Welcome to Slow Sunday…
A series of workshops, discussions and contemplations inspired by the work of Mark Fisher.
“If Capitalist realism is so seamless, and if current forms of resistance are so hopeless and impotent, where can an effective challenge come from?” MF
One of the enduring comments about Mark Fisher was his kindness, as well as his incisive discourse and passion for change.
With this spirit, we invite you to join us on Sunday at the Edge... We’ll take our time to reflect on mutual concerns about our worlds.
1-3pm ‘flight club’ a tea journey with Jasdeep Sandhu.
This session moves through the Capitalist Realism landscape slowly, through five curated botanical teas that trace key affective states in his work: inevitability, exhaustion, instrumentalised life, narrowed imagination, and moments of perceptual rupture.
Rather than treating these as abstract ideas, we explore them as felt experiences; how they show up in the body, in attention, in fatigue, and in the way we move through everyday life.
Guided through plants, taste, and reflection, this is a space to sit with the texture of capitalist realism itself and to notice what becomes visible when pace drops and perception softens.
No prior knowledge of Fisher is needed - only curiosity, and a willingness to slow down and notice what is already here.
3-4pm Simbi Folarin will host ‘fire conversations’.. holding space within the ‘White Lines’ exhibition in our red studio space. Ultimately responding to and with the people gathered, questions may include:
1. What could help us to decolonise our hopes and dreams?
2. How does education imagined differently look and feel?
3. What truths do you think we are not yet ready to speak or hear?
4. How do we face our complicity in harm?
5. In what ways do we desire simple solutions?
4-6pm Faith Pearson will cook up a storm…
An invitation to make a collective soup with all the different kinds of sh#t
SH#T SOUP Recipe
Experienced Sh#t of any kind
Personal sh#t
Community sh#t
Global sh#t
Sheets of newspaper (Daily Mail)
Warm water in a big pot
stir to mix
add glue
build something new
Meet you at the Edge..
#activism #markfisher #quietrebellion
Mark Fisher was a writer, philosopher, cultural theorist, critic and writer (amongst other things), who was, and remains, highly influential to post-capitalist discourse. As well as his best known book, Capitalist Realism, he produced many books, essays and blogs that posed, and tackled, important questions regarding the political and social structures which surround and enclose us.
We're dedicating a whole weekend to exploring and celebrating the life and work of this important and fascinating thinker.
On Saturday 16th at 7.30pm (doors 7pm) we'll be screening 'We're Making a Film About Mark Fisher' by Sophie Mellor+Simon Poulter. This special screening will also feature a performance by Michael Valentine West. Michael is a highly influential experimental musician who has performed under many different guises and scored a number of experimental films, including this one. This event is ticketed, PAYF (linktree)
On Sunday afternoon, from 1pm we'll be hosting a number of participatory workshops and discussions..Fisher-inspired; bring a snack, thoughts, passions to share.
Includes: FLIGHT CLUB: CAPITALIST REALISM TEA FLIGHT-by Jasdeep Sandhu
A sensory tea flight translating Mark Fisher’s 'Capitalist Realism' into lived, embodied experience.
This session moves through Fisher's landscape slowly: five curated botanical teas that trace key affective states in his work: inevitability, exhaustion, instrumentalised life, narrowed imagination, and moments of perceptual rupture.
Simbi Forlain will be holding space to discuss these questions:
1. What could help us to decolonise our hopes and dreams?
2. How does education imagined differently look and feel?
3. What truths do you think we are not yet ready to speak or hear?
4. How do we face our complicity in harm?
5. In what ways do we desire simple solutions?
Faith will be helping us all to make a 'Sh#t Soup'.
SH#T SOUP Recipe-Experienced Sh#t of any kind -Personal sh#t-Community sh#t - Global sh#t…
Warm water in a big pot, stir to mix, sieve out water, add glue, mix, build something new together.
Accompanied by written lyrics of a little ear worm song.
(linktree tkts)
No prior knowledge of Fisher is needed.
