Sat 30th May: Just for Giggles

My mum likes to post me silly things.
This newspaper clipping is the latest from an article about the "Hay Festival" which ends tomorrow.
Hope it gives you the same tickle it gave me.

Sat 30th May: Last Days of 143

This weekend is the final stint of the pop-up shop "143" curated by SilverSpoonAttire, designed by Kate Morross and selling my caterpillar necklaces (amongst many other lines). So if you are in Soho, drop by. Its right round the corner from the Pam Hogg pop-up shop. So you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone before they vanish. You can even win this bike!

“The Candy Floss Pink Sparkle Lo-pro”, as customised by Kate Moross for 143, has been produced by Fixed Gear London and is valued at over £2,000, it can be won by raffle via 5 pound tickets with all proceeds going to the chosen 143 charity, Barnardo’s.

143 POP UP BOUTIQUE

3 LOWNDES COURT,
(OFF CARNABY STREET)
LONDON W1F

NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

MON - SAT 11-LATE
SUNDAY 12-6

Thurs 28th May: Primavera Day 1

Whilst London is tentatively sizing up the summer, the sun is shining out over Mont Montjuic in Barcelona for Primavera. Having lost an assistant to My Bloody Valentine, I wanted to know what was going on at this 3 day, 6 stage music festival!? The line-up looks scarily sizeable, so if I just stick to "S" for Spain ...........some of the acts are Spiritualized, Saint Etienne, Simian Mobile Disco, Squarepusher, Sunn o))) AND Sonic Youth. In addition to these distractions, its located next to a white sand beach with free option to leave and return. Apparently things get going at 7pm and carry on till 7am when the transport links start running again. I hope Camille comes back!

Fingers crossed, we have an inside peak at the proceedings courtesy of music/portrait photographer Dan Wilton who has also split from the smog in search of Europe's finest sound systems. For the first day of his"Uncle Travelling Mack" style contributor status, we have some choice cuts (!) of phone-pic action. Tune in tomorrow to see more direct from the Catalan serving of cutting edge and classical...


http://www.danwilton.co.uk/
http://www.primaverasound.com/

Weds 27th May: Corsetorama

I have to make a corset today.  As you do.  Or don't!  So I'm getting some guidance from looking at a corset kindly donated to me by Alistair Carr from one of his first collections.  Its a hand-dyed and embroidered satin piece with gold matador detailing which I'm scared to hazard a guess at how long it took!  I think the original structure was made for Alistair by Mr.Pearl who he originally trained under.  

Here is another corset that Mr.Pearl made for Alistair as a birthday present in 1997.   It is in the permanent  fashion collection on show at The Royal Pavilion Museum in Brighton.  So I feel very privileged that I have been entrusted with one of these beauties.  But even better that I can use it to continue the flow of work................although I wouldn't want either of them to know that I only have 1 day to make one instead of a few weeks/months!   So here goes..........

To see what else is on show at the Museum :  http://www.virtualmuseum.info/collections/default.asp

Tues 26th May: Dust on The Ground

Since casting her soft touch over my film and subsequent images for Heliocentric Electric, Elisha Smith-Leverock has taken on a new music promo.  Bombay Bicycle Club will launch "Dust On The Ground" on June 29th to follow up the storming "Always Like This".  

Its more like a mini movie clip than your regular music video.  There is something significantly unnerving about Jack Steadman's deep wavering vocals and this has been echoed in Elisha's surreal/mildly disturbing treatment.  (His voice reminds me of the first time I heard Gomez and wrongly assumed Ian Bull was some kind of old time Chet Baker crooner.  11 years later we have another disorientating killer talent to step up and take the mantle.........or sombrero).

I can't wait to see it on the telly but until this time you can check out the director's cut here!  I will be doing a more in depth interview/feature on Elisha's work soon so watch this space..................

Tues 26th May: Raison d'etre

Sunday 25th May: Really, Really Good Looking

SHOWstudio.com have launched a new project titled VMan Model Search.  Any male viewers can enter this competition which will be judged by Nick Knight himself.  The face that fits will win a model contract with Ford Models and will be photographed by Nick Knight and styled by Simon Foxton for the cover of the upcoming VMAN 15.   So if you fancy your chances, the deadline to upload your mug shots or video clips is the 15th June.

Here are a couple of pages from Simon Foxton's sketchbook archive which he kindly sent me once as homework for a props job.  They are various scraps of found imagery that he has collected for his own research.  I am beside myself with excitement (and I know I'm not the only one!) for the upcoming show at the Photographers Gallery.  Penny Martin is curating the show "When You Are A Boy" which will be the first exhibition dedicated to Simon's work.  Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!  Check the deats at the link below:

http://www.photonet.org.uk/index.php?pxid=954