East Wing Edit

Highlights include:

• Stripped back live music sets from up-and-coming musical talent every Friday lunchtime in The Influence Project exhibition, presented by Somerset House residents MOBO and Music For Youth
• Inspiring weekly Tuesday talks from industry insiders including #realmusicrebels co-founder Lalah Hathaway, and the co-founders behind the empowering Girls on Tops start-up who champion female voices in film supported by the likes of Greta Gerwig and Rooney Mara
• Interactive Saturday drop-in sessions offer the chance to work collaboratively with the artists and collectives, from making fanzines with Little White Lies to being part of a real-time data visualisation with Delayed Gratification alongside our major summer exhibition PRINT! Tearing It Up
• Additional events include DJ sets presented by Rye Wax and an exclusive screening of the acclaimed documentary Betty They Say I’m Different, revealing the unknown story of legendary funk pioneer Betty Davis
• Pop-up bar and café from Hej, offering eco-friendly products and a comfortable area to sit, read and listen to The Influence Project soundtrack

 

This summer, Somerset House presents eight weeks of free exhibitions, talks, pop-ups, events and workshops, delving deeper into the stories showcased in Somerset House’s season of music, film, independent print and contemporary circus performances with events and exhibitions including PRINT! Tearing It Up, The Influence Project, Somerset House Summer Series, Film4 Summer Screen and Circus Sampler. 

Through a series of weekly takeovers from acclaimed creative collectives such as Rye Wax and Little White Lies, East Wing Edit celebrates the pioneers who have shaped or are shaping contemporary culture and offers a unique insight into the creative industry and its processes.

Across the season, visitors have the unique chance to meet artists, collectives and organisations who are working collaboratively, testing new materials and making work which challenges boundaries, all within the confines of Somerset House’s East Wing.  

EAST WING EDIT TAKEOVERS

#REALMUSICREBELS | Week 1 | 27 June – 3 July

Roots of Resistance: Mapping the Spirit of Jazz, Hip Hop and Reggae

30 June, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

In Conversation with #realmusicrebels Co-Founder Lalah Hathaway

3 July, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Co-founded by Lalah Hathaway, #RealMusicRebels, a collective of socially conscious artists, is spearheading the movement for musical integrity and activism. For the duration of their takeover, visitors have the opportunity to explore the intersection of art and activism, through video installations of iconic jazz musicians, listening stations and key reading materials. The takeover will play host to pop-up performances from Hathaway and other guests, with in-depth discussions around the power of music for social change.

As part of a series of free weekly Tuesday lunchtime talks, visitors will be given a rare opportunity to hear Lalah Hathaway discuss her art and activism, with an exclusive screening and Q&A on her forthcoming short film ‘honestly’, which features animated appearances from friends & collaborators Terrace Martin and Thundercat. The collective will also host a Saturday drop-in session, mapping the spirit of jazz, hip hop and reggae through an afternoon of live DJ sets.

RYE WAX RECORDS | Week 2 & 3 | 4 – 17 July

Label Showcase: COTCH INTERNATIONAL

4 July, 15.00 – 18.00, Free

Rye Wax: Make Your Own ‘Zine – Celebrating Venues with Emma Warren

7 July, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

Holding Space: Femme Voices and Identity in Nightlife Today with Racheal Williams

10 July, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Label Showcase: West Friends

14 July, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

Mastering for Vinyl with Peckham Cuts

17 July 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Rye Wax, Peckham’s legendary record shop, takes over the East Wing for two weeks.

The pop-up offers a space for countercultural movements to flourish, where people can discover new sounds and different ways of interacting with music, from turntable listening stations to live performances.

As well as a varied selection of vinyl, the store offers a broad range of high-quality independent prints representing photography, writing and illustration, and play host to two label showcases from COTCH INTERNATIONAL and West Friends.

ACCENT | Week 4 | 18 – 24 July

Queering the Map Live!

21 July, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

Publishing Stories from the Heart

24 July, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Accent is a bi-annual magazine celebrating people who live outside of the ordinary through personal storytelling and documentary portraiture.

During the week-long takeover, visitors can browse through archive Accent issues, have their portrait taken in a pop-up portrait studio and watch short films featuring the stars of their latest issue.

STACK MAGAZINES | Week 5 | 25 – 31 July

Stack Magazine Sale: Refresh your Reading!

28 July, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

Rise of the Independents

31 July, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Makerversity resident and PRINT! Tearing It Up contributor, Stack is a subscription service, delivering the best independent magazines to thousands of subscribers around the world.

Visitors have the chance to hear Stack Magazine’s founder, Steven Watson, in conversation with Paul Gorman, writer and co-curator of PRINT! Tearing It Up, discussing the rise of independent magazines. For their Saturday session, Stack hosts an independent magazine sale.

DELAYED GRATIFICATION | Week 6 | 1 – 7 August

The Living Infographic

4 August, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

Infographics 101

7 August, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Delayed Gratification, a printed quarterly publication published by Somerset House Studios resident Makerversity, is the world’s first Slow Journalism magazine, which revisits the events of the previous three months after the dust has settled.

