Cliff Pearcey – AmeliasMagazine

Amelia’s Magazine | Art Car Boot Fair 2011 returns for the Apple Cart Festival in Victoria Park

Art Car Boot Fair 2011 review-all photography by Amelia Gregory
Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.

It amazes me that I’ve never been to the Art Car Boot Fair before… but there you have it, buy this year was my very first time, despite it’s proximity to my home. I think I may have been inadvertently put off by the hype surrounding limited editions by very famous artists, sold out of the boots of (sponsored) cars to the desperate queueing hoardes.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011 review- Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
But if you could put aside the hoopla there was a lot of very interesting stuff to see and buy, especially by lesser known up and coming artists and collectives… here’s some of my favourite discoveries.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Renegade ceramicist Carrie Reichardt was there, selling amusing tiles and bastardised royal plates. Love her stuff – she’s invited me over to her studio in West London, so hopefully I will find the time to visit soon.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
On stage Hot Breath karaoke entertained as Tranny Tarot predicted the future.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Over the way there was face painting for trendy art kiddies, and adults. With some impressive and unusual results.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Holly Freeman was selling a Pint of Art for just a fiver. Pints of liquid in various guises, sold as art, was a fashionable theme.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Billy Childish was selling crumbled limited editions out of a large metal trolley. Here seen chatting to Gavin Turk.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
I particularly liked the recycled wall plaques of self taught artist Cliff Pearcey – tribal wooden faces created from found objects: old chopping boards, keys and hinges given a new lease of life.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Busty Babes on Bank Letters was a real winner – how to turn debts into cash. Kelly-Anne Davitt persuaded at least one of my party to help her out with that mission. Here she is seen celebrating a sale to Gavin Turk.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. The Girls All photography by Amelia Gregory.
I finally had the chance to meet The Girls, who were posing for pictures beside the boot of their car which featured a carefully curated exhibition of postal memorabilia. POSTED celebrates the dying art of letter writing.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Things best ignored: Gavin Turk‘s eggs. (I mean, really. I would break it straight away. Or eat it by mistake.)

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Tracey Emin in dark glasses doing a book signing. Bovvered.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Good stuff: I picked up a lovely signed print from David David. A real bargain that.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
A man with a rainbow umbrella.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Ridiculous edible art: chocolate biscuits, beans, cheese, you name it.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
Public snogging.

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
And how amazing is this girl’s hair?

Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.
There was hula hooping, public spanking and bubble blowing. And if you think this all looks like rather good fun but missed the Art Car Boot Fair this year, then there is still a chance to catch a bit of the magic at the pop up Art Car Boutique in a few weeks time at the new Apple Cart Festival in Victoria Park on 7th August. Lovely.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Monday July 18th, 2011 7:34 pm

Categories ,Apple Cart Festival, ,Art Car Boot Fair, ,Bank letters, ,Billy Childish, ,Brick Lane, ,Busty Babes, ,Carrie Reichardt, ,ceramics, ,Cliff Pearcey, ,David David, ,Eggs, ,Face painting, ,Found Objects, ,Gavin Turk, ,Holly Freeman, ,Hot Breath, ,Karaoke, ,Kelly-Anne Davitt, ,Letters, ,Limited Edition, ,Pint of Art, ,Post, ,POSTED, ,print, ,The Girls, ,Tracey Emin, ,Tranny Tarot, ,Truman Brewery, ,Upcycled, ,Victoria Park

Amelia’s Magazine | Art Car Boot Fair 2013 Review

art car boot fair review
This year’s Art Car Boot Fair was noticeably busier than the previous ones I have attended, despite the drabness of the day. A tipping point has been reached, and it’s unique charms are now reaching a wider crowd beyond the trendy Shoreditch regulars. Whilst this can only be a good thing for the artists (some of whom are not as well known or rich as Peter Blake) it made for a far less pleasant experience. Particularly with a little one in tow: the car park behind the Truman Brewery is not a good place to hang out with children. This meant my visit was fairly fast, then straight across Allen Gardens to the far more relaxed environs of Spitalfields City Farm, which hosts the Eco-Chic Outdoor Market every Sunday through summer. Of course I hung out long enough to make a few purchases and take copious photos… here’s what I saw.

An amazing outfit & floral headdress at the #artcarbootfair
Lots of people make an effort to be outrageous: how about this dashing cartoon character made real (above) or an amazing floral headdress to make an impact on the crowd?

Peter Blake had already packed up and gone home by the time we arrived shortly after lunch. Sadly (maybe?) I don’t think fellow famous artist Gavin Turk sold too many balloons. An Avante Garde step too far perhaps?

chris balls
Chris’ Balls made a delightful pattern laid out on a rug.

Portraits by Boo Saville swung artfully in the breeze.

One of my favourite stalls every year is that of Cliff Pearcey, who has a real eye for creating up cycled products out of old tat. Above you can see Snarfle surveying my piece, Booking (Geddit?) I loves it.

