Ultimate Holding Company Blog

We are extInked launches at Manchester Museum tonight!

2011-07-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

Come and join us this evening as we celebrate the launch of We are extInked at the Manchester Museum.

This exhibition documents extInked, a unique arts and ecology project which began in 2009 as a response to species loss in the UK.

We are extInked brings together the original pen and ink drawings, documentary footage of the tattooing process and extraordinary photographic portraits of the ambassadors created on a rare 19th century camera by Anatomy Projects. The work will be shown alongside rare specimens from The Manchester Museum collections and documentation of the progress of the 100 volunteer ambassadors as they work to protect and advocate for their species.

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 9^th
July

2011 and will be situated alongside the new 'Living Worlds' Gallery, which explores the connections between all living things, including us, and shows how we can all shape the future by the choices we make.

We are extInked launch:

Friday 8th July 2011
6.00 - 8.00pm

(Speeches at 6.30pm)
The Manchester Museum
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL

For more information on how to get to the museum please click here.

For more information about the extInked project and the We are extInked tour please click here.

Bread Baking at Mill

2010-11-24T07:16:00.000-08:00

Jai recently gave a bread making workshop at Islington Mill Salford as part of the event The Doers, The Drifters & The Dreamers. Working in the former cotton mill participants made Challah a traditional jewish bread made up off a series of knotts and dusted with poppy seeds - yum!

Design and Media Lab postgraduate shows

2010-10-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday saw the opening of the Design and Media LAB postgraduate shows at Hotspur House. With the Fourth Floor cleared and cleaned, the once condemmed space was completely transformed into a unique exhibition venue. The students exhibited a range of work, from graphic prints to large scale film installation, showcasing the diversity of projects undertaken on the MA course. We hope that the exhibition marks the start of a contuining relationship with the Design Lab and is the first of many events to be held in the newly rennovated space.

* photos by Alex Bown

UHC hosts the MA Design Show

2010-10-07T04:29:00.001-07:00

We are very excited to be hosting the 2010 Design LAB and Media LAB postgraduate shows. Students from the MA Design, Filmmaking, Photography and Media Arts courses at Manchester Metropolitan University will be showing work at Hotspur House between 14-17 October. The private view is between 4-8pm on Thursday 14 October.

The show has been curated and produced with the support of UHC, Hotspur House and Jai Redman. It will be the first time the public has been allowed access to the top floors of the building in nearly 10 years and it marks a watershed in our project to create a permanent collaborative design studio in the space.

More info on the show can be found here: www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk/mashow

EVA Lisbon

2010-10-05T01:18:00.000-07:00

Jai, UHC's creative director, was recently invited to speak at a conference in Lisbon. The conference marked the culmination of a series of successful experimental socially engaged art projects in 7 different challenging neighbourhoods in the city. The series of projects took place under the title of EVA and marked an important change in direction for art in the city, where experimental collaborative practice is still seen as rare.

Jai spoke about projects UHC have undertaken in the UK introducing a range of socially engaged work to the conference audience. Eva Merz from the New Social Art School also gave a talk about her work and in return her and Jai learnt about the issues facing artists working with poor communities in Lisbon.

The conference was hosted by the National Immigration Centre on 23rd Sept 2010. It was introduced by Pedro Calado, representing the City's cultural department who were partners in EVA and Paulo Gouveia from the Clube Português de Artes e Ideias who's amazing studio managed the residencies.

A-N for Lunch

2010-09-15T02:41:00.001-07:00

UHC recently hosted a lunch for A-N members and staff during their visit to Manchester. Having been to Castlefield gallery and on route to Rogue Studios and Cornerhouse, the group stopped off at UHC for some freshly made lunch. With all of the studio helping out we laid on a feast of paella, homemade bread and vegan cup cakes.

Eating on the fourth floor marked the beginning of our plans to transform the space into a regular site for events, discussions and artist’s use. With the lunch going down smoothly chatting with members of A-N about our plans, we got excited about the development of hotspur house and UHC’s future projects.

As part of our development of the fourth floor we will be hosting a series of Reading Groups in the space discussing the themes explored in EXAM, continuing our development of the project and hopefully sparking some lively debates! The first Reading Group will be held on the 29th of September from 6pm-8pm - more information will be added to the project website soon - www.examproject.org

Futures North looks beyond the "Big Society"

2010-09-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Last week we took part in the Futures North Conference in Leeds, where we met with other Co-operatives to discuss and learn about setting new directions on education, economy, energy, technology and transition.

There was a choice of interactive workshops, insightful speakers, and practical learning whilst having the opportunity to speak to other exhibitors.

The Futures North Conference aimed to "Look beyond the Big Society”, bringing together some of the key people and the ideas that offer practical solutions enabling communities to tackle today’s problems, and create a greener, fairer and more sustainable future."

We took part in an inspirational workshop by Make It Happen Consultancy, who are leaders in social change and aim to challenge and change the traditional business model to one where social and ethical values are embedded in the way that business is conducted. They talked about how to create impact, growth and value using 4 key elements from their business model, including profit, ethics, people and impact.

The event was a great way to meet with other co-ops, discuss our role as a design studio and show how our services can benefit the needs of clients from all backgrounds. Sourcing 'ethical' design can be difficult and although not perfect, we are committed to providing a service that challenges the norms of the design industry and aims to achieve more for society as a whole.

Changes afoot

2010-09-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

Our Studio at UHC is going through some major re-developments; a general move around provoked us into totally rethinking the way we work and the atmosphere we work in.

In the recent weeks we have decided to refurbish our kitchen - moving it to a more suitable and practical space, and to create a new working environment for the Design Studio. This development of the working space is well beyond necessary, and it comes at a time when a little encouragement and change is needed to stimulate the atmosphere of the studio for all those who work here.

