Category: Art

A Marvellous Spread is a pop-up feasting event hosted by the ceramic sculptor Lindsey Mendick at the Sheffield based gallery, S1 Artspace. Mendick’s practice is greatly inspired by the garishly saturated and overzealous 1970s cookbooks of her childhood. Her ceramic work amalgamates a love of popular culture with a deep respect for the nostalgic, exploring themes ranging from the ostentatious decorative recipes of Mary Berry to outlandish 1980s textile design.

Zig a zig ah 2013, Lindsey Mendick.

Still life of lobster 2014, Lindsey Mendick.

For this one off event, Lindsey Mendick will be hosting a truly grandiose banquet, cooking (with the help of her mother) the most extravagant and gaudy recipes from 1970’s cookbooks. Guests will be welcomed on arrival with a Pina Colada reception and sent into the night with a DIY disco. Join the facebook event here.

Heaven's Mouth 2014, Lindsey Mendick.

Todd 2014, Lindsey Mendick.

Category: Music

Fire in the Mountain festival (Tan Yn Y Mynydd in Welsh!) initially came together because a group of friends fell in love with a beautiful old farm in Mid Wales. The owner of the farm kept some horses and a local lad some pigs, and both thought a wonderful way of sharing the farm and getting some more use out of it would be to host a small annual event. Thus, the gathering was born. Now a registered not-for-profit organisation, the Festival is staffed completely voluntarily, and raises money to help maintain and renovate the beautiful farm on which it is set. The landscape sets the tone of the festival – set up as half camp and half festival, it's about spending a weekend in a beautiful part of the country with friends and some good ol' fashioned music and ale.

Now in it's fourth year, Fire in the Mountain has gone all out and booked their favourite band in the world to headline the festival. To those in the know The Foghorn Stringband (Portland, Oregon, USA) are the finest exponents of Appalachian Old Time Music – with a career spanning over 15 years and 10 albums. Their authenticity is a massive inspiration to thousands of musicians across the globe. To the uninitiated – it's simply ass-kicking red-neck hillbilly dance music.

Fire in the Mountain Festival seeks to present a balanced line up of folk, roots and acoustic music – booking funkier artists not always recognised by the mainstream music establishment. You'll find Welsh Language arists, Cajun, Breton, Appalachian, English Folk, Celtic, African Roots Music, and all sorts. Joining the bill this year as headliners are Martha Tilston and the Scientists, John Smith, Mik Artistik (Leeds), Fernhill (Wales), Sheelanagig (Bristol), and even a spot of indie with Gulp.

In addition to music you'll find a host of activities and workshops on offer, including family activities, free music and dance workshops in the Trad Academy Yurt and Healing Field, fresh pizza from handmade Cob Ovens, wood fired saunas and hot tubs… all washed down with lovely local ales and Welsh Mountain Cider.

The campsite is open from 30th May – 1st June, so why not make the most of the beautiful environment and explore the Cambrian Mountains. Find out more at www.fireinthemountain.co.uk, where you can watch a short video showcasing the stunning location.

Category: Art

Must see arts festival Pick Me Up returns for the fifth year running, featuring more late nights and an even wider range of illustration and design, from fashion and architectural drawing to comic books and album covers. Here's a brief taster of what will be happening:

Rastamouse creators Michael de Souza and Genevieve Webster will be leading children’s drawing workshops.

Judith Kerr (creator of the Mog series and The Tiger Who Came To Tea) will be hosting an ‘in conversation’ event with her art director Ian Craig.

Fabulous and much loved cartoonist Gemma Correll will be running a day inspired by her inimitable portrayals of animals.

Skylark, Matt Lyon at Colour Box.

Hot Dog, Steven Wilson at Unlimited.

Woolly Bear, Julia Pott.

Fashion is finally in focus this year! Hurrah!

Meet art director and animator Jo Ratcliffe, who drew and directed the animation in Lady Gaga’s ‘Applause’ video.

