been eating his Bran Flakes out of every morning for the past three years.
You end up with something useful, beautiful and completely unique.
So just as I was mulling over how to stave off half-term boredom next week I was pleased to receive a reminder of their upcoming events.
Their pet-themed activity week runs from Monday 27th to Friday 31st October when you can decorate your own Emma Bridgewater pet bowl or use animal decorating sponges to create designs on any item of pottery.
The site was setup to gather all of the historic information about Wootton Bridge for future generations - a worthy task.
Membership of the IWPCUG is a very reasonable £6, with a £1 per meeting charged. If you want to try it out, they say you’re welcome to attend one or two meetings without joining.
The Tiffin Room at the Bonchurch Manor Hotel is an ideal location for this year’s Deepavali celebrations.
Shuba Rao will be presenting a wonderful menu of exquisite Southern Indian dishes including such items as Koli Kolambu, tender chicken cooked in spicy Tamilian style with poppy and cashewnut paste and Fish Dakshina, seasonal fish simmered in subtly spiced tomato and coconut sauce.
Deepavali (or Diwali) celebrations are a grand affair in India, as Shuba explains below, and Bonchurch Manor is no exception.
Many thanks to Avril Mhunduru for sending through details of this worthy appeal that takes place this weekend in Newport. Ed
Computers4Africa, a charity organisation that collects unused computers, monitors or other working IT equipment and ship them to schools in Africa, will be holding an appeal in Newport this weekend.
Have you got any computers, monitors or other working IT equipment that you no longer have a use for? Would you like to see it go to school children in one of the World’s poorest areas?
Our previous appeals have been a huge success and we now have a date for another appeal in Newport, details below. Computers donated will be sent to schools in Africa, to help them teach vital IT skills in areas where they would otherwise be unable to afford the equipment.
The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce are encouraging businesses on the Island to register for a free conference being held next month in Ryde.
Taking place at Yelfs Hotel, the aim of the conference is to inform and advise businesses on taking positive steps to reduce waste, minimise their carbon footprint, and make cost savings. Something that many people will be keen to do with the impending economic downturn.
The conference has been organised in partnership with the Chamber, Business Link and the National Industrial Symbiosis programme.
How do you fancy some nostalgic music from the best days of your life, mashed up and brought back to the future by DJ’s Roni Blunt (Blunt Pure Music) and Mixmaster Mikee?
If the answer is yes, then head over to Ryde Theatre this Saturday night and make sure you raid your fancy dress box, because we hear that there’ll be prizes for the naughtiest school uniform. Ooo missus!
Tickets are £5 and can be booked in advance from Ryde Theatre by calling 568099, if you don’t get your act together in time, they’ll be £6 on the door.
Don’t forget to say where you heard about it. Class starts at 10pm and finishes at 2am.
News reaches us that ThWART (The Wight Against Rural Turbines) have organised a couple of local presentations regarding the Cheverton Down turbine proposals.
There are two dates to accommodate those who may not be able to attend the weekday presentation.
The first takes place next Wednesday, 22nd October at the Shorwell Parish Hall, Russell Road, Shorwell from 7pm.
The second takes place on Saturday 25th October at the Brighstone Scout Hut, behind Wilberforce Hall, Main Road, Brighstone from 10.30am.
These notices were posted in the Brightstone Parish Newsletter, who in the interests of balance also provided contact details for Cornwall Light & Power
Many thanks to Wendy for letting us know about the proposed meetings.
Isle of Wight Studio Glass, as well as taking part in the Isle of Pink campaign, will be holding an event at the end of October (31st to be precise) called ‘Halloween Blow in the Glow’.
From 10am onwards, expert glass blowers at the studio will be making Glass Ghosts and even a glass Pumpkin to celebrate the special day.
It all takes place indoors (good to know in case of rain) at Isle of Wight Studio Glass, Old Park, St Lawrence, Ventnor PO38 1XR.
