On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July, you can be one of Obama’s People by deciding on what would be your post in his administration team and coming in to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to have your portrait made. Richard Battye will be behind the lens and your images will be emailed to you. We are hoping that people will get very imaginative – for example: Director of Gardening, Head of Magic – whatever is your interest. Of course bring your props – By appointment only. Ring Rhubarb-Rhubarb on 0121 773 7889 for a ten minute slot. Maximum 3 people in a photo.

Birmingham has a new Cabinet member of the Council for Culture – Cllr Martin Mullaney from the Lib Dems, who began his post this Monday, 18 May 2009. So on Wednesday, we met at the Museum and Art Gallery and I took him round the show. So far the project has raised almost £100k in PR for the City of Birmingham, BMAG, all the sponsors, Rhubarb and Flowers and of course Nadav… Not bad for a project done in record time on the smallest imaginable amount of money and a group of supporters who generously gave time and services. And so far, in circulation figures, the newspapers and magazines its been published in have gone to six million people…. Never mind the internet….
Cllr Mullaney is an interesting fish. He runs a comedy club, rides a Lambretta, owns a Parka and has set up a club for young people who are tagged and use grafitti as a form of communication. More, he listens to what people are telling him. So what way will the arts go now, in terms of what is and isn’t supported by the Council. Watch this space and other Birmingham blogs for more on what he’s up to.

As Lorna-Mary was missing her plane, I was firstly the gallery guide for some of the students visiting the show before attending the talk, and then transformed myself into saleswoman for last minute ticket buyers, whilst having fascinating conversations with gallery visitors. Matthew Flowers saved me and we set up a laptop in the reception of the Art School at BIAD, in Margaret Street, to look at the work of some upcoming and potentially huge talented photographers from the West Midlands. Whilst directing people to the toilets and the cafe…. Nadav, Zoe and Ed our intern, who had made the rather wonderful slide show for the talk, began transforming the lecture theatre into a stills cinema, all dark and mysterious, where the audience could see us but we couldn’t see them, only able to see one another. So for two rather wonderful hours, we just sat and talked our way through Nadav’s early years, his incredible portraits, self generated projects – which I called Quiet and Unease, and of course the Obama series. Since we have had a couple of requests to do it again in other parts of the country…. On that day Ed and I said goodbye to Zoe and Nadav at the station and set off for refreshments at Eat. It was a bit of a sad moment for us all, but we know that this is only the beginning of a relationship which will continue forever.

Of course, it had to happen. The post reception party at Must in Newhall Street was enjoyed by all, with amazing Dim Sum and the biggest wine glasses in the world. All that adrenalin and energy, mixed up with the rather wonderful wine, saw some pretty extraordinary sights as people got a bit fuzzy around the edges. But also some quite extraordinary conversations took place as the Brummies met the Londoners and enchanted one another. Some people said amazing things about the project – Francis Hodgson, Art Critic for the Financial Times, told us that the show was one of the most significant of the decade…. We left as the effects of the combined stimuli became obvious, and as Lorna-Mary had to get a plan to Krakow at 5 am the next morning, which of course she missed….. The party continued at the Radisson until the early hours and everyone but everyone was destined for some kind of hangover the next day…. Just in time for the In Conversation event….

Well we know that it has arrived as we sent it with some tracking device which allows you to follow its journey. So now of course we want to know where it is in the White House and who in fact has read it. Though it was addressed to Eugene Kang, we hope that by now its been read by President Obama and that soon we will have a reply…. Its still as exciting as when we sent it but of course we know he is busy so it could be months before that letter drops through the Rhubarb letterbox.

Dreadful I know but haven’t blogged since Nadav visited and berating myself for being slack. I now realise why its done on pretty much a daily basis as its hard now to remember all those small things that have happened since 9 May. Of course the bigger things will be developed in the following posts so that people following this blog can catch up with the latest on the things outstanding.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in the gallery, talking to the visitors about the show. People were there not only from the city and region, but throughout the few hours I was there, I met up with three people from the USA, five from France, seven from Japan, four from Greece, two from Finland (who said this was one of the most interesting things they had seen on their visit to the UK) and individuals from Somalia, Jamaica, Spain, China and Indonesia…. One woman and her husband had heard the Front Row Radio 4 interview with Nadav and driven from the middle of Wales to see the show.
Not only are people interested in Obama’s People, but with the other exhibitions in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. It is a mine of extraordinary art, whether its in the permanent collection or a touring show. People go to visit for the day, all comment on the warmth they feel from the staff in the Museum – its wonderful to know that we have this place for art which so many people worship. So we’re feeling really proud to have Obama’s People at BMAG – it really is the perfect venue.

Very late last night, or actually, very early this morning, I was attempting to send President Obama a message via his comment sending facility on his website. But scuppered at the last minute as of course I have no zipcode, merely a postcode. Doesn’t he reckon that anyone outside of the US wants to communicate with him? So recently, today, have made myself a blog on the White House website, phoned the White House hotline and written a letter to Eugene Kang, the Special Assistant to the President.
Why, you might ask yourself? I am trying to get a letter from Mr President, wishing the Obama People show good fortune in Birmingham. Will let you know how it goes. In the middle of this, Obama’s People photographer, Nadav Kander, sent me and the Rhubarb team a small garden as a thank you for arranging for his show to open in Birmingham. So its been a heady day, what with the White House communications research and the smell of those flowers filling the studio.

Last night the show was featured on regional ITV news and drew in a great crowd today, literally from all over the world. The gallery was full of people talking to one another, or having a conversation with a portrait. But it has to be said that the secret find in the corridor of power bought some tears and much delight…. People who campaigned for Obama in Illinois, Frank and Julie, who had come to Birmingham on work, found the exhibition by accident, and had their photo taken next to John Podesta who was once one of their students. One man, a photographer also from the USA, stormed from the gallery, declaring there were two portraits which were crap…. meaning that 51 must be brilliant…. The best was watching the children find the lightboxes of the Washington Memorial, and talking to the five women from Wales who wanted to know all about the story of the show. So a day to remember and with some images to follow. More tomorrow.