Fashion illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve (she of the ubiquitous funky felt-tip illustrations), will be leading a day of drop-in fashion focused fun.

Fashion artist and author Jason Brooks will be running a day of workshops.

Aso Oke, Kitty McCall at Unlimited.

Melons On My Mind, Lynnie Zulu.

New for 2014 is Pick Me Up Radio presented by Comms Bureau, which will stream live from Somerset House. With specially invited DJs, interviews and take-over days, festivalgoers will be able to see the radio broadcasts being put together live and listen online remotely. Furthermore for the first time, Pick Me Up is collaborating with signature skate brand DC Shoes to commission t-shirts from ten artists to be exclusively launched and sold at the festival. The dazzling designers involved include former Pick Me Up Select and professional doodler Hattie Stewart (read our interview here) and Andy Rementer (who we have also interviewed here), whose colourful and vibrant work has been featured through a variety of platforms including MTV, Urban Outfitters and Warner Brothers.

Clogs, Hvass & Hannibal at Outline Artists.

Sundance, Jessica Das at Outline Artists.

Moondance, Jessica Das at Outline Artists.

This, and much much more, including work by Outline Artists illustrators, who will present a jungle-themed showcase of prints, original artwork and wall murals created especially for the fair, including magical forest landscapes by Hvass&Hannibal, psychedelic jungle scenes by Pick Me Up Select Edward Carvalho-Monaghan plus extravagant jungle flora and fauna 3D collages by Kristjana S Williams. All work will be available to buy from just £40.

Lear 10, Kristjana S Williams at Outline Artists.

Kids, Ed Monaghan at Outline Artists.

Opening times: 10.00 – 18.00, late night Thursdays and Fridays until 22.00, Day tickets £10, concessions £8, Festival Pass £17.50. Buy your tickets here. Find out more about the event here.

Read my reviews of the 2013 Pick Me Up here and here to whet your appetite.

Category: Art

The Gentle Author has recently published local photographer Phil Maxwell's thirty year study of ordinary life in the East end's legendary Brick Lane, taking us through social and cultural shifts with intimate shots of the local population at work and at play. The photos are currently on display at the Rich Mix Cultural Centre situated at the top of Brick Lane.

Biography:
Phil was born in 1953 in Coventry, West Midlands. From an early age he was inspired by the people around him and had his first dalliance with photography at the tender age of eleven. He moved to East London and was quickly seduced by its vibrancy and influences from far flung countries. Over the span of 30 years he incessantly photographed and hence documented the lives of those in his own proximity, saying that 'During my life in Whitechapel I have been introduced to a wide variety of cultures and friends, which in turn have inspired me to travel. I have photographed in Bangladesh and other parts of Asia many times, although the centre of gravity in my work has always been the East End of London. My home is a tower block in Whitechapel. Over the years, from my flat on the eleventh floor, I have watched as the skyline of the city resonated with growth and demolition. In the early eighties, Canary Wharf emerged in the East as a solitary foot soldier for Capitalism and then the City of London itself began to expand. Yet whilst the corporate development gathered speed, the lives of people on my side of Brick Lane carried on as usual.'

Phil Maxwell will be giving a talk on Brick Lane at the Bishopsgate Institute on 10th April at 7:30pm and Waterstones Piccadilly on 14th May at 7pm. Both events are free. Find out more here.

Category: Music

It's no great secret that Wood Festival is one of my very favourite festivals… and even more so now that I have a child. WOOD is powered completely on renewable energy and is a great place to take little kids, winning a Silver Award from Festival Kidz last year.. I can't wait to take my toddler along to the 2014 edition. The main stage is hand-crafted out of oak and has a cheery thatch of flowers growing on its roof. Camping is super simple and small scale, perfect for frequent trips back to the tent with little ones. Even better, children aged 12 & under go free when accompanied by an adult. It's barely more than an hour outside of London and located in a beautiful field in the grounds of the wonderful Braziers Park (an alternative community).

