Amelia’s Magazine | Irving Penn: Portraits

NPG_IrvingPenn_Portraits

‘A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.’

These famous words, uttered by Irving Penn himself, pretty much sum up the experience of the Irving Penn: Portraits major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Running until 6 June, this landmark offering marks one of fashion’s greatest photographers’ passing in October of last year, and is the first exhibition of his work in the UK for 25 years.

Here are a few reasons why you should see this restrospective of one of the world’s greatest photographers:

Celebrate a master
In the 1940s when Penn began his career shooting for Vogue magazine, opulent interiors and lavish settings were de rigeur for these magazines. Penn shook things up with his minimal, austere settings (often in stark studios with floors covered in fag butts). It was this style that he is most famous for, and which has influenced countless artists and photographers since.

Marvel at unique composition
While many photographers employed narratives in their work, removing personal elements, Penn’s focus was on keeping settings neutral and resisting these storytelling fantasies. His were studies of the face; he rarely photographed his subjects at full length, often severely chopping off the tops of heads with his crop. This was extraordinary at the time, and looking at these timeless images now, it still is. Glancing at the iconic portrait of his wife Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn in her harlequin number and then looking at a contemporary portrait of Nicole Kidman from as little ago as 2003, it is only by recognition of the subjects that we can differentiate the era; the ageless elegance of these photographs is truly astonishing.

NPG_IrvingPennPortraits_2

See REAL celebrities
Penn was one of the few photographers who documented the stars of the 1940s and 1950s, and in an age where getting your tits out on TV makes you a celebrity, be delighted amongst the faces of those with endurable star quality and immeasurable talent –  Rudolph Nureyev, Edith Piaf, Elsa Schiaparelli, Marlene Dietrich and Cecil Beaton to name a few.

Revel at the beauty of gelatin prints
All of Penn’s prints use the vintage silver gelatin process, which gives uncompromising quality and incredible contrast. Looking at the photographs makes a recent batch of DSLR prints I paid a fortune for look like a bad job by Snappy Snaps.

For more information or to book tickets, click here.

Categories ,Cecil Beaton, ,Edith Piaf, ,Elsa Schiaparelli, ,Fashion Photography, ,Irving Penn, ,Lisa Fonssagrives, ,london, ,Marlene Dietrich, ,national portrait gallery, ,Portraiture

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Amelia’s Magazine | Corrie Nielsen: London Fashion Week A/W 2012 Catwalk Review

Corrie Nielsen A/W 2012 by Gaarte
Corrie Nielsen A/W 2012 by Gaarte.

London Fashion Week kicked off for me this year with a brilliant showing from Corrie Nielsen, who looked to the Scottish Highlands for inspiration in Vestiarium Scoticum. Named for an infamous book describing the provenance of Scottish tartans, this collection harks back to Corrie’s long lost heritage: her ancestor John S. Burns emigrated to America during the Revolutionary War and this collection is dedicated to both him and her grandmother Tollie.

Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen A/W 2012 by Gaarte
Corrie Nielsen A/W 2012 by Gaarte.

Vestiarium Scoticum opened with a bold red tartan dress, adorned with asymmetrical panels of black chiffon ruffles. Hair was tied back into a sleek low bun with ‘face lace’ fretwork painted across the side of the foreheads by Phyllis Cohen. Buns are big for A/W 2012, you heard it here first.

Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen by Angelica Moreno
Corrie Nielsen A/W 2012 by Angelica Moreno.

Beautifully tailored creamy blouses were buttoned high at the neck to offset supremely wearable tartan separates with a lady like feeling of propriety. In contrast a girly pleated tartan skirt was paired with a gauzy polka dot blouse, knee high post box red socks and flat shoes.

Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
I was particularly enamoured of the hair pieces by milliner Emma Yeo, which featured fine laser cut wood that echoed the long tapered pheasant feathers.

Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
This season the key focus was on a draped shawl shape that crumpled in waterfall-like waves across the torso, or swung jauntily across shoulders to culminate in finely structured peplums jutting from the waist, a favourite shape of Corrie Nielsen‘s.