The Whitechapel Gallery were trying to persuade people to slap the jelly arse by artist Justine Pearsall, and I must say it did have a rather fabulous wobble.

Felt Beatles by John Gathercole got the thumbs up from craft lovers on my instagram feed.

Pure Evil did ridiculous business, with a queue snaking around half the market thanks to his appearance in The Apprentice and subsequent fame.

Not sure who created these bizarre sock monsters, maybe good for a doorstop?!

Bespoke collage pizza art at keelertornero
Bespoke collages on vintage vinyl at the PIZZARTERIA by artists KEELERTORNERO.

I love this ace silk scarf by Mark Titchner. Feel Good Now: fine sentiments.

Spooky girls embroidered artwork by the Binnie Sisters
The Binnie Sisters were in residence inside a gazebo hung with their artwork, including this spooky girls embroidered portrait of two girls. Out front a painted car was for sale ‘contents included‘ – those contents including an old television heavily encrusted with paint. I’ve been trying to find out more about these intriguing artists, who together with Wilma Johnson were founders of the Neo-Naturist body painting cabaret in the early 80s.

Ladies by Wilma Johnson, #neonaturist #surfmama
Wilma herself had travelled over from her home in France to take part: I love her loose style of painting in black ink, then colouring in with bright colours… so much so that I commissioned her to draw our family portrait for a mere £20. Wilma Johnson is another fascinating character, having left Ireland with her three children to pursue her dream of learning how to surf when she was well past the age of 40. Her biography, Surf Mama (published by Beautiful Books), has received unanimously glowing reviews on amazon and I’d love to read it, once I find the time.

Wilma Johnson the Surf Mama
wilma johnson family portrait
I wonder what next year will bring… in the meantime find the Art Car Boot Fair at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 27-28th July.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Friday June 14th, 2013 9:32 pm

Categories ,Allen Gardens, ,Art Car Boot Fair, ,Beautiful Books, ,Boo Saville, ,Chris Balls, ,Cliff Pearcey, ,Eco-Chic Outdoor Market, ,Felt Beatles, ,Gavin Turk, ,John Gathercole, ,Justine Pearsall, ,Keeler & Tornero, ,KEELERTORNERO, ,Mark Titchner, ,Neo-Naturist, ,Peter Blake, ,Pure Evil, ,shoreditch, ,Spitalfields City Farm, ,Surf Mama, ,The Apprentice, ,The Binnie Sisters, ,Truman Brewery, ,Whitechapel Gallery, ,Wilma Johnson

Amelia’s Magazine | Art Car Boot Fair Review 2014

The Art Car Boot Fair is a great leveller… a place where the big names on the British contemporary art scene share a packed car park with many more up and coming artists. And packed it certainly was this year, making this a less than ideal place to hang out with a tired toddler (yes, people really did sleep outside in order to secure a place in the queue). So I swept round with great speed, and as usual discovered that the lesser known artists were producing some of the most inspiring work. Here’s a round up of the stuff I liked best.

This stand was manned by two young chaps in very dapper threads, artist David Fenwick and his cohort Damian Chandler. When I tried to find out more I was given short shrift and sent away with an information sheet that explained they would only sell paintings “if DD Gallery deem you fit for acquisition”. I suspect I would not have passed muster. This is exactly what you expect at the Art Car Boot Fair – a good dose of arrogance combined with humour – it’s not an atmosphere everyone will feel comfortable in.

Next door artist, printmaker, carpenter and photographer Joseph Gibson was selling stacked and tied blocks of wood. There’s one innovative way of dealing with offcuts.

Along the way Pam Hogg was once more holding court.

Bob and Roberta Smith had a large placard atop his vehicle, all the better to flog his numerous typographic works. He was later discovered swapping artwork with a slightly dishevelled Instant Van Gogh.

It was good to see Wilma Johnson back for a second year and I am excited to read the paperback version of Surf Mama, published last week. Here she is signing my book… just look at the tassels, the hair, the jewels… and what a story, I’ve already started reading it.

I always love the curious characters on plates by Carrie Reichardt, renegade potter. Upcycling with a great sense of humour!

Super smiley faces by Matt Brown display a slightly sinister air up close.

Icons of the silver screen: prints by Marty Thornton hanging off a van.

This neon kinetic mobile was blowing merrily in the breeze. It was created by the eccentric chap behind the Chadwick Oven, for making pizzas.

James Unsworth had created a stand designed to emulate his web page and promote his Ninja Turtle Sex Museum series, and some rather fabulous Tiki ceramic skull mugs.

I made a special trip back to the fair later in the day to ensure I got a good photo of Cultural Product 1 by Frances Richardson (my iphone is close to death and many of my first batch did not come out). This ceramics series was inspired by heritage tomatoes and each has a different tactile quality.

I loved these upcycled flower paintings which have acquired enigmatic faces thanks to DJ/designer/artist Disastronaut, aka Jeffrey Louis-Reed, showing with the Herrick Gallery.