This year has been heralded the YEAR OF THE BADGER, so guests are invited to indulge in some black and white striped attire! Each year it is hoped the festival will focus on a different wild animal from our fair isles. Naturally the festival will be highlighting the plight of badgers and sharing all things wonderful about badgers and their very important role in the countryside. 

I have always discovered amazing new music at Wood Festival, as well as enjoying old favourites in an incredibly laid back setting. This year Luke Sital-Singh will headline the Friday night, chosen as one of the BBC’s Sound of 2014 artists. Born in New Malden and the youngest of three brothers, Luke Sital-Singh was encouraged to embrace music from a young age. He cites his influences as Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, but this takes nothing away from Luke's originality: The Guardian described him as “breathing life into a tired form.” With a hefty trio of EPs already released, Luke’s much anticipated debut album is expected in late Spring.

Also joining the line up: My Sad Captains, who have just released their 3rd album, Best of Times, on the excellent Bella Union label. And expect the sweet Welsh sounds of Valleyers, quality songwriting from Oxford’s My Crooked Teeth, Tape Club recording artist Sephine Lo, Brighton harpist and singer Ellie Ford, and jazzy world grooves from Natureboy. All of these will be joining an ever growing roster of already announced artists: Sweet Baboo, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Alessi’s Ark, Jackie Oates, Oliver Wilde, O’Hooley & Tidow, Dancing Years, Nick Cope, Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou, The Dreaming Spires, Vikesh Kapoor, Rachael Dadd, Trent Miller, Jack Day, Co-Pilgrim, Edd Keene, Nick Jonah Davis, Jali Fily Cissokho, Paul McClure, Count Drachma, Knights of Mentis, Julia Meijer, Art Theefe, Jordan O’Shea, Macamu, and the Oxford Ukuleles!

Weekend and day tickets have been frozen at last year’s prices (£75 for an adult weekend ticket, including camping) and are available now from the Wood Festival website and Truck Store, Oxford.  Music starts at 6pm on the Friday, gates open at 3pm. Keep a watch on the website for a full list of workshops, activities and talks. You can read my review of last year's festival here.

Category: Art

Sirens showcases a stunning new body of work by Rosie Emerson, who experimentally combines print, photography, collage and film to portray mysterious goddesses as ethereal yet beautiful creatures. Like Sirens, these femme fatales lure the viewer into their romantic mythological worlds.

Celeste

Ondine

Rosie Emerson’s inspiration for this new collection derived from the historic technique of cyanotype printing, developed in the early 19th Century and used by engineers to reproduce notes and diagrams known as blue prints. Influenced by botanist Anna Atkins, who brought this technique into photography, Rosie has adapted the cyanotype technique and given it a modern spin. The artist combines collage elements and found botanical objects with life size negatives to manipulate the female form and revise our perceptions of the contemporary model. Shooting her desired subjects inside her studio for the very first time, Rosie playfully uses ornate props, costumes and dramatic lighting to remodel her subjects into goddess-like, alluring creatures.

Swarm

Rosie Emerson was born in Dorset in 1981 and graduated in Fine Art from Kingston University In 2004. She has exhibited widely in the UK, as well as in Europe, LA, Singapore, Hong Kong and has a forthcoming exhibition in Dallas. Her unique collage style has led to her work being featured in the likes of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Another Magazine, The Financial Times Magazine and The Sunday Times Style Magazine.

Vega

Find out more about Rosie Emerson here and about Sirens at the Hang-Up Gallery here.

Opening Hours: Mon – CLOSED, Tues – Sun 12.00 -1800

Category: Art

Hosted by Printer of Dreams, this evening promises to be a showcase for the new, the weird and the wonderful. Head down to discover the beautifully surreal photographic duo Newshine, the positively absurdist illustrations of Tony Johnson, the bold constellations of photographer Charlie Morgan Smith and the Dune-esque sci-fi cool of designer Joseph Melhuish. Also expect to find the classy pulp fiction illustrations of Edward Tuckwell and the desolate landscapes of photographer Luke Banks. 

Play Hard by Tony Johnson.