Simon has proposed a new location for the kitchen and we will be documenting the stages of the re-development, showing in all its glory the hidden treasures of the Hotspur House, the mess we create and the relief when we finally have running water from a tap!

Like everything that UHC do - we are trying to make our work space more sustainable, longer lasting and efficient; by recycling different materials for the re-build we are contributing to the future of what UHC can provide for artists, designers and the people who work here.

It's GCSE results day!

2010-08-18T03:38:00.000-07:00

Today sees teenagers across the country eagerly awaiting the delivery of their GCSE exam results. However, this year is a little different - there are also 89 excited individuals from all over the North West waiting for the postman to arrive. These 89 individuals made history back in May by sitting the first ever prototype exam paper on GCSE Level LGBT Studies and are now part of a small revolution within the current UK teaching curriculum.

An overview of all EXAM results is available online at a new website called EXAM PROJECT dedicated to EXAM and it's future manifestations. Take a look at the site to see how everyone did. We hope to add new documentation as the project expands over the coming months.

Everyone at Ultimate Holding Company feels that EXAM was a huge success and only made possible through the participation of the candidates, thank you and congratulations to you all.

We are also excited to announce that we are going to be hosting a series of reading groups over the autumn months open to all EXAM candidates and their friends. The meetings will continue the themes and topics explored in the EXAM paper and will be a chance to discuss the different areas covered in the exam, as well as hear from guest speakers about LGBT history and culture. The first Reading Group will meet on Wednesday 29th Sept with a focus on Polari. Further details can be found below;

Date: Wednesday 29th Sept 2010
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Location: Hotspur House, 2 Gloucester Street, M1 5QR

For more information visit www.examproject.org.uk  or call 0161 238 8523.

Class Portrait

2010-07-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Via the Creative Review Blog - The D&AD Best New Blood Winners 2010 were announced and although there were some particularly thought provoking and stimulating design pieces, what caught our attention was the somewhat controversial topic of child photography.

The project we liked most, by Anna Brooks and Samantha Harvey entitled Class Portrait, looks at 'the ethical issues and paranoia surrounding the laws of photographing children' in a visually arresting series of images.

Student Details:

anna-brooks.com

samantha-harvey.co.uk

What BP could have bought with all the money they lost!

2010-07-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

An interesting thought !
Lets see some things that they could have bought :

// 10 years of water for each of the 884 million people in the world without access to it.
// A year's sponsorship for 1 million needy kids at Children International.
// A Pogo stick for every elementary Kid in the US.
// An ice cream sandwich for everyone on the earth.

An incredible loss and one that will effect us all - with a huge environmental impact it has and continues to destroy everything within its reach.

See more at:
http://www.visualeconomics.com/what-bp-could-have-bought-with-all-the-money-they-lost/

EXAM - UHC host the first ever GCSE level examination in LGBT studies!

2010-06-23T01:57:00.000-07:00

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in late May at the University of Salford's Maxwell Hall, one hundred members of the public made history by sitting the first ever GCSE level examination in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History, Culture and Politics.

'I took part in Exam, it was a unique experience for me. As a gay man, I came out at school aged 14. School became impossible and I hardly attended barr the last five exams. ~ Sitting that exam yesterday was an emotional and deeply personal experience that worked on many levels, thank you for the chance for me to participate in this.' Exam Candidate, 24/05/2010.

Commissioned by Queer Up North as part of their 2010 festival, Exam is a result of a four-month community engagement project with LGBT groups and individuals of all ages throughout the North West.

The artist, Joe Richardson hopes that Exam will feed a campaign to see perspectives and histories from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people recognised within all subjects of the National Curriculum.

Photograph by Roshana Rubin-Mayhew.

A Horse Walks Into A Bar at Castlefield Gallery

2010-06-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Holding Company will be part of Castlefield's A Horse Walks Into A Bar show, which opens at 6pm tomorrow evening (17th June, 2010). We've submitted a couple of the gorgeous Anatomy Projects portraits of Ambassadors from extInked, the original drawings of the 100 endangered species, the almanac of all our research and the applications to become an ambassador. The exhibition follows our Ambassadors' Reunion, which we held at the gallery last Saturday (the 12th of June), and our work will be shown alongside artists like Dan Staincliffe, Maddi Nicholson, Richard Billingham and Turner Prize-winner Mark Wallinger.

All Day I Dream About suffering.

2010-06-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ultimate holding company have responded to last weekend's Manchester Adidas street party (at Granada's Coronation Street studio) with the special release of this commemorative Stove Pipe Top Hat.

Released to mark the return of clothes factory worker's exploitation to the city which gave birth to it, the hat is this season's must have fashion accessory - here as a timely reminder that modern manufacturing process has not eradicated the poor-house, merely exported it abroad.

Keith Taylor MEP website live

2010-06-02T04:46:00.001-07:00

We've just built a website for the new Green Party MEP Keith Taylor in record time. The design and build was all done in a week and we're quite proud and excited about the work, check the new site out here.

Keith is very passionate about the issues close to his heart, which includes social justice, peace and human rights, and economic development. Read more about him and follow the process of his latest work on his website. We look forward to continuing our work with Keith as he settles into his new role.

Lastly, congratulations to Caroline Lucas for winning the first Green MP seat in Brighton. We wish her all the best in this new position!

Music Plus Evaluation

2010-04-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

We've just had a very productive meeting with Naomi Kashiwagi and thought we would share our notes. We'll be working with Naomi and some of Manchester's cultural venues over the next six months to help them evaluate the success of the new Music Plus event. We are all a bit excited about the project's potential so we will keep you updated on the progress we make.

