The latest post from Mahtab Mahtab Hussain, The Auspicious Journey.  

Read more about Mahtab Hussain, the lead artist for the Ikon’s Black Country Voyages 2016, converting Ikon’s canal boat into a vehicle for The Auspicious Journey.

Read more about the event which celebrated the start of the plan to re-open the Bradley Locks and allowed non boaters to sign up and join boat owners on their trip.

Jacques Nimki’s final weekend on the boat.

The Slow Boat were very kindly invited to moor up at the Black Country Living Museum to be part of their Half term Myths and Fables event.

Last month the Slow Boat visited the Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge for the annual Open Weekend.

The Slow Boat was brought back to Birmingham. Moored up underneath Brewmaster Bridge in Brindley Place, this is the closest event the Slowboat have held to Ikon Gallery.

This weekend the Slow Boat returned to one of their regular locations, Bumblehole Nature Reserve for a number of activities.

In August 2015 the Slow Boat was taken back to Stourbridge, returning to the Red House Glass Cone for a week of workshops.

Since mid August IYP have been running boat trips with Kick Ash; a programme where young people get involved in projects using drama, music, sculpture and loads of other art forms to explore all aspects of smoking and related issues.

For the last two days we have been running boat trips for the retired painting groups at Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery.

Last weekend, Black Country Voyages made its way to Pelsall North Common in Walsall. It started out as a bright summer day full of painting, drawing and clay making.

This summer for the Bronze Arts Awards, we had the privilege of working with a fantastic group of students at the Winterbourne House and Gardens.

Last month the Slow Boat returned to Netherton to take part in the Bumblehole Family Fun Day. This was a one off event organised by the very welcoming volunteers of the Bumblehole Conservation Group Visitor Centre.

On Saturday Black Country Voyages made a short journey from Brindley Place, Birmingham to Kings Norton Junction to take part in the 2015 festival to celebrate 200 years of the completion of the Birmingham to Worcester Canal.

On Sunday, the boat went to its second year at Brownhills Canal Festival.

Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May at the International Festival of Glass- The Redhouse Glass Cone, Stourbridge

Saturday 16 May was Black Country Voyages first event showing the Black Apotheca. Jacques Nimki worked with members of the public to discuss his ideas of adding to his archive of herbs and objects whilst we worked around the Black Country canals.

Wednesday 13 May saw the Launch of Black Country Voyages, The Black Apotheca. This was the publics first opportunity to see the newly transformed boat.

On Saturday 13th June the boat was moored up at a new location at Longwood Boat Club for their Canal Festival.

Join us at the Brownhills Canal Festival – expect stalls, music and crafts.

On Friday Ella, Kembhi, Kristina and Rohanie took part in a workshop led by artist Phil Duckworth (Juneau Projects). We worked on board the boat whilst making its way from Birmingham to Ocker Hill (approx 8 miles in total).

Saturday 1st November Black Country Voyages took part in the Annual BCNS Bonfire Rally in Smethwick.

A day spent at Saltwells Nature Reserve.