Jaume Plensa at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Having seen the beauty of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park´s permanent collections in West Bretton in Wakefield many times, we headed straight for the temporary exhibition by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. You may know him for his giant head that protrudes over the trees in St. Helen´s near Liverpool. Along the same lines this exhibition focuses on the dialogue, landscape and sculpture together, whilst the underlying personal sensory experience is paramount to reading his work. The luck of arriving early meant that we got to fully experience the exhibition and its sensory properties in the peace and quiet of the gallery walls with little intinterruption from others. As we paced through the five rooms of the exhibition shadow and light fuel moments of quiet contemplation. His use of the human form, use of language and the visual impact lend to the viewer looking in whilst looking out. Seeing the words like insomnia, peace, paranoia and lover it is difficult for anyone to ignore these emotional prompts whilst looking at the delicate form of the human body. Whilst walking through this exhibition it is impossible to ignore another promprominentse being triggered – sound. Unusual for a gallery exhibition where silence is the norm, Plensa´s use of sound is another interatcion with his audience, which adds dimensions onto the viewing experience. The main corridor echos a soft and romantic sound of steel letters twinkling at the hands of fellow viewers. A collection of words hang from ceeling to floor creating a visual wall of language, light and reflection. The other sound is a deep gong, vibrating throughout the five rooms in a low, mesmerising sound movement. It made me think about a sound you would associate with the start of old films or temples of the East. The sound is enough to reverberate throughout. The room holds a circle of huge golden gongs, each engraved with pàrts of poetry or text. Darkness is dence, but a golden light falls to the floor casting shaddows which radiate the room. The whole exhibition makes you use your senses which in turn makes you think about the delicate nature of life and the etheral nature of being human. Go to enjoy the natural green of the YSP natural space and the interesting ideas presented by Plensa. The YSP has a USP… it holds art work of great artists, but in a way that is more easy going than most ´typical´ gallery spaces. The fact that you can be viewing works whilst kids are playing football or dogs are snoozing in the sunshine near by, gives a gentle approach to the viewing of art that can be enjoyed by all rather than just the regular gallery goer.   Yorkshire Sculpture Park West Bretton Wakefield WF4 4LG Website         Words by Carol-Anne Ward,Art Correspondent @ AC-PR & Creative Boutique

Apple Becomes World’s Most Valuable Company

Apple has overtaken oil group Exxon to become the world’s most valuable company by market capitalisation.

The tech company has been closing in on Exxon for some time and was “just” $50bn (£30bn) away from taking the lead when it reported yet another quarter of record-breaking earnings on 19 July.

As the US stock markets bounced back from last week’s crash the tech firm overtook Exxon with a market value of $337bn compared to ExxonMobil’s $334bn. Exxon could easily slip back into the lead if the recent fears for the global economy subside but the gap is so close that these two corporate behemoths look certain to be battling it out for quite some time.

Steve Jobs was fired from Apple in 1985 as the company lost its way and Microsoft-powered PCs seemed destined to dominate the market. When he returned to the company in 1997, the troubled firm was worth just $2bn. He led a renaissance at the company, focusing on design and innovation and setting what seemed like impossibly ambitious targets.

Starting with the brightly coloured iMac, Apple redefined the consumer electronics market at a time when the internet was just going mainstream. The iMac was followed by the iPod, which revolutionised the music industry. Then came the iPhone and the iPad. Each new release has driven Apple to new heights.

There we have it, Apple have revolutionised the way we access data, use our phones and access music, what other markets can you see apple changing?

Tags: Anthony Caton, Apple, Business, IMac, iPad, iPhone, IPod, Public Relations, Steve Jobs, www.ac-pr.co.uk

Riot Artist Shows Funny Side To Lawlessness

In the midst of the riot wave which has swept the nation, an artist who goes by the name of ‘Photoshoplooter’ has cleverly digitally enhanced riot and looting footage to make a mockery of the mindless violence and vandalism, which have dominated our TV’s and newspapers for the last few days.

Take a look at some of these.

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For more images or to Submit your images to Photoshoplooter, check out http://photoshoplooter.tumblr.com/

Words by Anthony Caton, images curtesy of Photoshoplooter.