The aim of the evening is to bring new talent to as wide an audience as possible. The chosen artists showcase the incredible variety of art currently being produced on the printing press, and the event promises to be a celebration of great affordable art, with prints for both the experienced collector and those buying their first piece.

Floating Pyramids by Joseph Melhuish.

Alongside giclee prints there will be Limited Edition T-shirts by artist Harry Bix, hand-stitched books and plenty of mulled cider to wash it all down. The Amwell Print Fair runs in conjunction with the Amwell Late Night Shopping evening. 

Category: Art

The infamous Cockpit Arts Open Studio events are a great chance to meet talented designer-makers and to pick up unique or event bespoke gifts. You can peek into the studios of fashion designers, printmakers, leatherworkers, weavers, glass artists, ceramicsts, jewellers and many more. Prices range from £5 – £5,000. This year there will be special showcases of gifts chosen picked by Paul Smith, a free Christmas Sheep workshop for kids, prize draw to win amazing one off decorations, making demonstrations, live music as well as plenty of mulled wine and festive fare at the Hand Made Food café. Here's just a few examples of the kind of designers you will discover:
 

Rings by Maud Traon, Cockpit Arts in Deptford
.
Maud Traon combines an explosive mix of colour and form to create imaginative and unpredictable works of wearable art. Her pop-culture inspired colours and challenging mix of luxurious precious metals and gemstones create striking contrasts of precious and non-precious materials.
 

Chunky cups by Annette Bugansky, Cockpit Arts Holborn.
Annette Bugansky started out as a fashion and costume designer. She took that passion for texture, surface pattern and beautiful tactile forms on to her work with porcelain like these chunky cups with knitted textures. Annette embroiders, knits or crochets every texture that she then transfers to the moulds for her porcelain pieces. 
 

Jo Hayes Ward, Flat Oval Hex Ring, Cockpit Arts in Deptford
Jo Hayes Ward makes sculptural pieces of jewellery constructed by building blocks of Yellow Gold and Silver and three-dimensional modelling.

Above, all made by Cockpit Arts designers:
Shona Marsh, Salt Dish, £300; Ute Decker, Curvature Wide sculptural cuff, £1800; Rentaro Nishimura, Dove Mobile, £30; Jennifer Conroy, Intertwine Porcelain Sculpture, £420; sjm*, Porcelain Snowflake Decoration x3, £9; Emma Yeo, Luna Under Wing headpiece, £855; Shona Marsh, Salad Servers, £300; Laura Adburgham, Lilac and Indigo Circle Scarf, £198; Ian Scott Kettle, Green Bow Tie, £55.

Holborn: 29 November – 1 December
Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, London, WC1N 2NP
Transport Links: Holborn, Chancery Lane, Russell Square
 
Deptford: 6 – 8 December
18-22 Creekside, London, SE8 3DZ
Transport Links: Deptford Bridge, Deptford (One stop from London Bridge)
 
Opening times: Friday 11am-9pm, Sat & Sun, 11am-6pm
Tickets: £5 both venues / £3 Deptford only. Free Friday 6 Dec. Free under 15s.
Ticket includes entry all weekend and Prize Draw! Find out more information here.

Category: Fashion

Everyone loves a bit of Nostalgia, especially at Christmas. If you are looking for something different to buy the loved ones for Christmas this year, then look no further than the Mid Century Christmas Market this year, because Bettina Scarlett is bringing her brand new retro market to London. Having had a love for the 1950s since she was a small girl, Bettina Scarlett has grown up with a passion for all things retro and is now looking to share it with the public.

The Mid Century Christmas Market is a 1950s inspired fair showcasing glamorous companies from all over England including vintage and reproduction clothing, crafts, jewellery, records and much more. Whether you are after a cute and kitsch necklace or you want a retro rocking record to have you jiving the night away, the Mid Century Christmas Market is perfect if you are shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts or a treat for yourself.

Reapfolio's photobooth who will be creating retro inspired photobooth images for every customer.

