Category: Art

This show will feature the latest unpublished work and paintings of Amelia's Magazine favourite Novemto Komo alongside collages by Steven Quinn, including The Roman Series. Through conversations, both artists felt they were at a similar stage in their art, having spent the past year honing their styles. Their new works 'explore the idea of rebirth through space, emotion, media and the world end.'

Novemto Komo.

Steven Quinn.

Join the Facebook event here. 
You are invited to the opening night on November 7th, 2013 from 6pm.

Category: Art

Atomica Gallery is hosting Covering Synthesis, the debut exhibition from British artists Dominique Holmes and Mister Paterson. Friends for many years, Holmes and Paterson have enjoyed successful careers as tattooists and freelance artists and have spent the past few years concentrating on their fine art practice. Whilst differing stylistically, the pair share a fascination with the process of rearranging elements to produce new and unexpected outcomes; the inspiration behind Covering Synthesis. Central to Covering Synthesis is the friendship between the two artists and Holmes and Paterson will present 3 special collaborative works as part of the installation.

A believer in tradition and true craftsmanship, Mister Paterson’s distinct style involves painstakingly inking black dots onto paper, a process which is both simple and complex. Paterson’s striking technique is instantly recognisable and as integral to his work as the concept behind it. Paterson is influenced by a variety of unlikely sources including the power of religious iconography; frequently we see animals transformed into commanding deities. But whilst Paterson’s technique is deliberate, he leaves the final outcome of his work to chance, picking imagery at random and letting instinct decide their fate.

Dominique Holmes’ work is saturated with references to Eastern culture, from traditional Chinese folklore and superstitions to Islamic art’s relation to science and mathematics. Experimenting with collage, her mixed-media works often incorporate found textiles and objects such as vintage kimono fabrics and cosmological diagrams, adding texture and mystery. Strong symbolism is another recurring theme in Holmes’ work. Imagery representing life, love, birth, death includes lotus flowers, hands and eyes juxtaposed against intricately detailed Mehndi patterns and geometric shapes, lending a beautifully psychedelic quality to her canvases.

Opening party: Thurs 7th Nov, 6-9pm, with complimentary bespoke cocktails from Stripbar & Steak. Facebook event here.

Category: Art

May van Millingen is an illustrator whose work spans the world's of print, books, contemporary culture, fashion and design. May's process combines mark making and strong graphic lines, with a bold use of colour, resulting in a unique style. Taking inspiration from daily life, the natural world, and beauty of food, this exhibition of work at The Modern Pantry is a series of drawings that explores the relationship between food and art. More of May's work can be viewed at www.mayvanmillingen.com.

Opening times:
Monday 12-3pm
Tuesday to Friday 12pm – 10.30pm
Saturday 11am – 10.30pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm

Category: Art

The London Illustration Fair offers the chance for illustration lovers to come face to face with their favourite artists and discover new work from London’s hottest, emerging talent. Spread across three days and located in Hoxton, The London Illustration Fair launches with a showcase of over twenty young, emerging illustrators who have been carefully selected by a judging panel of key figure heads on the illustration scene; Dario Illari, director of Jealous Gallery and Jealous Print, Ben Levy, artist and art fair veteran, Print Club London’s Rose Stallard, director of Hang-Up Gallery Ben Cotton and one of London’s current, biggest art fair successes, Mark Powell.

Cassandra Yap.

To celebrate the launch of The London Illustration Fair, artist in focus, Mark Powell, will produce an exclusive piece of work, to be unveiled on the opening night, alongside prints and original artworks. With his beautifully detailed and delicately executed Biro portraits, and recent rise and success within the art fair circuit, Mark Powell is an inspiring artist who tackles illustration in its purest form.

Lucille Clerc.

Exhibiting Artists: Spookernox, Ben Rothery, Sneaky Racoon, Billy Daniel, Kev Munday, Yann Brien, Marina Capdevila, Lucille Clerc, Linocut Boy, Ursula Hitz, Matt Forster, Melody Seal, Masahito Takeuchi, Zoe Byrant, Ali Hamish Campbell and Cassandra Yap.