This year Cliff Pearcey was inspired by the sea, producing a host of whimsical boats and fish from reclaimed wood and other oddments. We could not resist a couple of fish and acquired a UKipper fridge magnet too.

On my return I found these oddly wonderful prints by Theatre Of Dolls, a creative partnership between performance artists Frida Alvinzi and Raisa Veikkola.

I discovered these literal baubles by Silvia Ziranek just as the fair was closing. A colourful accessory from a colourful artist who has collaborated with Tatty Devine.

I must confess that I am hooked… and really hoping to catch the Folkestone edition of the Art Car Boot Fair, coming up on the 30th of August.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Sunday June 15th, 2014 12:26 pm

Categories ,2014, ,Art Car Boot Fair, ,Bob and Roberta Smith, ,Brick Lane, ,Carrie Reichardt, ,Chadwick Oven, ,Cliff Pearcey, ,Cultural Product 1, ,Damian Chandler, ,David Fenwick, ,DD Gallery, ,Disastronaut, ,Folkestone, ,Frances Richardson, ,Frida Alvinzi, ,Herrick Gallery, ,Instant Van Gogh, ,James Unsworth, ,Jeffrey Louis-Reed, ,Joseph Gibson, ,Marty, ,Marty Thornton, ,Matt Brown, ,Ninja Turtle Sex Museum, ,Pam Hogg, ,Raisa Veikkola, ,review, ,Silvia Ziranek, ,Surf Mama, ,Theatre Of Dolls, ,Truman Brewery, ,UKipper, ,Wilma Johnson

Amelia’s Magazine | A Review of the 2012 Art Car Boot Fair

art car boot fair May 2012
This year’s Art Car Boot Fair was a fantastically hot affair with a distinct lack of shade: not really the place for a newborn Snarfle, who travelled on my chest wrapped up in a leopard print scarf and shaded by a brolly. Lovely though this weather is, plenty of burning tarmac and reflective car surfaces ensured a quick whip around the stalls. Us Brits eh? we’re so bad at coping with extremes of temperature.

art car boot fair May 2012 - pure evil

Despite the heat the fair was busy, with more mainstream punters than usual which is undoubtedly a better thing for artists, the usual east end pissheads are probably more interested in conviviality than the act of buying. Of particular note was the vast queue winding round the Pure Evil orange van – clearly demonstrating The Apprentice effect. I’m glad to see Charlie finally raking it in.

Here’s what else I saw:

art car boot fair May 2012 -Bob & Roberta Smith

Bob & Roberta Smith was signing ironic placards, accompanied by three lovely girls in well advised wide brimmed hats.

art car boot fair May 2012 -Peter Blake
Peter Blake was selling special Jubilee prints, one of which was purchased as a first investment artwork for Snarfle by his doting dad.

art car boot fair May 2012 -Ian Dawson
Ian Dawson was touting crazy colourful sculptures.

art car boot fair May 2012 -Dave Anderson

We were most captivated by the work of illustrator and filmmaker Dave Anderson, showing with Scrawl Collective. Given his zany subject matter it comes as little surprise to find he also writes comedy.

art car boot fair May 2012 -Carrie Reichardt

Carrie Reichardt had draped her stall in a colourful Mad in England banner to better display her inimitable ceramic wares.

art car boot fair May 2012 -David David

I absolutely adore David David‘s typography…. and they were selling some wonderful hand printed t-shirts along side their graphic prints too.

art car boot fair May 2012 -pam hogg
Pam Hogg was selling inexplicably cheap signed prints, which may explain why she was so over people taking her photo. Rock and roll!

art car boot fair May 2012 -Double Regina Experience

Next door I experienced the Double Regina Experience from artistic duo The Girls: a bizarre meet and greet with two versions of royalty in a well decorated marquee. Surreal enough for adults – no doubt nightmare inducing for small people. I like that The Girls have created an artistic ideology all their own.

art car boot fair May 2012 -Outline Editions
Beautiful upcycled artwork by Noma Bar and butterfly prints from Kristjana S Williams, (formerly of Beyond the Valley) were flying off the Outline Editions stand.

art car boot fair May 2012 -Cliff Pearcey

I adored Cliff Pearcey‘s wooden upcycled art, as ever.

art car boot fair May 2012
Car size Scalextric: had the big boys intrigued.

Escargo
art car boot fair May 2012 -Escargo
Escargo – snail racing. As you do!

art car boot fair May 2012 -http://www.matcollishaw.com/
Mat Collishaw was doing a fine job of selling his insect prints.

art car boot fair May 2012 -http://coinsjunkyardsnackbar.tumblr.com/
Mike’s Corn dogs in a shopping cart contraption. Hot work! Rather him than me.

art car boot fair May 2012

There is an interesting confluence of fine art and street art at the moment and there is no better place to see this in action than at the Art Car Boot Fair – where so many forms of high, low, street and performance art exist happily side by side. Roll on 2013. Can we have some shade please?