In the magazine’s week-long East Wing Edit takeover, visitors can enjoy a gallery of the best infographics from the first seven years of the publication, covering everything from gun violence to the career of Alan Partridge to the definitive guide on how to win an Oscar.

Visitors have a unique opportunity to discover the key to perfect design from this pioneering team within the world of independent magazines. 

DISCOVER.FILM | Week 7 | 8 – 14 August

Discover the Sound Of Film

11 August, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

Discover Storytelling

14 August, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

Discover.film will open its vaults to screen a diverse range of some of the best award-winning short films from around the world, from documentaries, drama and comedy to animation, horror and experimental.

Highlights include talks from leading industry figures and the unique opportunity to discuss story ideas one-on-one with them. Visitors are also invited to vote for the Discover.film Somerset House Screening award, which will be awarded to the most popular film by the event audience.  

LITTLE WHITE LIES | Week 8 | 15 – 22 August

Make Your Own ‘Zine – Celebrating Arnie

18 August, 11.00 – 14.00, Free

The Movie Tee Boom and the Couple behind It

21 August, 13.00 – 14.00, Free

During the final week of Film4 Summer Screen, bi-monthly film magazine Little White Lies, which combines cutting-edge design, illustration and journalism, takes up residence for an East Wing Edit takeover, championing great movies and the people who make them.

For their Saturday session, the team descends upon Somerset House to make a bespoke movie fanzine inspired by the life and work of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Visitors put their cut-and-paste skills to the test to create a miniature magazine which will be handed out at the evening’s double-bill screening of Total Recall and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The team will also moderate a talk with Louisa and Jake, the co-founders of the empowering Girls on Tops t-shirt start-up championing female voices in film, which has garnered host of major Hollywood celebrities as fans including Greta Gerwig, Rooney Mara and Timothée Chalamet.

EAST WING EDIT EXHIBITIONS

THE INFLUENCE PROJECT

27 June – 22 August 2018, Free, East Wing

Exploring the connections between legendary and emerging pioneers, The Influence Project, celebrates the impact that leading black musicians have had on contemporary sound and culture through captivating portraiture, film and sound.

CIRCUS ORIGINALS

25 July – 7 August 2018, Free, East Wing

To complement Circus Sampler, two free weekends of original contemporary circus in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, presented by Somerset House and visual theatre producers Crying Out Loud, the East Wing Edit will host talks and an exhibition, Circus Originals, exploring the history of contemporary circus from the beginnings of modern circus in the 1800s through to present day, featuring a new compelling installation from performance artist Rose English.

FULL EVENTS LISTINGS FROM 27 JUNE-22 AUGUST

EAST WING LIVE | 13.00 – 14.00 | Free

29 June – 17 August

The Influence Project exhibition will host free, live music sets each Friday afternoon. Co-programmed by two Somerset House Residents, MOBO and Music For Youth, the series will present stripped back sets from up-and-coming musical talent, surrounded by Alexis Chabala’s photographic portraits of key R&B, Soul and Hip Hop pioneers.

SATURDAY DROP-INS | 11.00 – 14.00 | Free

#realmusicrebels Presents: Roots of Resistance: Mapping the Spirit of Jazz, Hip Hop and Reggae

30 June

Live DJ sets trace a tradition of protest across the Atlantic, connecting personal and political struggles from America, the Caribbean and the UK, hosted by #realmusicrebels.

Rye Wax Presents: Make Your Own ‘Zine – Celebrating Venues

7 July

Writer Emma Warren invites visitors to create their own fanzine about their favourite venue, either existing or gone, in a session sound-tracked by DJs.

Rye Wax Presents a Label Showcase with West Friends

14 July

Live DJ sets from the new label exploring dance music south of the river, West Friends, in Rye Wax’s pop-up record store.

Accent Presents: Queering the Map Live!

21 July

In collaboration with queeringthemap.com, Accent hosts a drop-in day to share and listen to the first-person stories of queer people across the globe.

Stack Magazine Sale: Refresh Your Reading!

28 July

Stack delves deep into its archives, to host an exclusive sale of some of the best independent magazines at discounted prices.

Delayed Gratification Presents: The Living Infographic

4 August

Visitors have the opportunity to be part of a real-time data visualisation and engage with a series of interactive boards to build up a real-time infographic inspired by Delayed Gratification Magazine.

Discover.film Presents: Discover the Sound Of Film

11 August

Discover.film hosts an interactive day of informal discussions, screenings, demonstrations and live performances from a variety of professionals working in both film and music. Highlights include a special live performance from British singer and songwriter Sasha Keable who explains the importance of film in her latest single release, and UK Music Video Awards’ director of the year, Hector Dockrill, who discusses his inspirations through screening some of his music videos.  