Tags: AC-PR & Creative Boutique, Anthony Caton, Birmingham, Carnage, damage, Hackney, Leeds, London, Manchester, mockery, parody, photshoplooter, Riots, vandalism, Wolverhampton

Watch The Throne – Jay Z & Kanye Album

Today we see the release of the eagerly anticipated album ‘Watch The Throne’ which is a collaboration between both JayZ and Kanye West.

Where inspiration is concerned, Jay and Kanye really pulled the stops out on this one, no stone was left unturned. The pair even commissioned Givenchy’s Creative Director Riccardo Tisci to design the albums artwork.

In an age where music piracy and illegal downloading is commonplace, Jay & Kanye have done well to not have the album leak before it’s official launch.

I’ve just listened to this album and can not wait to really give it a good listening to.

Personally I don’t think that neither Jay or Kanye need to be concerned about anybody trying to touch their throne.

Download the album -
www.watchthethrone.com

Exclusive preview from Asaviour.

UK  and West Yorkshire based MC and producer – Savvy a.k.a Asaviour has just dropped his latest video for the single ‘Adapt or Die’. The single is taken from Savvy’s forthcoming Mixtape Play to Win vol.3 (Adapt or Die) on Saving Grace Music and if this is anything to go by, the rest of project is going to impressive.

To follow him on twitter – www.twitter.com/iam_savvy  Become a fan on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Asaviour/19700276170

Tags: Experimental, Hip-hop, huddersfield, Play To Win, Saving Grace, Savvy

Tribal Instinct fashion show coverage

Content

Tribal Instinct is a charitable movement put together by the East African Society at Leeds University. We were in charge of the communications and event coverage at the debut of the Tribal Instinct fashion show, which brought a fusion of eastern music, fashion, dance and culture to the west. Check out some of the footage above, captured by our production team.

Enjoy

Tags: AC-PR&Creative Boutique, Anthony Caton, Fashion, Fashion Show Leeds, Ketwangi Orphanage, Leeds East African Society, Leeds University

The Monarchy As An International Promotional Tool

Amongst all the last minute preparations for the royal wedding, a time where the cake is receiving the finishing touches, carriages are being polished and the corgis prepare their Freeview HD, it is good to reflect upon Nat “King” Cole’s words: “Let there be love.” On this occasion, also let there be 8,000 journalists, photographers and technical staff, coverage equalling millions of pounds and an audience of over 2 billion people. The Royal Wedding is set to be one of the most watched events in television history, and will receive coverage in a variety of media across the globe. Some of the biggest broadcasters, news agencies and national newspapers covering the event are the BBC, ITV, CNN, Sky News, Press Association and Guardian News & Media. This alone would create a media campaign to be envied, however, social networking has entered the ring. Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube are being used by the royals to publicise the wedding. We might not be sat in Westminster Abbey but we can still join in on the special day. We’ll be able to watch the wedding live on YouTube and then tweet about it along with the thousands of others expected to. Britain’s stereotype is receiving a massive boost due to all this coverage. The very nature of this event along with all the tradition and heritage is feeding an image of Britain that’s held by people outside the UK. To them British people stop at 4pm for a cup of tea, live in castles and only speak the Queen’s English. On an annual basis, the monarchy generates about £500 million of revenue for the country. The extra tourism and sales of memorabilia, the wedding is generating, are expected to give the country a £1 billion boost. David Cameron has seen an opportunity to use the event, alongside the Queen’s diamond jubilee, to sell Britain “as the perfect tourist destination.” This evidence makes it is clear that the monarchy has a significant impact on the nation. Does this not qualify them as a national promotional tool? Will you be watching the event? I will be, along with two out of six billion people in the world.

Words by Alec Vickerson – PR Assistant @ AC-PR & Creative Boutique

The ACLT still needs your help!

HELP THE ACLT TO SAVE MORE LIVES

The long term aim of the ACLT is to educate and raise awareness about the importance of registering as potential bone marrow donors, blood and organ donation. Their work will enable worldwide donor searches on behalf of Black, Mixed Race and Ethnic Minority patients. Funds raised will enable them to:

• Continue the essential groundbreaking raising awareness and recruitment drive programmes

• Marketing and PR advertising campaigns via Radio/TV/Print Media and all other media outlets

• Help pay for future Bone Marrow, Blood and organ donation recruitment drives in association with the Anthony Nolan & National Blood Service

• To raise awareness and recruit life savers at schools, colleges, universities, corporate organisations, government offices, community groups etc

• The costs of presentations and filmed DVD footage promoting our life saving work

• Attending conferences and seminars to address large audiences

• Fronting Media Campaigns to raise awareness about Appeals on behalf of patients in the UK and overseas

Charity Number 1119516 Company Number 04956925

To make a donation – Click here

ACLT- Facebook

Website

What is Alarm Fighting? How can I Bank time?