Corrie Neilsen A/W 2012 by Sam Parr
Corrie Neilsen A/W 2012 by Sam Parr.

Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Nielsen AW 2012  photography by Amelia Gregory
Corrie Neilsen Check Skirt by Sam Parr
Corrie Neilsen A/W 2012 by Sam Parr.

The last two dresses featured the huge extravagant tumbles of fabric for which Corrie Nielsen has become famed, gloriously theatrical showstoppers with tiny waists and sweeping trains. Not for nothing has Corrie Nielsen become the heir apparent to the Westwood crown.

Corrie Nielson A/W 2012 by Carol Ryder
Corrie Nielson A/W 2012 by Carol Ryder.

All photography by Amelia Gregory.

Categories ,A/W 2012, ,Angelica Moreno, ,BFC Showspace, ,Carol Ryder, ,Corrie Nielsen, ,Emma Yeo, ,Face Lace, ,Forward PR, ,Gaarte, ,Gabriel Ayala, ,Gazelli, ,John S Burns, ,lfw, ,millinery, ,Peplum, ,Phyllis Cohen, ,Revolutionary War, ,Ruffles, ,Sam Parr, ,scotland, ,Sheer, ,Tartan, ,Tollie Burns, ,Vestiarium Scoticum, ,Vivienne Westwood

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Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Eco-friendly, Ethical and Crafty Gifts

Christmas-gifts-by-Sinead-O-Leary
Christmas gifts by Sinead O’Leary.

Just in time for a last minute eco Christmas round up before the Royal Mail goes totally pear shaped….

Marks & Spencers baking set
Firstly, I am a bit in love with Kirsty Allsopp, either that or I am just really bloody jealous – how did she get to the position where she has managed to forge an entire career out of learning to craft? That’s like my ideal job. And her own entire range at Marks & Spencer? If you fancy yourself a bit of Kirsty why not take a peek at some of the gift packages she’s put together. They’re a bit girly for me, so I’m gunning for this Marks & Spencer baking set, currently on special offer for £15. With all the things you need to make festive treats over Christmas in a pretty red and white heart tin. Get in.

Candy Wrapper Stars
On a purely decorative from how about these? I love these candy wrapper stars from Re-Found – they’re the kind of thing that I would make out of my rubbish in that alternate Kirsty Allsopp world where I have lots of spare time… handily these ones come ready made.

Sparkling Silver T Light Holder Nigel Eco Store
One of the best place to hunt for interesting eco goodies is Nigel’s Eco Store, which is a veritable treasure trove of environmentally aware goodies, including this pretty silvered tea light holder, made from recycled glass.

Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet, an ethical fashion designer who is featured in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, has put together this adorable Patchwork Pooch kit from leftover fabrics, vintage buttons and recycled ribbons: so adorable, and the perfect project to keep crafty types happy over Christmas.

Culture beyond oil
Lastly, I couldn’t go without mentioning Culture Beyond Oil, a publication put together by my friends at Platform and perfect for the environmentalist and art enthusiast in your life: as recommended by me in a recent interview about arts and activism with Sierra Club online. Not If But When: Culture Beyond Oil is a long hard look at the way that oil funding has infiltrated our art institutions, with contributions from a range of top artists including Banksy and Matthew Herbert. This line of investigation could not come at a better time, as proved by an article in the Guardian only today which confirms that four of the UK’s biggest cultural organisations – the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate – have announced they are to renew sponsorship deals with BP worth £10m despite protests from environmental campaigners. Here’s to more positive news on that front in 2012.

Categories ,ACOFI, ,Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, ,Baking Set, ,banksy, ,BP, ,British Museum, ,craft, ,Culture Beyond Oil, ,diy, ,ecodesign, ,ethical, ,Kirsty Allsopp, ,Kit, ,Marks & Spencer, ,Matthew Herbert, ,national portrait gallery, ,Nigel’s Eco Store, ,oil, ,Patchwork Pooch, ,platform, ,Re-Found, ,Royal Opera House, ,Sinead O’Leary, ,Tara Starlet, ,Tate, ,Upcycled

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Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Eco-friendly, Ethical and Crafty Gifts

Christmas-gifts-by-Sinead-O-Leary
Christmas gifts by Sinead O’Leary.

