Amelia’s Magazine | Postcard Auction: Feminism in London

Illustration by Stephanie Thieullent

On Monday 4th October, buy The Aubin Gallery staged a fundraiser organised by artist Sarah Maple in support of the upcoming Feminism in London conference. The exhibition of postcards to be auctioned, cheap represented artists, writers, comediennes, designers and pop stars individual interpretation of contemporary Feminism.

Sarah Maple’s postcard went for the fantastic sum of 200 pounds.

The exhibition opened at 6.30 leaving plenty of time to examine the different ways feminism is understood in contemporary society, before the auction began at 8.

One postcard which struck an interesting note was David Rusbatch’s interpretation and categorising of the three rather didactic stages of feminism (as popularly played out in the press); Frieda Khalo represented Pre-Feminism, Germaine Greer is the symbol of Feminism and Post-Feminism was unsurprisingly a pornographic image.

The raucous event was compared by Jessica Stevenson (Spaced!) and Miriam Elia. These fantastic comedians ensured the audience spent the evening in stitches, through their various attempts to implore and cajole people into bidding.

Photograph by MJw Photography

Coinciding with the main event, was the Silent Auction, where you could find Miriam Elia and Jessica Haynes’ (nee Stevenson) musings on the theme…

Miriam Elia

Jessica Hynes (Nee Stevenson)

Having never been to an auction before, it definitely appears to be more fun with money in your pocket. The 14 pieces which went under the comedically inept hammer were as follows: Julie Opie, Sarah Maple, Julie Verhoeven, Stuart Semple, Jo Brand, Kat Banyard, The Girls, Bob London, Susie Orbach, Kate Nash, Viv Albertine (the Slits), Sarah Lederman, Gerald Laing and Piers Secunda. The majority of the prints went for around £70, with Julian Opie being one of the three postcards to leap over £100.

After becoming enamored with Bob London’s Emily Pankhurst, the Wilderness Years stating “it will make me laugh everyday.” Jessica
asked whether it would be ok to place a bid herself (who would say no?!) before snapping it up for 60 quid.

Jo Brand’s “Feminism is about” postcard fetched 70 pounds.

Piers Secunda’s “I love you forever” written with a broken biro (with forever crossed out) brokered an unexpected bidding war, leaving Jessica to comment that people in the auidence could obviously spot ‘real’ art. The postcard went for 125 pounds, sadly neither of two girls who started the bidding won this particular postcard. Both were pipped to the post by a late contestant.

Stuart Semple raised £65 pounds after starting at 22p.

This month sees the release of Made in Dagenham, a feature film documenting the strike action taken by 187 Ford sowing machinists who refused to work until they received equal pay. After a recent appearance of a few of the campaigners on Women’s Hour it was disclosed that the pay gap between men and women (where it occurs) is larger than the difference these women originally fought for. Could there be a more apt time to bring feminism discussion back into mainstream conciseness?

Sarah Maple produced a fantastic warm up for Feminism in London, which will be taking place on Saturday 23rd October.

Categories ,Auctions, ,feminism, ,Feminism in London, ,Germaine Greer, ,Jessica Hynes, ,Jessica Stevenson, ,Jo Brand, ,Miriam Elia, ,Postcard, ,Sarah Maple, ,Stuart Semple, ,Susie Orbach, ,The Girls, ,the slits

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Amelia’s Magazine | Girls Day Out: The Paper Eater’s exhibition at Selfridges

All images courtesy of The Paper Eaters

Nestled in the crypt of our large Cathedral of consumerism, Selfridges, something different is afoot. Going down the escalator, and into the Uberlounge, where artists in resident Andrea Blood and Zoe Sinclair have hijacked the space until the 29th of April. If Alice in Wonderland was real, but someone set in the 80s circa Earth Girls are Easy, this is pretty much what the Uberlounge is currently like. There is so much to absorb that it takes a good hour or so to acclimatise to the new environment of neon colours, purple sky high chicken wire fences, inflatable couches, an onslaught of paper art and even a drive in style movie theatre. For anyone looking to get lost in a large dose of abstract reality, this is definitely the place to visit.


If wondering around, mouth agape is a little too gauche for you, there’s a wealth of activities to join in on, from origami, to 80s style makeovers to hat making workshops.
Upon meeting Zoe Sinclair and Andrea Blood, the flamboyant neon haired matriarchs of this operation, they suggested that I came again to participate in one of their ongoing photo stories, that are featured in the Paper Eaters magazine, which is currently on sale at Selfridges.


Without the handicap of being demure, it was an incredibly fun experience. From lying down in a bookshop surrounded by naff autobiographies, to tackling a hammock in the garden section and finally some jumping around at a bus stop, dressed in a miscellany of avant garde costumes, I’m looking forward (and slightly terrified) of seeing the result in Issue 3 of The Paper Eaters, which will be released on the 22nd April.


The story was of myself, a girl named Heather. The name came up from a brainstorm that pays homage to the 80s classic, and my ‘look’, which was deemed Winonaesque by the Girls, a compliment possibly strong enough to get me to participate in a snuff film, let alone a photo story. Anyhoo, Heather gets locked into Selfridges at night, and ends up gambling the night away with the ghosts of the Dolly Sisters, the flappery mistresses of Mr Selfridge back in the 30s.