Also showing alongside the illustrators at the fair will be Jealous Gallery, a studio, gallery and publisher and Puck Collective, an ever-evolving group of emerging and established illustrators, creatives and mess makers.

Yann Brien.

Tickets are available here.
Opening Times:
Friday 29th + Saturday 30th November, 12noon – 8pm
Sunday 1st December, 12noon – 6pm

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: Fashion

Christmas baubles by Reiko Kaneko.

Dalston Christmas Market will take place in Dalston Square and surrounding streets on Sunday 1st December 2013 and offers a vibrant, contemporary alternative to more traditional ‘German style’ Christmas markets. The one day event, featuring artisans, artists, fashion and jewellery designers, leather designers, ceramicists, and card makers, will include a live stage featuring music, comedy and performances by local choirs – see full details below. Food and drink stalls – with and without a Christmas twist – will also feature.

Jessica Russell Flint bear cushion.

Lucy Loves This, Hackney print.

Participants include a vast array of creative talent with more than half of the stallholders being from the local area. This includes celebrated ceramicist Reiko Kaneko with specially designed Christmas ornaments, Fee Fee La Fou’s curiosities and confectionary from Dalston, typographical printed goods from Lucy Loves This, and skateboards upcycled into serving platters from Chubba Art & Design. There is also a strong children’s presence with cool sustainable clothing from The Fableists, illustrated mugs, prints & books by Eight Bear and Swiss-themed cards, small gifts & height charts from Madame Chalet. There will also be a food and drink area including gourmet sandwiches from Franchini & Friends, iconic British fayre from What The Dickens, Southern American street food from Anna Mae’s Mac & Cheese and the family run Big Tree Cider company.

Youchka, Swans in Silver & Gold.

There will also be a stage organised by City Showcase, the year round not-for-profit festival of new music. Up and coming bands and artists will be interspersed with local school and community choirs. Performers include up and coming singer/songwriters, Akayzia, Tom Tyler and Felix Pallas, breaking band The Worry Dolls and pop act Class A. Choirs include London Fields Choir, Lauriston School Choir, Rushmore Choir and Millfields Choir performing their charity single.

Monster Threads, cat melamine plate.

Businesses in the local area supporting Dalston Christmas Market include sponsor Cafe Route, art studios The Chocolate Factory, and Dalston Eastern Curve Gardens. CLR James Library will be hosting free workshops including ‘Make your own Christmas’ cards and join a choir and perform on stage at the event. The market presents the perfect trading platform for innovative goods, food and crafts made by the next generation of designers and artists for which the London borough of Hackney including Dalston and the surrounding areas of Hoxton, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington are heralded. This family day out will appeal to anyone wanting to enjoy an alternative Christmas shopping experience in Dalston.

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: Art

Curated by the Barbican and Louise Kamara (renowned creator of design events including Duckie’s Christmas market), no two days will be the same at the Barbican Design Market. Offering a handpicked selection of UK-based designers and makers showcasing their work, this is an ideal opportunity to source imaginative gifts, everything from jewellery and accessories to decorations and covetable homewares.

Christmas Toy Shop.

Soft toys by Justina Dewhurst-Richens.

Sharon Wymark hand made chocolates.

Opening times: Wed – Fri 5pm – 8.30pm / Sat – Sun 12pm – 8.30pm, Exhibitors vary day to day

Category: Art

If you go down to York Hall for the Bust Magazine Christmas Craftacular this Sunday you're in for a nice surprise. In addition to aisles and asiles of handmade gifts galore, there'll also be top London fashion designer talent setting up shop in the new 'BOOBTIQUE' area of the side bar. Look out for award-winning LFW and Esthetica designers, Lu Flux and Goodone labels both of whom will be bringing along sample sale items for the day.