Just in time for a last minute eco Christmas round up before the Royal Mail goes totally pear shaped….

Marks & Spencers baking set
Firstly, I am a bit in love with Kirsty Allsopp, either that or I am just really bloody jealous – how did she get to the position where she has managed to forge an entire career out of learning to craft? That’s like my ideal job. And her own entire range at Marks & Spencer? If you fancy yourself a bit of Kirsty why not take a peek at some of the gift packages she’s put together. They’re a bit girly for me, so I’m gunning for this Marks & Spencer baking set, currently on special offer for £15. With all the things you need to make festive treats over Christmas in a pretty red and white heart tin. Get in.

Candy Wrapper Stars
On a purely decorative from how about these? I love these candy wrapper stars from Re-Found – they’re the kind of thing that I would make out of my rubbish in that alternate Kirsty Allsopp world where I have lots of spare time… handily these ones come ready made.

Sparkling Silver T Light Holder Nigel Eco Store
One of the best place to hunt for interesting eco goodies is Nigel’s Eco Store, which is a veritable treasure trove of environmentally aware goodies, including this pretty silvered tea light holder, made from recycled glass.

Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet Patchwork Pooch
Tara Starlet, an ethical fashion designer who is featured in Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, has put together this adorable Patchwork Pooch kit from leftover fabrics, vintage buttons and recycled ribbons: so adorable, and the perfect project to keep crafty types happy over Christmas.

Culture beyond oil
Lastly, I couldn’t go without mentioning Culture Beyond Oil, a publication put together by my friends at Platform and perfect for the environmentalist and art enthusiast in your life: as recommended by me in a recent interview about arts and activism with Sierra Club online. Not If But When: Culture Beyond Oil is a long hard look at the way that oil funding has infiltrated our art institutions, with contributions from a range of top artists including Banksy and Matthew Herbert. This line of investigation could not come at a better time, as proved by an article in the Guardian only today which confirms that four of the UK’s biggest cultural organisations – the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House and Tate – have announced they are to renew sponsorship deals with BP worth £10m despite protests from environmental campaigners. Here’s to more positive news on that front in 2012.

Categories ,ACOFI, ,Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, ,Baking Set, ,banksy, ,BP, ,British Museum, ,craft, ,Culture Beyond Oil, ,diy, ,ecodesign, ,ethical, ,Kirsty Allsopp, ,Kit, ,Marks & Spencer, ,Matthew Herbert, ,national portrait gallery, ,Nigel’s Eco Store, ,oil, ,Patchwork Pooch, ,platform, ,Re-Found, ,Royal Opera House, ,Sinead O’Leary, ,Tara Starlet, ,Tate, ,Upcycled

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Amelia’s Magazine | Art Listings November 2 – 8

Amelia GregoryWhen Amelia is not managing Amelia’s Magazine she takes huge quantities of photos. You can see more of her photography on the Amelia Gregory website (which is seriously out of date, viagra you’ve been warned!) and her photos often appear in the articles she writes. She used to make a living shooting portraits and fashion stories for the likes of The Guardian, ES Magazine, Sleaze Nation, Time Out and 125 Magazine and is only too happy to accept commissions! Get in touch with Amelia and let her know what you’d like her to shoot.

Amelia is available and loves to teach. Why not ask her to lecture at your college? She has taught extensively in many top universities and has several popular lectures ready to go, including:

  • How to Set Up a Magazine
  • How to Put Together and Pitch Fashion Shoots
  • How to Break Into the World of Editorial Illustration
  • How to Work with Effectively With Art Direction
  • How to Get Your Ideas Into the World With Effective Social Networking
  • How Illustration Can Imagine a Better World

She is also available for seminars, conferences and as a consultant on all things creative. Email Amelia Gregory for more information.