We're very pleased to be hosting BJ Edwards for this sharing of his play 'Refuge'. I was privileged to work with BJ a few weeks ago in Berlin, supporting a group of VI creatives to make and improvise a new piece of theatre work together, led by BJ. Participants came from Italy, Poland, UK, Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium, aged 21-75 years. It was a humbling, inspiring experience, unfolding into a funny, deep play held and expressed by a maverick group of generous folk. (Sandra).
Tickets for 'Refuge' are free though please do RSVP ([email protected]) so we can ensure we have enough spaces.. and refreshments. See you at the Edge...
An absolutely wonderful community coffee morning is being held at @theedgedigbeth@frictionarts
Looking forward to the 22nd March - everyone is welcome!
We would love to see you there 11.00 - 1.00pm
Address is in the post above, if you have any further questions feel free to reach out!
Enjoy the week!
#community #coffeemorning #sunday #digbeth #joinus
On Sat 28th March CIMB returns to The Edge, home of Friction Arts for a night in collaboration with Surge Forward! Join us at our newly refurbished stomping ground for an evening of live music featuring three duos:
Suzumeno Tears / すずめのティアーズ
Kamura Obscura
Zhuyang Liu & Zheng Hao
plus DJ sets from Mssr G, visuals by Ebrahim Nazier and nosh for sale!
Advanced tickets on sale now (link in CIMB bio): /event/694619
More info here: https://fb.me/e/6i87zRvhD
Stunning Iftar tonight .. led by this incredible group of women ... joy ... food.... kids... honoured to welcome this 1st at the Edge. #amazing #birmingham #ramadan #iftar #greatfood
WELCOME HOME Surge Orchestra and Club Integral Midlands Branch.. and welcome back miscreants, outliers, family .. audiences... see you at 7.30pm on Saturday 28th March.. The Edge, 79-81 Cheapside, Digbeth, B12 0QH. Neo-Edge with the heart and soul at the centre though significantly upgraded... and warm.. see you there. Thanks, Sandra, Lee, Frictioneers...
✨Hayati Open Mic x Falasteen on Film Feb 2026 highlights ✨
What an incredibly powerful evening!
So much love to our friends and comrades for allowing us to share four exceptional
short films: A Night We Held Between (Noor Abed, 2021); Night (Ahmed Saleh,2021); The Poem We Sang (Annie Sakkab, 2024); and ęmí: freedomsong
(Rohan Ayinde, Zarina Rossheart and Tayo Rapoport, 2025). We were so delighted to be joined by you in person.
A huuuuge heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful folks @frictionarts 💫 who so graciously hosted us in their venue.
So pleased we got to share the warmth, joy
and magic of Hayati x FOF with you all 🔻🎞️✨
Massive shout out to our wonderful headliners Rohan @rohanayinde and Aliyah
@aliyahbegum as well as our incredible open micers Nina @nina.s.nazir , Yemi
@bankythepen , Marie @marie.kaae , Ricardo @rockk.said , Rami @rami.khayal and
Zahra @zahrawritespoems 🎤🔥
Thank you so much to everyone who attended and made this evening special 🥰💫You all came through despite the weather and traffic; as well as all those that couldn’t make it and generously paid their tickets forward. Much appreciated 🙏🏽
Big love to the amazingly talented Sunbul Akhtar, @night_press who hand carved and printed the artwork featured in our event poster. Sunbul created this work as a response to the words of 9 year old Mahmoud Ajjour, June 2024 “How will I be able to hug you?”, to his mother on learning that his arms would be amputated. We hold his words in our hearts as a fuel to keep resisting and hold steadfast against indifference.
Palestine will be free.
In solidarity and with deep gratitude,
Team FoF + Hayati
📸 mostly by @aaliisarah and a few by @ridasulerij
_
🎞 by @_asakhtar
#falasteenonfilm #communitycinema #cinemaforall
🌟RE:GENERATIONS🌟
Re:Generations is over 🥲
Thank you so much for all your support, whether that’s been on social media or in person! A special thank you to everyone who visited our installation, it truly wouldn’t of been what it was without you 🫶
We’re so grateful for all the kind words in our guest book and for sharing your fondest memories of Birmingham with us.
Huge thanks to @frictionarts for being such a fantastic and welcoming venue. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
