Are You being Served? Exhibition.

Before I started my new job at Tribal, I managed to squeeze in a quick exhibition at the Bethnal Green museum of Childhood. As well as housing a large collection of dolls, toys and childhood memorabilia (remember Strawberry Shortcake!), the space at the front hosts exhibitions of local artists. The current one on show entitled Are you being Served is a collection of photographs by Tom Hunter, portraying the variety and communities of local shops in Hackney and Bethnal Green. All shot front on, to give the viewer the idea of what they may see if they were to be served by the subjects, it is fascinating to see them all as a collection. Yes, as individual images they are intriguing, but it is by seeing the whole series that you really get a feel for the area and the people that inhabit it. The shops give a hint as to the cultural mix of people that are drawn to theses areas and the services or products required. You also get a sense of which shops have staying power or may have been passed down through generations, even those not stopping.
What I liked about them was the great sense of human presence and activity within sometimes a very small space.

Santogold music video

Continuing the paper cut-out theme, santogold have done a beautiful video with folding paper people. Not sure who made it - anyone?

My own craftywork

While I wait for the final publication of the book I worked on at Langland, I thought I'd put up an element of it that I worked on, that wasn't my usual art direction. This, I carefully handmade with hundreds of sequins and some beading. It will be form part of the pages in the upcoming book 'Stop and Smell the Stilton', aimed at oncologists who deal with terminal cancer patients. It is then aimed at the patients to give them a positive take on their remaining months, once the initial shock of the diagnosis has set in. The book will make more sense once I put up the final piece, due out at the end of July.

Paper Cuts to Love

Here's some beautiful work by paper artist Rob Ryan who makes all sorts of intricate designs just from cutting out paper. Upon first look it is just 2d illustration, then you see the shadows and really appreciate the handiwork. Rob has created works for window displays, record covers, and book designs. Can't say anymore really, just check out his site!

It's Rainham sheds!

Just watching this makes me drool over sheds. "According to all sources the prices are low" Genius.

http://www.rainhamsheds.co.uk/

Found on Karma blog.

The Big Idea - you'll get there in the end

I went to a really interesting talk last night hosted by the She says gang. It was all about the psychology of getting an idea, and how to allow yourself to get to the eureka moment. The evening consisted of four speakers all with fascinating nuggets of information to share.
One speaker, Dawn Sillet of Creative mastery mentioned something quite interesting about how the brain works. She said that as human beings we are inanely structured to solve a problem. And that if we allow our brain to, it will come up with the goods in the end. Rather like when you forget what you wnet going upstairs for, but remember when you get back down. Or when remember the answer from the pub quiz, when you are on the way home two hours later. That is often why we get our best ideas in the bath or on the loo. it is hwile we are relaxed, and our brain subconciously makes the connections, and solves the problems that we've been struggling to earlier. So when you see Creatives mucking about on the Foossball or lounging about, it is actually work. It is good to allow the brain time to breathe. That said it is all about balance (as with everything). So we need stimulus, challenges, deadlines, motivation, stress, calm, wacky ideas and logic to come up with the best ideas.
So if you catch me running around naked, hollering like a red indian, then stopping to do a suduko, you know why.

Crafty Tea

I'm all for a good cuppa and biscuits, so these were right up my street. And the fact they are hand crafted by British knitters or part of a fairtrade scheme in Asia makes them even better.
I came across them in this sweet little shop in Kingly court, Carnaby street, All The Fun of the Fair. I really felt like a kid in a toy shop as it took me back to childhood. they have all sorts of bits and pieces, buttons, haberdashery for all your crafty needs. Or if you just need an interesting baby present, my fav was the carrot rattle.
The top pictures are handmade pieces by Bugs and Fishes who makes kitsch pieces, from teacups to butterflies and birds. Love it.

Cool Animation

'MUTO' a wall painted animation by BLU from Brazil:




http://www.vimeo.com/993998