It’ll cost adults £1.50 to get in and £1 for seniors and children over 12 Children. Under 12s get in free.
If you need more info, call them on (01983) 853526
The band are signed to Rob Da Bank’s Sunday Best record label and the mother of one of the band members has a close connection to the village in Tanzania, where it’s hoped a school can be built for the benefit of the young people there.
We’ve all heard about the final voyage from Southampton of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) which takes place next month.
Well, Red Funnel are hoping to provide a piece of the action for those not fortunate enough to afford a ticket for the final cruise to Dubai.
The Red Eagle is Red Funnel’s flagship vehicle ferry and on the same day it will follow the QE2 as she leaves Southampton for the middle east, where she will become a hotel and shopping venue at Palm Jumeirah.
It’s always fallen two weeks after the bank holiday, which this year is a little later than it has been in the past few years.
The students explored music and drawing and basic film-making techniques including traditional, as well as digital, to create this collaborative animation. 
LEAHS is an evening of work by four female artists working around the theme of femininity and womanhood. 
The hero is “not there”. He’s officially a ghost. 
During the 1970s, David’s fan club had more paid-up members at any one time than any other in history, so we’re sure that there will be many fans on the Isle of Wight who will grab this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to meet David in the flesh.
Headline act, Mark Olver, is a fearless compere, fast-witted, original and will ad-lib with any audience, anywhere, anytime! 
Tonight sees the first official Artist’s Networking Evening and organisers are hoping that artists, actors, musicians, photographers, craft makers, film makers, writers, theatre directors, designers and anyone interested in the creative industry come along, be inspired and stimulated, share ideas and network. 
This ‘dress for the occasion’ takes place at the Deluxe Screen of Cineworld in Newport on Thursday next week.
Nothing in director Julian Schnabel’s career so far has anticipated the sweetness, sadness, maturity and restraint of this lovely movie. 
Born and raised in Manchester, but now based in Nashville, Clive Gregson is an accomplished singer, musician and record producer of world-renown.
It takes place at the Baptist Church on Pier Street, between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 8 November, 
The festival takes place in Seaclose Park again next year over the weekend of the 12th-14th June 2009.
Raw Samba will be holding taster sessions at the Carnival Learning Centre (next door to Waltzing Waters) for people to come and join in and have some fun, have a coffee then stay and listen to them practice. 
On previous visits we’ve decorated mugs, sugar bowls and my son’s treasured breakfast bowl, which he’s been eating his Bran Flakes out of every morning for the past three years. 
The next meeting on, 7 November, will feature a talk by Roy Murphy, talking about the 
Shuba Rao will be presenting a wonderful menu of exquisite Southern Indian dishes including such items as Koli Kolambu, tender chicken cooked in spicy Tamilian style with poppy and cashewnut paste and Fish Dakshina, seasonal fish simmered in subtly spiced tomato and coconut sauce.
Computers4Africa, a charity organisation that collects unused computers, monitors or other working IT equipment and ship them to schools in Africa, will be holding an appeal in Newport this weekend.
After studying painting and sculpture at Croydon School of Art, Island artist Andrew Drummond went on to enjoy a prolific career in television. 
Taking place at Yelfs Hotel, the aim of the conference is to inform and advise businesses on taking positive steps to reduce waste, minimise their carbon footprint, and make cost savings. Something that many people will be keen to do with the impending economic downturn.
If the answer is yes, then head over to Ryde Theatre this Saturday night and make sure you raid your fancy dress box, because we hear that there’ll be prizes for the naughtiest school uniform. Ooo missus!
There are two dates to accommodate those who may not be able to attend the weekday presentation.
From 10am onwards, expert glass blowers at the studio will be making Glass Ghosts and even a glass Pumpkin to celebrate the special day.
No we’re not talking about 
Coming over for the gig from the mainland will be the fab 
Well, Red Funnel are hoping to provide a piece of the action for those not fortunate enough to afford a ticket for the final cruise to Dubai.