This exhibition proposes that other kinds of visual order – spontaneous, or emergent, patterns and geometries – flow through our everyday actions and objects in ways that we do not necessarily control. The ‘natural versus artificial’ debate is re-presented here in two very different ways.

1.  A mid-19thC German scientist, Friedlieb Runge, noticed the spontaneous, pattern-making behaviour of dye solution passing through absorbent paper. By means of a simple ‘ink blot’ method, dramatic radial bands of coloured pigment emerge – partly by design and partly by natural, dynamic propensities.

2.  One hundred years on, other natural dynamic propensities were being exploited in massive air bombardments across Europe. The systems involved are often cited as exemplars of highly-organised design activity. In purely visual terms, however, the air-ground engagements afford their own visual language, the unintended signatures of emergent form.

The artist, Michael Sadd, will give an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Migration of Form’ based on his practice-centred PhD.

Talk starts at 6.30pm

Join us at our next First Friday event at Marine Studios

We will be drinking to the success of the first Game Expo East Kent [GEEK] and the second Adventures in Comics.

Come and help us plan the next installment of these events.

This is largely due to the huge success of last year's Adventures in Comics show and as a result of the support and enthusiasm of all those who contributed to make this an annual event. We will endeavor to make an even bigger noise with this year's show.

We will be bringing you a great exhibition featuring entries to this year's 'LIFE BOAT' 2-page-comic challenge (deadline is 20th January so you still have time to enter) which will be judged this year by Mr Paul Gravett; a series of practical workshops with special guests, to challenge your skills as comics writers and makers; and a beautiful publication to mark this year's show.

We'll see you there from 3 February 2012!

AIC2 blog

Adventures in Comics is back by popular demand. To kick things off we are inviting you to respond to our 2-page-comic-challenge.

The task is simple, create a 2-page-comic under this year's theme: ‘LIFE BOAT’. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the 2 page rule (200 x 280 mm each page, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don’t forget the 'Life Boat'.

This year's entries will be judged by none other than Mr Paul Gravett! And I'm sure we can manage a prize or two for the top entries. Send your entries as electronic files (jpeg, pdf, tif or eps format) with the subject ‘LIFE BOAT’ to:

Kam@hkd.uk.com or Rick@hkd.uk.com

Deadline for entries: 20 January 2012

More news of talks, workshops and events can be found on the AIC2 blog: marinestudiosadventuresincomics.wordpress.com/

Marion Herlet will be talking about her work in Moçambique – She will be joined by Kelly & Arash who will talk about their Treeless 500 Club.
Come along, hear about the work they are doing and maybe even join in with their projects.
Craft and its role in developing Sustainable Communities.

Seven Artists Seven Interventions One Space: Telling Stories: Alexander Brattell, Dawn Cole, Sinéid Codd, Martin Everett, Cathryn Kemp, Louise Kenward & Lucinda Wells

Seven artists make seven interventions in one space. Seven disparate multi-disciplinary artists come together to explore narrative structures within their work.

Working together, yet distinctly apart, the artists forge connections, engaging in visual and literary dialogue which gently probes the place where fact meets fiction, where lies meet truth, where the psychic space of ‘in between’ and ‘far apart’ collide and collaborate.

As storytellers, the artists ask their viewers to fill in the blanks, to enter into a narrative where anything is possible, where the art object itself stands under scrutiny, where the artist as shaman, as teacher, as visionary is explored and renegotiated.

Seven ways of perception are contained within a physical and psychological structure which stands as metaphor for the stories themselves, the narrative arc which acts as container for the mutual desire to tell tales.

Are the stories true? What is written between the lines? What is implied by the narration and does it matter? Is it enough to stand within the imaginative space of the works and wonder?

It’s our birthday! So come join us to celebrate at our next 1st Friday. We’ll be looking forward to upcoming events and announcing the next 2-page-comic-challenge in the run-up to our Adventures in Comics 2 event in February 2012.

Hear our plans and find out how you can be involved. Bring ideas, friends and a bottle. We hope to see you there!