If you are looking for something to warm you up there will be Calamitea Jane’s vintage tea room serving hot drinks and sweet treats all day. Or if you fancy getting your hair done for a night out on the town, the Vanity Box will be pin curling away in the vintage hair and makeup parlour to make you look like a perfect pin up. Or if you are feeling a bit silly then head to Reapfolio’s pop up photo booth where you can pull all the face’s you want with friends and take away a reminder of the Mid Century Christmas Market.

Lady K Loves is a 50s inspired clothing company selling a mixture of glamorous day and evening wear perfect for every lady to create the famous pin up look.

Rosie Alia Hair accessories, selling unique hand made hair accessories perfect stocking fillers for ladies out there who want to spruce up their hair do.

The market is being held just a short walk from Hammersmith tube stations, and entry costs just £2.

Category: Art

This Christmas, for the very first time, Kew Gardens opens after hours with a one-mile illuminated trail through its enchanting winter landscape. As part of the Christmas village which kicks off the illuminated trail, We Make London are pleased to be collaborating with the Kew team to put on a boutique Christmas market and a special We Make London popup boutique, filled with an assortment of hand-picked products many of which are handmade in the UK.

Visitors begin their adventure at the Christmas village located at Victoria Gate where entry is FREE. There you will find designers showcased in Tudor style traditional wooden chalets alongside a special We Make London pop-up Christmas boutique selling distinctive works by a range of designers from around the UK. With everything from Ceramics, Textiles, Prints, Fine Art and Fashion to Home wares, Jewellery, Children's Toys, Stationary, Bags and Needlework, visitors are sure to find some unique gifts this Christmas! The Christmas Village is a veritable wonderland with something fun for the whole family from Santa to festive nibbles, Christmas shopping and nightly live Christmas carols. Here's a small taster of the designers taking part:

Victoria Eggs: 
Victoria is a Fine Art Graduate from Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, where she specialised in film and photography, many of her designs are based on photos she has taken, capturing true Britishness at it’s best. Since graduating she has gained experience within the creative industries; designing greeting cards, working for a branding company, Brandculture and designing T-Shirt graphics in Sydney. Whilst working Down Under for fashion label Ben Sherman, she realised how something as simple as a teacup and saucer can tug at your heartstrings and make you feel right at home. She came back to the UK and began working on her own designs. Victoria Eggs’ designs are fun and playful, cultural and nostalgic and evoke fond memories whilst celebrating a love for all things British. Founded in March 2011, it wasn't long before Victoria was awarded ‘Gift of the Year 2012’ for ‘Made in the UK‘, she was also short-listed for the ‘Heart Home Design Awards 2012′ and 'Gift of the Year 2013, Made in UK'. She is currently a finalist for Startups Awards, 'Home-based Business of the year 2013'.

Cecily Vessey: 
Cecily Vessey is based in London, England. Since graduating in 2009 she has worked to build a successful retail and wholesale business as well as working on a variety of freelance projects such as illustrations, wedding invitations, orders of service, and special editions of cards, mugs, tote bags etc. Cecily's stockists include Design Museum, Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern and Magma. Her drawings and prints have been sent all over the world to a far away as Australia, Singapore and America. Cecily is all about British manufacturing. Her ceramics are hand decorated in Stoke-on-Trent. Her cards are printed by a family run business in Clapham, London. Her sticky is tape made in Lancashire and tea towels in Lincolnshire!

Hokolo: 
Hokolo is a London based design-led brand founded by Jen, an architect turned surface pattern designer with a love of bold colours, patterns and beautifully designed everyday objects. Hokolo is an amalgamation of Hong Kong and London. Originally from Hong Kong, Jen’s designs celebrate some of the most novel aspects of her adopted Great Britain.

Join the Facebook Event Page here or news.
The We Make London boutique Christmas market runs on the following dates:
November 28-30 – December 1, 5-8, 12-15, 19-23, 26-31 – January 1-4
Opening times: 4:30pm to 10pm daily