Just The Ticket

2010-04-09T01:42:00.000-07:00

Just The Ticket was a series of courses run by the Workers' Education Authority. WEA aims to engage people from isolated communities and enable them to realise their full potential through learning. The Just the Ticket courses ranged from 2 to 120 hours, covering a wide variety of topics, from history to needle-craft and took place in both Liverpool and Manchester.

Friday 26th of March saw an awards ceremony and workshop sessions held at The Whitworth Art Gallery, to celebrate the achievements of the participants. We were there to host commemorative plate making workshops, for the learners and the staff involved with Just the Ticket and to commend the success of the project.

We are now currently working on a book for the dedicated learners as a memory of the project.

For more information on the courses and venues, see the Just the Ticket website www.weacreative.org.uk or for more about the WEA visit www.wea.org.uk.

Photography by Gill Moore, www.gillmoorephotography.co.uk.

Appeal - Western Capercaillie

2010-04-07T03:41:00.000-07:00

Although the tattooing element of extInked is now finished, the project is far from over with many of the ambassadors launching fundamental follow-up awareness raising projects. The ambassador for the Wetsren Capercaillie, Nick Dixon, is starting a grassroots group to support the RSPB affiliated 'Friends of the Western Capercaillie'.

As the minimum joining fee for the group is a £25o, which is too expensive for the average individual, Nick is looking for 125 people to donate £2 per year each to start. Members will receive a periodic newsletter from 'Friends of the Western Capercaillie', giving information about the conservation progress made to keep this Scottish species alive.

For further information, or to join the group, please contact us at mail@uhc.org.uk.

'EXAM' marks 10 years since the repeal of homophobic Section 28.

2010-03-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 23rd May 2010 artists from Ultimate Holding Company premiere their new large-scale project 'EXAM' - with 100's of volunteers and months of research into queer political and cultural history.

The piece, blending visual art, education and immersive performance is the brainchild of 27 year old Manchester artist Joseph Richardson. It will premiere for one day only and commemorates 10 years since the repeal of laws banning the teaching of same sex relationships in schools.

Exam has been commissioned as part of this year's Queer Up North Festival, Manchester's international queer festival of live performance and art.

We are staying tight-lipped about the finer details of this intriguing immersive project. To find out more you need to book a free place, come along and take part. The event is open to everyone and will be free to attend, but advance booking is essential for participating candidates as places are limited to 100.

To book email exam@queerupnorth.com or visit the Queer Up North Website.

You may learn and be challenged; be engaged or be changed. One thing is certain - you will be tested…

For more information about EXAM or how you can get involved please visit the website or call Kate Houlton on 0161 238 8523.

Spring is Sprung

2010-03-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

With spring in the air, we've been down to our allotment in Wythenshawe to see how the new season is going to look down there. We're restructuring the plan for the allotment a little bit to try and make the whole thing a tiny bit more productive, and we're putting a new path in, it's all pretty exciting!

Portfolio updates

2010-03-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest updates to the Collective Encounters page in our design portfolio.

Eco Certifications

2010-03-03T06:46:00.000-08:00

Here at Ultimate Holding Company we're always challenging ourselves to explore every angle of ethical print production. Schemes, certifications and processes change rapidly so its important to keep on top. So having put the work in we thought we'd share a selection of some of the commonly used certifications we have come across recently. We'll also be following up this post with with an introductory glossary of some environmental sound print processes too.

EMAS – This stands for the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, an initiative designed to improve companies’ environmental performance. EMAS sets the highest environmental standards of all the environmental management schemes (EMS).

IS0 14001 – This is an internationally recognised scheme. It provides a framework for environmental awareness, monitoring and continual improvement.

Green Dragon – This scheme is for Welsh companies that wish to improve their environmental performance but don’t have the resources for ISO14001. There are five levels, each one contributing towards the achievement of international and European environmental standards

Greenmark – This was developed by the London Environment Centre (LEC), part of London Metropolitan University and is more appropriate for smaller companies who lack the resources for IS0 14001

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody – If a printer holds the FSC Chain of Custody and the paper being used in a project is FSC certified, the end product can be labelled as FSC certified. This certificate is about the fibre tracking process only and ensures that there is no contamination between FSC and non-FSC material. It is not about environmental standards maintained within the factory.

'Carbon neutral' schemes – Please be aware that so-called ‘carbon neutral’ status is not a good indication of environmental performance. There is currently no regulation in this area and so it can simply be bought through offsetting schemes.

If you found this post of interest you may also be interested in our design newsletter, you can view it here or if your confident you'll like it sign up here! Dont worry, it's not shameless self promotion, its more of a place for us to share our knowledge of the things we find important. Socially engaged and environmentally friendly design to be precise ;)

NESTA Creative Credits round 2

2010-02-25T02:52:00.000-08:00

NESTA is doing another round of their brilliant Creative Credits scheme, the deadline is 1st March so if you haven't got your application in yet make sure you do! More info on: www.creative-credits.org.uk/apply-for-a-credit/

Leeds Plan B & Scouse Soul Stew books online now!

2010-02-23T03:45:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that the beautiful hand bound books documenting the Ultimate Holding Company's Leeds Plan B and Scouse Soul Stew projects have been completed and uploaded to the project pages on to our website. The books were designed in-house by UHC and bound by Lucy May Schofield.

To download a pdf of the Leeds Plan B book please click here.

To download a pdf of the Scouse Soul Stew book please click here.

Reclaim Power posters

2010-02-17T07:06:00.001-08:00

A couple of poster design proposals we supplied to Climate Justice Action recently!

RSA Arts and Ecology - The highlights of 2009.