Amelia spends a lot of time organising, networking, designing, managing print production, calling celidhs and taking photos for Climate Camp because she believes what they are doing is one of the most important things in the world.

Amelia also calls celidhs (barndances if you prefer) with her band Green Kite Midnight which was formed through friendships made at Climate Camp. Green Kite Midnight are available to play sweet celidh music wherever the cause is good enough. Amelia has been calling non-traditional celidhs (featuring a mash-up of Scottish, Irish, English and Appalachian music and dances) for several years now but her biggest celidh to date was held in the main marquee at Climate Camp 2009 on Blackheath, where she got at least 500 people dancing up a storm in perfect harmony.
Amelia GregoryWhen Amelia is not managing Amelia’s Magazine she takes huge quantities of photos. You can see more of her photography on the Amelia Gregory website (which is seriously out of date, website you’ve been warned!) and her photos often appear in the articles she writes. She used to make a living shooting portraits and fashion stories for the likes of The Guardian, try ES Magazine, Sleaze Nation, Time Out and 125 Magazine and is only too happy to accept commissions! Get in touch with Amelia and let her know what you’d like her to shoot.

Amelia is available and loves to teach. Why not ask her to lecture at your college? She has taught extensively in many top universities and has several popular lectures ready to go, including:

  • How to Set Up a Magazine
  • How to Put Together and Pitch Fashion Shoots
  • How to Break Into the World of Editorial Illustration
  • How to Work with Effectively With Art Direction
  • How to Get Your Ideas Into the World With Effective Social Networking
  • How Illustration Can Imagine a Better World

She is also available for seminars, conferences and as a consultant on all things creative. Email Amelia Gregory for more information.

Amelia spends a lot of time organising, networking, designing, managing print production, calling celidhs and taking photos for Climate Camp because she believes what they are doing is one of the most important things in the world.

Amelia also calls celidhs (barndances if you prefer) with her band Green Kite Midnight which was formed through friendships made at Climate Camp. Green Kite Midnight are available to play sweet celidh music wherever the cause is good enough. Amelia has been calling non-traditional celidhs (featuring a mash-up of Scottish, Irish, English and Appalachian music and dances) for several years now but her biggest celidh to date was held in the main marquee at Climate Camp 2009 on Blackheath, where she got at least 500 people dancing up a storm in perfect harmony.
Amelia GregoryWhen Amelia is not managing Amelia’s Magazine she takes huge quantities of photos. You can see more of her photography on the Amelia Gregory website (which is seriously out of date, generic you’ve been warned!) and her photos often appear in the articles she writes. She used to make a living shooting portraits and fashion stories for the likes of The Guardian, pill ES Magazine, Sleaze Nation, Time Out and 125 Magazine and is only too happy to accept commissions! Get in touch with Amelia and let her know what you’d like her to shoot.

Amelia is available and loves to teach. Why not ask her to lecture at your college? She has taught extensively in many top universities and has several popular lectures ready to go, including:

  • How to Set Up a Magazine
  • How to Put Together and Pitch Fashion Shoots
  • How to Break Into the World of Editorial Illustration
  • How to Work with Effectively With Art Direction
  • How to Get Your Ideas Into the World With Effective Social Networking
  • How Illustration Can Imagine a Better World

She is also available for seminars, conferences and as a consultant on all things creative. Email Amelia Gregory for more information.

Amelia spends a lot of time organising, networking, designing, managing print production, calling celidhs and taking photos for Climate Camp because she believes what they are doing is one of the most important things in the world.