Little White Lies Presents: Make Your Own ‘Zine – Celebrating Arnie

18 August

The Little White Lies team holds a fanzine-making session to celebrate the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

TUESDAY TALKS | 13.00 – 14.00 | Free

#realmusicrebels Presents: In Conversation with Lalah Hathaway

3 July

Lalah Hathaway discusses her art and activism; exploring how and why she is fighting for a better future through music, alongside an exclusive screening and Q&A about her forthcoming short film ‘honestly'.

Rye Wax Presents: Holding Space: Femme Voices and Identity in Nightlife Today

10 July

Promoter Rachael Williams discusses the space and voice women create for themselves within today’s nightlife and music culture with an industry-led panel consisting of promoters, journalists, venue bookers and women working behind the scenes.

Rye Wax Presents: Mastering for Vinyl with Peckham Cuts

17 July

Jonny of Peckham Cuts unveils the mystery around mastering music specifically for the vinyl format. Following the talk, musicians can bring in their unmastered music digitally, as Jonny will take them through the mastering process step-by-step. The session is open to all who would like to watch the mastering process, as well as have their music mastered for which there are 10 slots available to book online.

Accent Magazine Presents: Publishing Stories from the Heart

24 July

Visitors can discover the making of Accent magazine, its evolution, diversity and the importance of alternative queer storytelling in a panel discussion with its makers and the stars of the latest issue.

Stack Magazine Presents: Rise of the Independents

31 July

Steve Watson from Stack Magazines, and Paul Gorman, writer and co-curator of PRINT! Tearing It Up, discuss the rise of the independent magazines.

Delayed Gratification Presents: Infographics 101

7 August

Learn the art of making beautiful infographics, from finding ideas in data to creating the perfect design from leaders in their field, Delayed Gratification.

Discover.film Presents: Discover Storytelling

14 August

A panel of creatives from writing, music, TV and film, chaired by Jaine Green, Head of Content at Discover.film, reveal their secrets on creating a powerful narrative.

Little White Lies Presents: The Movie Tee Boom and the Couple behind It

21 August

Discover how Girls on Tops co-founders Louisa and Jake invented the brand, their marketing strategy and their plans for the future, in a talk moderated by Hannah Woodhead of Little White Lies.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS | Free

#realmusicrebels Presents: Whose Streets?

27 June from 18.30

Screening Room

Exclusive screening of powerful documentary exploring the Ferguson Uprising following the death of Michael Brown at the hands of the St. Louis County police. With original soundtrack composed by #realmusicrebels artist Samora Pinderhughes.

Rye Wax Presents a Label Showcase with COTCH INTERNATIONAL

4 July, 15.00 – 18.00

East Wing

Live DJ sets from the new label, COTCH INTERNATIONAL, in Rye Wax’s pop-up record store.

Accent Presents: Making Work On Your Muse – A Filmmakers Perspective

18 July, from 18.30

Screening Room

Accent invites visitors to a screening of three short films about the stars of its forth issue, followed by a panel talk with the film’s creators, offering insight into art direction and making work about a muse.

Betty They Say I’m Different

25 July, from 18.30

Screening Room

Feature documentary reveals the extraordinary unknown story of the elusive funk-pioneer Betty Davis.

Circus Sampler presents: Even When I Fall

31 July, from 18.30

Screening Room

A screening of the 2017 film ‘Even When I Fall’, by Sky Neal and Kate McLarnon, followed by Q&A with Kate McLarnon.

Circus Sampler presents: In Conversation with Rose English & Stine Hebert

7 August, from 18.30

East Wing

Art curator Stine Hebert speaks with artist Rose English about her work. 

Ends

For press enquiries, please contact: press@somersethouse.org.uk / 0207 845 4624

About Somerset House

Inspiring contemporary culture

One of the city’s most spectacular and well-loved spaces, Somerset House is a new kind of arts centre in the heart of London, designed for today’s audiences, artists and creatives – an inspirational community where contemporary culture is imagined, created and experienced.

From its 18th Century origins, Somerset House has played a central role in our society as a place where our culture and collective understanding of the world is shaped and defined. In 2000, it began its reinvention as a cultural powerhouse and home for arts and culture today, creating unique and stimulating experiences for the public, bringing them into direct contact with ideas from the greatest artists, makers and thinkers of our time. Our distinctive and dynamic year-round programme spans the contemporary arts in all its forms, from cutting-edge exhibitions and installations to annual festivals, seasonal events in the courtyard including Film4 Summer Screen, Summer Series and Skate, and an extensive learning and engagement programme.

As well as welcoming over 3million visitors annually, Somerset House houses the largest and most diverse creative communities in the country – from one-person start-ups to successful creative enterprises including MOBO, British Fashion Council, Dance Umbrella, Improbable Theatre, Hofesh Schecter Company, and Dartmouth Films.

In 2016 we launched Somerset House Studios – a new experimental workspace connecting artists, makers and thinkers with audiences. Currently housing over 80 artists and Makerversity (a community of over 250 emergent makers), the Studios are a platform for the development of new creative projects and collaboration, promoting work that pushes bold ideas, engages with urgent issues and pioneers new technologies. www.somersethouse.org.uk