But enough about me, the exhibition is still ongoing and I strongly urge you to pop in and have a look around, as it really is a magical little Oasis of whacky fun in the middle of London. For more infomation check out the listings



Categories ,andrea blood, ,dolly sisters, ,paper eaters, ,Selfridges, ,The Girls, ,zoe sinclair

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Amelia’s Magazine | Girls Day Out: The Paper Eater’s exhibition at Selfridges

All images courtesy of The Paper Eaters

Nestled in the crypt of our large Cathedral of consumerism, Selfridges, something different is afoot. Going down the escalator, and into the Uberlounge, where artists in resident Andrea Blood and Zoe Sinclair have hijacked the space until the 29th of April. If Alice in Wonderland was real, but someone set in the 80s circa Earth Girls are Easy, this is pretty much what the Uberlounge is currently like. There is so much to absorb that it takes a good hour or so to acclimatise to the new environment of neon colours, purple sky high chicken wire fences, inflatable couches, an onslaught of paper art and even a drive in style movie theatre. For anyone looking to get lost in a large dose of abstract reality, this is definitely the place to visit.


If wondering around, mouth agape is a little too gauche for you, there’s a wealth of activities to join in on, from origami, to 80s style makeovers to hat making workshops.
Upon meeting Zoe Sinclair and Andrea Blood, the flamboyant neon haired matriarchs of this operation, they suggested that I came again to participate in one of their ongoing photo stories, that are featured in the Paper Eaters magazine, which is currently on sale at Selfridges.


Without the handicap of being demure, it was an incredibly fun experience. From lying down in a bookshop surrounded by naff autobiographies, to tackling a hammock in the garden section and finally some jumping around at a bus stop, dressed in a miscellany of avant garde costumes, I’m looking forward (and slightly terrified) of seeing the result in Issue 3 of The Paper Eaters, which will be released on the 22nd April.


The story was of myself, a girl named Heather. The name came up from a brainstorm that pays homage to the 80s classic, and my ‘look’, which was deemed Winonaesque by the Girls, a compliment possibly strong enough to get me to participate in a snuff film, let alone a photo story. Anyhoo, Heather gets locked into Selfridges at night, and ends up gambling the night away with the ghosts of the Dolly Sisters, the flappery mistresses of Mr Selfridge back in the 30s.

But enough about me, the exhibition is still ongoing and I strongly urge you to pop in and have a look around, as it really is a magical little Oasis of whacky fun in the middle of London. For more infomation check out the listings



Categories ,andrea blood, ,dolly sisters, ,paper eaters, ,Selfridges, ,The Girls, ,zoe sinclair

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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.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.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.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. The Girls All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011. The Girls All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011.  All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011.  All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.Art Car Boot Fair 2011.  All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011.  All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011.  All photography by Amelia Gregory.Art Car Boot Fair 2011.  All photography by Amelia Gregory.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.

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

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Amelia’s Magazine | Art listings October 12-18

frieze

Frieze and Zoo

The big art fair Frieze, buy information pills page and its twin planet Zoo, occur this week and offer us two places to check out millions of artists all under one roof (disclaimer: slight exaggeration for effect). As well as static works, Frieze has live dance performances and workshops, while Zoo concentrates on emerging contemporary art, bringing new artists to the attention of buyers. Even if you don’t have any spare cash, a cat may look at a king – and you never know what might steal your heart and your overdraft.

maharaja 3

Maharaja: the Splendour of India’s Royal Courts

After my euphoric experience at Gardens and Cosmos, this reviewer is a total convert to anything involving India and the word “splendour”. What could be more apt then, than a new exhibition of art and objects owned by and representing India’s princes, from the 18th to the 20th century. Believe, these people know how to do colour, glamour and intrigue. And yes, their splendour is pretty much unrivalled.

frank auerbach

Frank Auerbach @ The Courtauld Gallery

Frank Auerbach’s life and art reflect the two most tragic elements of the Second World War for a British reader: the Holocaust, in which he lost his parents; and the Blitz, which left London, his home after being sent to England on the Kindertransport, devastated. Auerbach’s drawings and paintings depict the rebuilding process afoot in London after the war, where he was studying as an art student.

 ed ruscha

Ed Ruscha

Another Jewish painter, but many miles away from Auerback in space and spirit, Ed Ruscha’s art comes to the Hayward Gallery. Pulsing with American spirit, Ruscha’s paintings are of “gas” stations, palm trees and buildings on the Sunset Strip. The paintings have a definite pop art vibe and act as a record of fifty years of American culture, its vocab and visual language.

WAM The Girls Andrea Blood & Zoe Sinclair

Mind the Gap show

The Women’s Art Movement show “Mind the Gap”, including artists The Girls, Pamela Morgan and Claire Freer, aims to tackle the issue of women’s depression and bring it “above ground”, breaking taboos, as well as addressing how women are represented in society in a more general way. Including painting, photography, slide projections and all sorts of crafted objects, descend into the crypt at St Pancras Parish Church to find out more.

Categories ,Ed Ruscha, ,Frank Auerbach, ,frieze, ,Maharaja, ,Mind the Gap, ,The Girls, ,Zoo

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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
art car boot fair May 2012 - pure evil
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
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
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
art car boot fair May 2012 -Carrie Reichardt
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
art car boot fair May 2012 -David David
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
art car boot fair May 2012 -Double Regina Experience
art car boot fair May 2012 -Double Regina Experience
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
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
art car boot fair May 2012
art car boot fair May 2012
art car boot fair May 2012
art car boot fair May 2012
art car boot fair May 2012
art car boot fair May 2012
art car boot fair May 2012
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?

All photography by Amelia Gregory.

Categories ,2012, ,Art Car Boot Fair, ,Beyond the Valley, ,Bob & Roberta Smith, ,Carrie Reichardt, ,Cliff Pearcey, ,Dave Anderson, ,David David, ,Double Regina Experience, ,Escargo, ,Jubilee, ,Kristjana S Williams, ,Mad in England, ,Noma Bar, ,Outline Editions, ,Pam Hogg, ,Performance Art, ,Peter Blake, ,Pure Evil, ,review, ,Scalextric, ,Scrawl Collective, ,street art, ,The Apprentice, ,The Girls, ,vauxhall

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