This is the second post in a row to mention mediums.

The Holloway Arts Festival closed with a talk by A.L. Kennedy at Platform. She turned up looking comfortably uncomfortable, the uncomfortableness of someone who is used to feeling uncomfortable and doesn't mind it any more.

I copied this photograph from her website. I hope she doesn't mind. It is a good photograph.

I don't know what she's going to be like because I haven't read any of her books.  My bias against novelists that are still alive defeated my bias in favour of people with initials instead of names: E. Nesbit, LBJ, WH Auden, AJ Raffles. I like her face though, and how she wears her hair and have decided that doing a review unprepared is brave rather than incompetent. You may disagree, but it's my blog and I'll dress up shoddiness as elán if I want too.

She starts off being funny and talking about stand-up then something shifts and she starts talking about not being able to speak clearly, how bloody difficult it is to stop mumbling, and how once as a child she got so angry that she started shouting and everyone turned round in shock because they didn't expect loudness from her; and she makes me remember being fourteen so clearly that I can see the classroom and hear my own voice shouting out louder than it had been or would be for years and how it should have felt liberating but didn't.

Next time I'm in the Big Green Bookshop I'll buy her latest novel, Blue Book. It's about a fake medium.

Got an idea for Platform this autumn?

This is from the good people at Creative Islington:

'Platform are seeking proposals for their autumn programme. The deadline is 20 June (although interested parties are welcome to submit proposals at any time, to be part of future programming).

The Platform Programme at Hornsey Road Baths is focused on engaging 13-19 year olds, primarily from Islington, in arts activities. The two major elements are participatory projects and a programme of performances.

Most importantly, the Platform Programme will be developed and chosen by young people. There is a current group of Young Advisors working to influence the opening of the building through May, June, July and August 2011. A group of Young Programmers will be created to make the programme for the Autumn term 2011, supported by Trestle Theatre Company, who are running the venue in partnership with Changemakers and Isledon Partnership.

Platform will offer a range of art forms, a mix of in school, out of school and holiday projects, and a range of project timings from one day to ten weeks or more. It will target a mix of age groups, led by a range of arts organisations and practitioners in and around Islington.

For full information and how to submit a proposal please contact: Olly Jones platform@trestle.org.uk

www.platformislington.org.uk'

Oh, and check out the cafe at Platform.

Platform Cafe'

Platform is a GOOD thing. A new youth centre in the old Hornsey Road Baths building (more on that in later posts) it has  a theatre, a performance space, media suites, a recording studio, dance studio and a cafe all for and by young people. It even has a fabulous neon sign by Morag Myerscough that says  'I am the creation of your imagination'. But good things can be worthy. I worried that it would be well meaning,  a little dowdy and melancholy. I also worried that it would be full of intimidatingly cool young people and I'd feel old and dowdy. 


Anyway, I was wrong on all counts. It's a beautiful space.There are more neon signs inside:

There's enough mid century modern furniture to make an Apartment Therapy post

 

 and even the stools. lights and banisters have been turned into art:

 

It was busy enough to feel lively, but not too crowded, the people were likeably cool and my coffee was good.   

Where: 260 Hornsey Road - immediately on the left as you go into the courtyard. 

When: Mondays 9.30am - 4pm; Tuesday s9.30am - 4pm; Wednesdays 9.30am - 8pm; Thursdays 9.30am - 8pm; Fridays 9.30am - 8pm; Saturdays 10am - 8pm; Sundays Closed