2010-02-09T03:25:00.001-08:00

We are extremely happy to announce that Ext Inked has been selected by the RSA as one of the arts and ecology highlights of 2009!

To see the full list of highlights please visit the RSA Arts and Ecology website.

Picture of the day

2010-02-09T02:31:00.000-08:00

Our image of the day shows Ink V's Steel hard at work tattooing Ext Inked ambassadors with their chosen species. Ext Inked, the latest art project from Ultimate Holding Company, in conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society, Buglife (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) and the People's Trust for Endangered Species.

To find out more about this project please visit the Ext Inked project page and to see more images of the exhibition and the tattoos please visit the Ext Inked facebook page.

UHC on Twitter

2010-01-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

UHC has started Tweeting, follow us on http://twitter.com/Ult_Holding_Co!

Principle Six

2010-01-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

Co-operatives UK have produced a worker co-operative Code of Governance with seven principles providing a guide for running a successful co-operative business . One of these principles, number six, advocates co-operation, networking and trading between co-operatives to strengthen the co-operative economy and broaden the movement.

UHC attended a business referral event today, which was based on Principle 6 and organised by Co-operatives North West, giving co-operatives in the north west an opportunity to think about how we can bring more business to each other, or in other ways help with the development of each others activities.

It was a great event in terms of getting to know other regional business better and get ideas for how we can help promote each other or contribute to the growth of the sector. More Principle 6 events are planned for the north west over the spring and we are looking forward to attending the next one!

ExtInked Press

2010-01-04T02:34:00.001-08:00

Amelia's Magazine by Adam Sutcliffe
Amelia's Magazine by Grace Beaumont
BBC Manchester
The Guardian by Jenny Jones
The Guardian by Hugh Warwick
New Scientist by Jessica Griggs
The Mule by Samantha Bradey
South Manchester Reporter by Amy Glendinning

Seasons Greetings

2009-12-17T05:34:00.000-08:00

2009 is almost behind us and it's been a busy year developing exciting new projects with some old friends and welcoming aboard some great new collaborators. We'd like to say a massive thank you to all our clients, friends and collaborators for a great year, we hope you will have a lovely Christmas and we're looking forward to seeing you in the new year!

The studio will be closed for our winter break from Thursday 17th December and we are opening again on Monday the 4th January 2010. We'll be checking our phones and emails regularly however so please feel free to get in touch!

Thinking Objects features Spring Shrouds

2009-12-12T10:05:00.001-08:00

Excellent product design book 'Thinking Objects', written by our friend, designer and university lecturer Tim Parsons, features a short section on 'Design as political activism' which mentions UHC's Spring Shrouds, designed and made for comedian Mark Thomas two years ago. The shrouds were put up around Manchester during rush hour one morning, covering every pavement advertising hoarding in the city centre (80 in total), giving commuters a 'temporary respite from the daily barrage of commercial messages'. The book can be bought from AVA Academia.

Thank You

2009-12-10T04:40:00.000-08:00

Since hand delivering the Leeds Plan B Manifesto to key decision making organisations around Leeds city centre back in November we are extremely pleased to have received several thank you letters which we have quoted below;

Councillor Andrew Carter - Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council

“Thank you for your recent letter; I will certainly look at the website to find out more about the project. I am a keen gardener so will definitely use this on my garden and look forward to seeing the results.”

John Thorpe - The City Workshop

“Thank you for delivering the art work, especially as it forms part of the final ten works from your limited edition of 200.I am part of a small group of colleagues who cultivate an urban allotment. My contribution is to turn the full volume of soil - which rests on demolition land- and to introduce to it organically produced compost and horse manure to it. The contents of the artwork ill be used accordingly and the container placed carefully to bio-digrade. With Thanks, best wishes and appreciation of a beautiful work.”

ExtInked book

2009-12-10T03:20:00.000-08:00

This 240 page book was produced in-house for ExtInked, it documents all the illustrations included in the project and provides factual information for each species. The book was printed in black ink (with additional colour photographs of the event inserted), using a skin-like cover and was beautifully hand bound by artist Lucy May Schofield.

We are currently looking into producing additional copies of the book which will go on sale shortly at affordable prices. For more pictures of the book, see the ExtInked project page on our website.

Picture of the day

2009-12-09T02:51:00.001-08:00

The Budge sign is a 6ft tall art piece that was created by the UHC collective and exhibited at the Manchester Contemporary floor at the Buy Art Fair at Urbis earlier this autumn. It's still up for sale and if you're interested please contact timo@uhc.org.uk.

Hand Delivery

2009-11-26T04:22:00.000-08:00

Since the successful public launch of the Leeds Plan B manifesto back in October, we have been hard at work ensuring the project has not gone unnoticed by the city’s decision makers. On a dull, rainy November day Jai and the team took to the streets of Leeds to personally hand deliver the Leeds Plan B Manifesto as a gift to key organisations around the city centre. We successfully delivered 10 biodegradable bags of compost each hand printed with the 13 point sustainability plan. We hope that these handmade works of art would encourage discussion and perhaps a new vision for the city of Leeds.

Omnicrom CT500

2009-11-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

Currently in production for the extinked exhibition are the event fact files. 100 are to be produced, one for each species, using the appropriately obsolete transfer process of the Omnicrom system for the covers. Omnicrom is a simple transfer process based on the chemical interaction between Omnicolour colouring sheets and the thermoplastic resin used in photocopier toner. The pigment present in the Omnicolour sheet is transferred under conditions of heat and pressure directly to the surface of the photocopy, and once transferred, it can not be removed. The end result has a finish comparable with with litho printing and foil blocking.

Leeds Plan B manifesto launch

2009-11-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

Leeds Plan B came to its conclusion on October 24th with the public launch of the sustainability manifesto. In spite of the autumnal weather our stall giving away the manifesto, hand printed on dozens of bags of compost attracted a great deal of interest.