Amelia also calls celidhs (barndances if you prefer) with her band Green Kite Midnight which was formed through friendships made at Climate Camp. Green Kite Midnight are available to play sweet celidh music wherever the cause is good enough. Amelia has been calling non-traditional celidhs (featuring a mash-up of Scottish, Irish, English and Appalachian music and dances) for several years now but her biggest celidh to date was held in the main marquee at Climate Camp 2009 on Blackheath, where she got at least 500 people dancing up a storm in perfect harmony.
tatty devine

Diamond Tears

From the 13th November the Tatty Devine Brick Lane gallery space will host an exhibition of work by artist Verena Paloma Jabs. ‘Diamond Tears‘ will showcase Jabs‘ mixed media collages and animations inspired by dark, more about fantastical imagery from fairy tales and the illusory, stuff murky depths of dreamtime. Her English and Russian heritage and resisdence in Germany have informed her work – expect to see laser cut acrylic frames and a limited edition heart shaped necklace, ailment all featuring black silohuettes of woodland scenes and animals against beautiful landscapes.

November 13th Tatty Devine, Brick Lane

makeitprintitpackitshipit

Make It Print It Pack It Ship It

Another pop-up gallery presented by MA and MFA Fine Art students from Slade School Of Fine Art will take place in Tottenham Court Road from this Monday for one week. The exhibition will be made up of sculpture, installation and painting from the eighteen artists. Exploring surrounding cultural, social and physical environment through the vehicle of the pop-up store, it will adopt the methods of production and dissemination of commercialism. 605 x 505, a box set of limited edition prints to accompany the exhibition, will also be available throughout the week.

November 2nd – 6th, 145 Tottenham Court Road, London

national portrait gallery

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2009

Taking place at the National Portrait Gallery, this year’s competition is back again to offer up the cream of today’s contemporary photography practitioners. A mix of fresh new talent will be presented alongside more experienced veterans of photography. A remarkable 2,400 entrants have applied this year, resulting in over 6,300 images to be whittled down to sixty pieces for the final exhibition, including the four overall winners and the winner of the Godfrey Argent Award for an outstanding portrait by an entrant between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.

November 5th 2009 – February 14th 2010, National Portrait Gallery

panik

Panik – Changing Faces

Panik, the alias of Jack Murray is said to be one of the most prolific young graffitti writers of today. More accustomed to using the streets of London as his canvas, he is now bringing his work to the confines of four walls for the first time, in the form of this exhibition at The Underground. Panik comments that, “Creating work in the studio helps me move in the right direction, relax, delve into my thoughts and break down my style, which gives me confidence to experiment more on the streets. At the same time painting on the streets releases a lot of my inner tensions and gets my adrenalin pumping fuelling a lot of what’s behind my paintings”. Get yourself down to Argyle Walk this Thursday for the Private View.

November 6th – 28th, 26 Argyle Square London

one taste festival 2009

One Taste Festival 2009

The fourth festival in their run so far, One Taste are back again with what has been described as ‘a 3 floor art explosion’ at the venue of The Bedford. There will be a generous serving of all things creative including music, poetry, film, art, philosophy, workshops, parades, theatre, DJs, dancing, food and much more. The event will start in the day and last though to the night. Some of the acts that will be there include Antic Bantic who will be providing games, music and art, a Lucid Dreaming workshop: Learn the art of Lucid Dreaming by Charley Morely, face painting by Bella Faces and Live Story Writing – collective story writing with OneTaste favourite poets.

November 8th, The Bedford 77 Bedford Hill, London

lets get ready to jumble

Let’s Get Ready To Jumble!

This Saturday The Monarch on Chalk Fram Road will welcome the friendliest of monthly afternoon jumble sales. Providing ‘treasures and pleasures galore’. Mens and women’s vintage, records, books, bric-a-brac, tombola and craft are promised and there are firework displays on at Primrose Hill and Alexandra Palace that night so we are asked to find something sparkly to go with your sparkler!

7th November, The Monarch, 40-42 Chalk Farm Road, London

Categories ,Art Listings, ,changing faces, ,diamond tears, ,jack murray, ,let’s get ready to jumble, ,listings, ,make it print it pack it ship it, ,national portrait gallery, ,one taste festival, ,panik, ,slade school, ,Slade School Of Fine Art, ,tatty d, ,Tatty Devine, ,taylor wessing photographic portrait prize, ,the monarch, ,the underground, ,verena paloma jabs

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