 

Ever used not having enough time for not getting something done? Your answer is probably “YES!”

 

 

After a conversation with a circle of my peers on the topic of productivity, we came to a conclusion that the most common reason given for not completing a task, project or assignment as scheduled was the lack of time.

 

The Alarmfights concept is about creating a positive association with waking up on a morning and taking charge and responsibility for productivity and progression from even before the word GO. Researchers have discovered that on average the amount of time spent per snooze interval is nine minutes which may not seem very much to you but that results in an astonishing two and half days a year snoozing away in bed.  If we take into account that some of us press the snooze button up to 3 times a day, this is equal to almost 7 days in bed, time of which we can not get back.

Time is our most important resource and it its isn’t like a currency where we can spend it and then gain it back which is why the alarm fights concept was developed to create that extra time in the mornings to do something productive. Instead of hitting the snooze button multiple times, we’re creating windows of opportunity and productivity for special things to happen and to unlock our deeper potential (what magic can be produced when you’re asleep in bed?).

 

Alarm fighting rules

·      You cannot put time into the time bank if you get up after your alarm goes off. You must get up before unless you are a beginner in which case you would get up as soon as you hear the alarm without pressing snooze.

 

·      If you get up before your alarm and then do nothing productive, for example sitting and having a coffee (that isn’t productive), you can’t put time into the time bank. If you got up and then did some DIY, that would qualify.

 

·      Alarm fighting is best for individuals working a Monday to Friday week, Alarm fighting doesn’t take place at the weekends.

 

·      You must go to bed around the same time every night to condition the body clock into getting used to a routine.

 

 

Alarm fighting for beginners

After conditioning, Heavyweight alarm fighters will be able to anticipate when their alarms will go off and get straight up out of bed. Before you get to this stage, the body clock needs to be  trained.

 

Alarm fighting for beginners is starts with these simple steps:

·      For beginners, the best thing to do is to set your alarm for the same time each day for five days and get up as soon as your alarm goes off without pressing the snooze button. This will help to get your body used to waking up and getting up straight away (which is one of the hardest things to do).

·      After two weeks of getting straight up as the alarm goes off, set your alarm for ten minutes earlier next time. By this time your body clock should be able to feel that it is almost time to get up and you should be waking up before your alarm goes off providing you haven’t been drinking alcohol the night before.

·      After one week of anticipating the alarm in this manner,  set your alarm another 5 minutes earlier and then repeat this until eventually you are waking up 20 minutes before your alarm goes off.

·      When you are waking up 20 minutes before your alarm goes off, you will have gained status as a Heavy Weight Alarm Fighter!

 

Time bank

When Heavy Weight status is achieved, and you are getting up out of bed 20 minutes before your alarm detonates you will be depositing 20 minutes into your time bank which equates to 100 minutes per week. 100 minutes per week is  an extra 5200 minutes per year for you to learn that new language, work on that new business plan or read that literature you haven’t had time to read.  All of these things can be achieved outside of your normal routine.

 

Benefits

Alarm fighting creates a disconnect from the negative associations with getting up out of bed once the alarm goes off. After interviewing some of my peers, the common attitude they had was that the alarm seemed to govern their lives, isn’t this funny when it is actually us that set our alarms? We can take more control of our lives by Alarm fighting and creating an intrinsic reward system.

 

Wake up! Don’t let the alarm govern you!

Get your peers involved, share this article tag us on twitter as #Alarmfights

 

 

 

Words by Anthony Caton  &  Alex Rouse

 

Marcus Levey Preview

Yesterday, we took some images for our client, the artist Marcus Levey’s new website – which we’ll be launching soon.

Here’s a sneak preview… Paste this into your browser http://ac-pr-creative-boutique.tumblr.com/

Tags: AC-PR, AC-PR & Creative Boutique, Anthony Caton, Art, Artist, Leeds, Marcus Levey, painting Leeds.