By the end of the afternoon we were soaking wet but had given away a hundred bags of compost. The Leeds Plan B manifesto, written by Jai Redman (as artist in residence with the universtity's school of geography) with students, lecturers and local campaigners, calls for the 'composting' of the city's resources, returning the assets to local grass roots stewardship.

If you want to see one of the few remaining manifesto bags, visit Manchester's Cube Gallery, where the work is on display in the current Open Submission show until 18th of December.

Signs of Revolt exhibition

2009-11-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Some of UHC's artwork are being exhibited at the Signs of Revolt, Creative Resistance and Social Movements since Seattle exhibition in London next week, alongside artists such as Jonathan Barnbrook, Jody Boehnert and Noel Douglas. The exhibition highlights activist artwork produced since the demonstration in Seattle 10 years ago where direct action activists, environmentalists and trade unionists shut down the meeting of the World Trade Organisation. The exhibition is also looking towards the Copenhagen climate summit, weaving together stories from a movement working against capitalism, war and climate change.

If you're in London next week this should be well worth a visit. It takes place at Shop 14, The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane from Friday 13th November to Sunday 22nd November.

A third of all species threatened with extinction!

2009-11-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

It's all about ExtInked at the moment. Shocking news this morning, "More than a third of species assessed in a major international biodiversity study are threatened with extinction, scientists have warned." That's according to the IUCN. Read the full article on BBC News here. Also, according to the RSPB the bird Hen Harrier (which is on our list of possible tattoos) has had a really bad year. Both the IUCN and the RSPB referred to climate change and loss of habitat due to human encroachment as major contributing factors.

ExtInked launch invites

2009-10-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

The ExtInked launch invitation flyers arrived from the printers today and we can't wait to send them out! The event takes places on Thursday night the 12th November, all of the 100 drawings will be exhibited to the public for the first time and it will also be the opportunity to sign up for the tattoo of your choice, so don't miss out!

ExtInked on Co-op blog

2009-10-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to see our tattooing project ExtInked being featured on the Co-operatives UK In the Spotlight blog, check out the post here!

2009-10-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

Leeds Plan B - Saturday 24th

2009-10-21T02:47:00.000-07:00

Leeds Plan B - Manifesto Launch

Created as a collaboration between the people of Leeds, students from the School of Geography at Leeds University and artist Jai Redman from Ultimate Holding Company - the Leeds Plan B manifesto is about to launch.

The 13 point plan for 'composting the city' (and returning its resources to common ownership by the people) has been printed on hundreds of compost bags. The bags are painted bright yellow, printed with an elaborately illustrated Leeds Plan B logo and backed with the 13 point plan. Each contains a generous supply of locally produced sustainable compost mulch and the bags and liners are fully biodegradable.

The manifesto bags will be given away for free at Dortmund Square from 11.00am - 4.00pm on Saturday 24th October.

This is a one off, unique public event - come down and grab a beautiful bag of art.

The Leeds Plan B manifesto is also published online at www.leedsplanb.org.uk and is a living document and your comments and additions are welcomed.

More details are also available from the Leeds Plan B project page or by emailing info@leedsplanb.org.uk

Location & Date

Dortmund Square, St Johns Centre, The Headrow, Leeds, LS2 8RE from 11.00am - 4.00pm on Saturday 24th October. (map here)

Bag supplies are limited - arrive early to avoid disappointment. We recommend you bring a friend to help carry the compost - the bags weigh approximately 15kg. (The manifesto is also available as more traditional paper flyers!).

Friends

Ultimate Holding Company residency was developed by artist Jai Redman and was Supported by the Leverhulme Trust.

The manifesto launch is presented as part of Listen To Leeds' Day of Climate InterAction, and has been devised in conjunction with students from the School of Geography's Activism and Social Change MA.

Photo by Thomas Bing.

extInked event details confirmed!

2009-10-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

Opening Thursday, 12th November 2009
In the year in which the world celebrates Charles Darwin’s birthday bicentennial Ultimate Holding Company embarks on a once in a lifetime social experiment.

With the expert assistance of several prominent conservation charities and the artistry of tattooists from Ink Vs Steel, Ultimate Holding Company have created extInked.

A new exhibition of drawings, individually illustrating one hundred of the most endangered species in the British Isles opens next month and reaches its conclusion with the live tattooing of the drawings on one hundred willing volunteers.

The result of this unique exhibition will be an army of ambassadors for threatened and rare birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, plants and fungi.

Preview and Launch
Exhibition opens 7:30pm, Thursday 12th November, 2009 Continues daily (10:00am - 6:00pm) until the 1st of December.

Tattooing commences 7:30pm, Thursday 26th November and continues until Sunday 29th November.

Unit 108, Chapel St. Walks Development, Chapel St., Salford, M3 5DW

Become an Ambassador If you're interested in becoming one of our life-long ambassadors, and being tattooed with an endangered species simply come along to the exhibition from the 12th November.

You must be 18 or over to be considered. Tattoos are free, however a deposit will be required.

A full list of species is available from our extInked project page.

Partner Organisations
extInked is presented In proud association with the Marine Conservation Society, Buglife - the Invertebrate Conservation Trust and the People's Trust for Endangered Species.

Support
You can still donate to help extInked happen. Any profits will go towards our conservation partners.

Join our 700 supporters on Facebook.

2009-10-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

The logo we came up with for Camp for Climate Action last year seem more relevant than ever!

Good news x 3

2009-10-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

1. Plans for a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth have been
shelved
2. BAA are giving up on the Heathrow Third Runway
3. Danish energy firm Dong has pulled out of building a new coal fired power station in Ayrshire, Scotland

What next?