Lu Flux is the queen of thrifty craft couture. Since establishing her eponymous label in 2009 Lu has presented collections at London and Tokyo Fashion Week and has won awards for her collections that showcase reclaimed textiles and traditional techniques. The Lu Flux signature style is very British, eccentric and high on charm. Items such as the Boo Boo bear apron dress – a favourite of Tatty Devine's Harriet Vine, and her trademark Machiavellian knitted fox scarf will be on sale on Dec 8 as well as rare items from the Lu Flux archive.

Goodone specialises in innovative ‘up-cycling’, combining new sustainable British fabrics with reclaimed textiles. Known for its bold, colour-blocked styles, the label has gone from strength to strength since it was set it up in 2006, winning awards for its intelligent approach to design which addresses the environmental impact of the fashion industry. The label will be selling items from the current Autumn Winter 2013 collection on Dec 8 at sample sale prices.

Another first for BUST Craftacular is their raffle going online with the help of supermarketsarah.com. The 35 prizes donated by vendors and supporters will help raise money for women's charity, Women for Women Interational and include Tatty Devine jewellery and a beginners shoemaking course at Prescott & Mackay worth £394, can be browsed online at Supermarket Sarah.

Item highlights from Craftacular vendors include:

Anna Wiscombe Wall Birds: A lovely pair of handcrafted and painted wooden birds made of oak – perfect to hang on your wall. Link

Racoon Macaroon Dish: A charming illustrated ceramic side plate by Jimbob Art.

Tea towels by Hazel Nicholls, who in the past assisted paper cut designer, Rob Ryan.

If you need to take a break from shopping, there is plenty on offer if you want to get crafty. Join Art Macabre for an hour-long tasters of their unique life drawing events in the secret Murder Mystery Drawing Room, or drop in at one of the back-to-back DIY workshops on offer all day from bow-tie making, to 'Christmassy' tie dying!

As usual early birds with their skates on can snag one of the free goodie bags which this time includes a tote bag by Hey! Holla made especially for Craftacular, plus for 10 lucky guests there will be a piece of Tatty Devine Jewellery.

Follow Craftacular on Twitter.
Facebook Event here.

Category: Art

The Secret Emporium team returns once again with another edition of their famed Christmas Market. Expect to find over 50 independent designers under one roof at the Nicholls & Clarke Building in Shoreditch, just moments from Liverpool Street station.

Who will be taking part? Hackney based Strange-Loop (above) make body adornments, &WRK are two illustrators who met in the set design industry and now make accessories. Jewellery Designer of the Year finalist Jessica de Lotz will be joining Rosita Bonita & EA Burns (both favourites of Amelia's Magazine) and other jewellery designers including Alexa De Castilho, Coops, Tessa Metcalfe Jewellery, Diane Turner & Kate Gilliland.

Margaux Clavel & Tawn are both emerging designers to watch and Magnetic Zeros makes decidedly cosmic apparel. For the men Workhouse & Sir Plus create structured tailoring. There will be a macabre but beautiful collection from Kim Zoe Wagner Custom Taxidermy and knitwear from Giannina Capitani. And of course, expect Secret Emporium eccentricity from Lady Gonzalez. Whet your appetite by watching this promotional video.

Beyond the shopping, enjoy food and drink curated by Wilderness Festival. Think Bloody Marys and eggs from The Breakfast Club, gourmet burgers from Bleecker St Burger and a mulled cider bar hosted by Smokey Tails. Interactive performance comes from Son & Sons, and the Black Cab Photobooth will be parked outside so you can give everyone a picture of yourself this Christmas. As usual there will be a Grand Christmas Tree Raffle, for which each of the designers has kindly created and donated a unique, handmade tree decoration. One very lucky raffle ticket winner will get to take home over 50 one-off designs. It will certainly be the best dressed Christmas tree in London this winter and all raffle proceeds go to the homeless charity, Shelter.

Join the Secret Emporium Christmas Market facebook event here to keep up to date.