2009-10-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

The UHC Water Table and Jarvis Cocker!

2009-09-30T04:17:00.000-07:00

Artist group Metal opened their new residency building Chalkwell Hall this weekend, here's Jarvis Cocker being interviewed sat at their table hand-crafted in-house by Ultimate Holding Company. The table was built using sustainably sourced American oak and the video clip is showing some great detail of the illustration, which was beautifully drawn onto the table using indian ink. (please ignore the silly advert at the beginning of the clip!)

Graphic Design intern wanted

2009-09-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

We are currently looking for a new graphic design intern to get on board, if you are interested please see our website for more info!

UHC at the Buy Art Fair 2009

2009-09-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

This year's Buy Art Fair opens on Thursday at Urbis in Manchester. We'll be showing new work as part of The Manchester Contemporary floor and are proud to be representing the hosts, Urbis Creative Programmes. The show should be well worth a visit, with many other local arts organisations exhibiting including Castlefield Gallery and International 3, and includes a specially curated project by Liverpool's Ceri Hand.

We'll be offering very affordable multiples, whilst also showcasing some beautiful and unique bigger pieces. Take home prices start at £70.

The show opens at 5:00 pm this Thursday and runs until Sunday the 27th of September.

Under construction

2009-09-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

UHC are producing a new CMS (Content Management System) website for the Ecological Land Co-operative, who's aim is to create a diverse and abundant countryside capable of feeding the nation, with affordable entry level opportunities for farming, forestry and other rural land based businesses. If you want to get involved you can apply to become a member or even buy shares in the co-operative, all via the new site. The site will go live in October so keep your eyes open!

2009-09-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Poster artwork by Jai Redman

EXT INKED hit the radio waves

2009-09-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

106.1 Rock Radio Manchester invited Jai Redman and Timo Ten Feld to join Steve Berry on the breakfast show to talk about EXT INKED the forth coming UHC project celebrating Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday.

To download and listen again to this interview please see the EXT INKED profile page.

The Carbon Map at Arnolfini

2009-09-08T03:36:00.000-07:00

The Carbon Map created by UHC in 2007 was commissioned by Platform for the Transport Planning Society. The large artwork (1680mm x 1187mm) will once again go on show, this time at Arnolfini contemporary arts centre in Bristol.

Artist-activist group PLATFORM and their collaborators propose ‘C Words’, a two-month investigation into carbon, climate, capital and culture. Based on PLATFORM’s 25 years of research, art and action, C Words cross-examines the present and looks to the next two decades. How did we get here? Where are we going? Who’s deciding? Who’s made invisible? Whose future matters? PLATFORM members will be in residence at Arnolfini throughout the project.

Over 25 events, installations, performances, actions, walks, courses, discussions and skills-sharing will build towards the moment of public departure to the protests at the contested COP 15 in Copenhagen. This isn’t art which merely describes the problems of climate justice. C Words investigates how everything from carbon offsets and transport, to racism and bank accounts play their part in the carbon web. How will culture be produced in a low energy future? Can we imagine our way from here to there?

The Carbon Map will form part of the exhibition entitled - C Words: Carbon, Climate, Capital, Culture, How did you get here and where are we going? The show will open on Saturday 3rd October 2009 through to Sunday 29th November.

New stationery fresh from the printers

2009-08-18T04:40:00.000-07:00

The UHC team is back from the summer holidays and we are celebrating this by launching our re-vamped identity and new stationery! Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable oil based inks, of course.

Food Factory First Success

2009-08-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

Here it is! Our very first lettuce.

Successful early planting is now rewarding us with our first crops of peas, chard, potatoes and lettuces. Boxes of the veg have been taken home by Ryan Delvin and others been passed to the Headmaster at St Paul’s and the food tech staff. Everyone has been amazed with the results so far.

City Editions

2009-08-12T03:59:00.000-07:00

So following their continued studies into local power relationships and conflicts in urban regeneration, students working with me on the Leeds Plan B residency have written a series of articles and photoessays. They were encouraged to come up with work which was outside of the normal student essay and the results were as varied as they were intriguing! As an artist/desginer my brief to myself with this part of the project was to take ordinary student research papers and create unique and beautiful art objects. The essays became a hand-bound paperback book, with the work laid out inside by our UHC designers. The books are called the Plan B 'City Edition', reflecting the way they were written - in direct response to the streets.

Enclosure Identity Part 2

2009-08-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

The new graphic identity work for Enclosure continues.

Urban Safari Shorts!

2009-08-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Leeds Plan B residency is getting out and about and engaging with the local environment. In two groups the students have been out on self-developed safaris, following their own instinct and mapping the changing urban landscape along the way. We wanted to focus on spotting evidence of local power relationships and conflicts in urban regeneration. And what do you know, one of the first encounters was with young free runners using a piece of old public art as a spring board.

Allotment Work Day

2009-08-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

This has been our most successful work day so far! Over 20 pupils came from year 7 and helped to dig and plant new beds, weed the existing crops and mulch the paths with woodchip. Ryan and Ryan built two new benches from reclaimed wood to create a central seating area. This work day is a continuation of events organized by Ecochallenge. We'd like to thank Emma for helping to make this happen.

Leeds Plan B is born

2009-07-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of major new pieces being developed as part of the Leverhulme Trust residency and I've decided to tie them all together as one concept. Leeds Plan B is to be a living manifesto for a sustainable Leeds, instead of our original idea to make a city room (Leeds already has one of those!) I'm planning on making a temporary space out in the city centre, with some new sculptural work, and a new website and manifesto statement. The whole thing should sit together as a body of work with lasting legacies. The logo, which is an essential part of the plan, has been developed by myself with the help of Tom Bing (our resident photographer!). The yellow colour theme will run throughout the project from now on and the canaries will be a recurring theme too.

Pond

2009-07-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Things are in full-swing at the Food Factory Allotment. A new addition to the site - one amazing looking pond complete with water-lilies, yellowflag and marsh mallow (not the sweet kind). Let's hope it attracts plenty of frogs.

Sowing seeds in Leeds

2009-07-29T02:14:00.000-07:00

Not knowing whether the Leeds artist residency would result in some kind of guerilla gardening or permaculture exercise, I've been planting seeds of vegetables and sunflowers with the geography students, just in case we needed them... As it turns out so far we haven't, which is OK, as Paul Chatterton, who is the School's host applicant for the residency, has been taking them to his allotment. It has to be said that although the class threw themselves into the sowing with some enthusiasm, it was surprising how few had ever planted seeds before. A sad footnote - pretty much all of the plants died over the Easter holidays - next time I'm enforcing a strict watering rota!

Congratulations to Owl Project on winning the Best of Manchester Awards 2009!

2009-07-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Owl Project is an art collective producing stunning musical instruments that mimic popular hand-held gadgets such as the iPod and are crafted from simple, untreated pieces of wood that ‘critique human interaction with computer interfaces and our increasing appetite for new and often disposable technologies’.

Organised by Urbis and judged by a panel of industry experts, the The Best of Manchester Awards celebrate innovation in art, music and fashion. It was announced last week that Owl Project are selected as this year's winners for the art category. We think they are worthy winners and are happy to see them being awarded the prize.

Ultimate Holding Company worked with Owl Project in 2008 to create the printed 'scrolls' (resembling a small log when rolled up), promoting their noise generator the 'iLog' and providing instructions for making your very own iLog. We are currently printing a second run of the scrolls which will be beautifully hand screen printed by local artist Nick Rhodes from Switchopen. Look out for these 'deluxe' versions of the scrolls from September onwards!

Shed

2009-07-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

After repeated requests for somewhere to shelter from showers, Ryan Loose and Ryan Delvin have struggled with Joe and Chris to build a shed. (Who writes the instructions that come with these things?!). Well it's finally up and we think it's the best looking shed on the allotment. What do you think?

Jai on Leeds Leverhulme Residency

2009-07-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

Since January 2009 I've been working in Leeds at the University on a 9 month residency, funded by the Leverhulme Trust.

It's been quite a radically different learning experience for everyone at the School of Geography, where I've been working with geographers from the research cluster 'Urban Cultures and Consumption' as well as campaigners from the 'Leeds, Love It, Share It' network.

To give a bit of background - I wanted to use the residency to look at how we artist/designers can produce visual materials and events that present (what can be) hard to penetrate academic work to a wider audience. This is of course a bit of propagandizing - but wholly in keeping with the geographers' activist research style.

Photography by Tom Bing.

Up until the Easter holidays, I've been attending the module lectures, which have been happening outside the School in a variety of interesting venues, including: The Leeds Library, the Design Innovation Centre, Bauman Lyons architect's offices, Tower Works in Holbeck and the Commonplace social centre. During the sessions we heard presentations from John Thorpe (Leeds' City Architect) and Andy Goldring from the Permaculture Society.

The sessions have also been attended by Tom Bing, student photographer at the university, who has now become something of a regular at UHC events - documenting the allotment project, Barrow-in-Furness events and soon to join us in Liverpool on the Scouse Soul Stew project. Please credit the photos to Tom if you want to reproduce them!

Garlic (Bread?)

2009-07-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Another lesson plan for the Ryans - This time a master class in garlic planting. Ok, so it's a little late in the year, but we wanted to have a go at companion planting garlic with strawberries (apparently, slugs are scared of garlic). So there will be plenty of strawberries for anyone who's not a fan of garlic bread!!

Baubike

2009-07-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

Check this new minimalist bike design by Danish designer Michael Ubbesen Jakobsen, its even cooler than our Art administrator - Timo's, blinging white, fixed gear sex cycle.

Runner Beans

2009-07-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

To help the Ryans learn new practical skills on the allotment we've been drawing some simple lesson plans - and then making them do all of the hard work. Here's some pictures of the runner bean plan.

We look forward to eating the results!

Raised beds

2009-07-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

We have built a system of raised beds for our crop rotation. The two most enthusiastic pupils, Ryan and Ryan (yes they are both called Ryan) now have their own crop rotation and are growing potatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, rainbow chard, onions and chives.

Plotting for success

2009-07-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

After being away for a year we are back on the allotment working hard with some new kids from St Paul's Catholic High School. We've decided to call the project Food Factory and you can read all about it on our website. This project has been supported by both the School and Food Futures and is run by volunteers from UHC

Wonderbiscuits

2009-07-06T03:01:00.000-07:00

More coverage for EXT INKED with a peice in Bizarre magazine, so bizarre they like to call us UCH just to keep things edgy.

Enclosure Identity

2009-07-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

The development of the graphic identity for Enclosure has begun. The new space located within the Hotspur House will be opening this summer and we are very exited by its potential. The new identity work we are currently undertaking is also equally exciting and we thought it would be good to give you a little sneak preview.

The concept for the new graphic identity is derived from the huge amount of the peculiar lost and forgotten paraphernalia that had to be cleared from the space. Dusty boxes, papers and industrial tit and tat dating from the 60's presented us with all sorts of old and dated color schemes and graphic styles to explore. The final outcome will be something that is very fitting for this peculiar new artist space in Manchester...

Scouse Soul Stew

2009-07-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Scouse Soul Stew is a series of artists led events in Kensington, Liverpool looking at the ingredients in life important to us all.

Sushified

2009-06-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

The newspapers and blog sites have been full of Nobu's bluefin shame over the past week or so. And quite right too. The spotlight of the imminent release of The End Of The Line which features the plight of endangered bluefin, is putting the celebrity-favourite restaurant under increasing pressure.

On Friday Greenpeace ran a full page advert in the London Evening Standard that we designed at UHC, and the story of celebrities' bluefin backlash has been reported from Hello! to the New York Post.

Follow the action on twitter:
@Greenpeace

2009-06-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

SWIMMING TOWARDS A COAL SHIP

ACOUNT FROM AONE OF THE ACTIVISTS... "Around midnight three of my colleagues eased themselves off one of the Greenpeace inflatable speedboats and into the cold water of the river Medway in Kent.

It's difficult to imagine what must be going through your mind in that situation - in the dark, in the cold water, with the looming lights of a large ship getting closer. But however difficult to imagine it is, it must have been even more difficult to do, because Cathy, Emma and Hannah knew that they were swimming out into the channel to block a coal freighter carrying twenty thousand tonnes of coal from docking at the Kingsnorth jetty."

Follow the action on twitter:
@Greenpeace

2009-06-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

GAS ZAPPERS

GAS ZAPPERS is a series of interactive online art game that tackles climate change. The game’s protagonist is the polar bear—that victimized, yet cuddly symbol of global warming. Players embody the polar bear as it progresses through different climate change scenarios: Venice under water, a forest threatened by bulldozers, and an altercation with vicious oil derricks. Fucking great.

Also check out more of kenneth tin-kin hung's work now at the Urbis.
www.gaszappers.com

2009-06-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

REPRESSION IN PERU

On June 5, World Environment Day, Amazon Indians were massacred by the government of Alan Garcia in the latest chapter of a long war to take over common lands-a war unleashed by the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and the United States.

Killed for protecting their Amazon homeland from Multinational companies intent on creating more profit whatever the cost. You can lobby your MP to urge the Government to sign the only international law for tribal and indigenous people here website

2009-06-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

PROTESTERS HIT AGAIN

Campaigners from the group Manchester Plane Stupid targeted the aviation industry's gala dinner being held at the town hall tonight. Protestors scaled two lamposts and erected a 15m banner reading, "Aviation Industry Conference - Climate Criminals Inside".

The banner drop created a lot of attention from the public and continued the pressure on the aviation industry who are attempting to greenwash the climate issue. The Aviation conference included the launch of a new initiative to make airports carbon neutral. However, this does not include the emissions from flights which currently account for around 13% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's time for the aviation industry to wake up and to start a just transition to replace aviation jobs with emerging sustainable industries such as wind turbines.' Vanessa Hall, former city councillor and Green parlimentary candidate for Manchester Central.

"There is no such thing as a 'carbon neutral' airport, 'carbon neutral' is a term used for offsetting projects that rarely result in any real reduction in emissions. This project is even more deceptive as it won't include the massive emissions from planes." James Alden, Green parlimentary candidate.

2009-06-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

GREENWASH

Campaigners disrupted an airport industry conference today using rape alarms tied to helium balloons. The protesters from the group Manchester Plane Stupid entered the Manchester Central conference venue and sent the helium balloons reading 'Happy Retirement' to the top of the ceiling where they remained with the alarms ringing.

This occurred just as the industry delegates were posing for a photo shoot for the launch of a new carbon reduction scheme at European airports - which will not include emissions from aircraft. Meanwhile, other protesters held a banner outside the entrance reading, 'Aviation Industry Conference – Climate Criminals Inside'.

The group were protesting against the aviation's growing contribution to climate change. Megan Sims from Manchester Plane Stupid said, "The airport industry is recklessly pushing ahead with expansion plans across the UK and Europe despite all the warnings about climate change. We cannot pursue this growth agenda if we are serious about tackling global warming."

"Their latest back-patting exercise is yet more greenwash from the airport industry. They provide the growth of the facilities for aircraft to operate and encourage more flights,and more climate change."

The three day conference was being hosted by Airports Council International. The conference was suspended whilst house staff struggled to remove the floating alarms from the ceiling.

2009-06-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

EXT INKED
is a new art project from Ultimate Holding Company, in conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society, Buglife (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) and the People's Trust for Endangered Species.

In celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday in 2009, the artists will invite 100 volunteers to become the ambassadors of 100 endangered UK species -by being permanently tattooed with the image of their chosen mammal, invertebrate, bird, reptile, fish or plant.

To keep EXT INKED free and avoid sponsorship, we need to raise £5,000 from you the public. This keeps the event free to attend and to participate in, hopefully attracting a new wave of interest in conservationism.

With every successful free tattoo the project will create a new ambassador for another threatened species - a living exhibition of Charlie’s other angels!

EXT INKED aims to show that our generation cares about the future of all species and is prepared to prove it in blood, sweat and tears.

Let’s Make It Happen

If you think EXT INKED is a good idea, we're going to need your help! Please keep checking back here to find out more soon. We really feel that Darwin would appreciate our desire to creatively celebrate evolution, the sheer beauty of these species and the human effort needed to save them.

"It is interesting to contemplate an entangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to relfect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different from each other, are dependent on each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting upon us..."
-Charles Darwin 'On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection'

Taken from EXTINKED facebook page, join here website

2009-06-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

GOOD STUFF!

Good 50×70 is a design contest/collection of social-conscious posters addressing seven of the critical issues affecting today’s world. Posters were chosen as the media for the contest as they’re the most direct way to convey a message and can be easily translated to other media. The creativity unleashed through the competition is then supplied freely to charities. Here's a few...

and many more here websitethanks to Gems Sty