Friday 20th May: Photo London at Somerset House

The whole of Somerset House has been hung with photography this weekend for the 2nd year of the Photo London fair.  International museums, galleries and auctioneers are exhibiting both historical and contemporary works spanning all mediums and techniques of the artform.  I need to return to get round the entire showcase as I only managed to see about half in one day!  Here are some of my favourites including (top to bottom) George Osodi at Z Photographic, Andrew Esiebo at Tiwani Contemporary, Pieter Hugo , ? , Cecil Beaton, Thomas Hoepker, Arlene Gottfried, ? , The Magic Lantern Show and the first night of the "Deadhouse Sessions" parties taking place in the vaults every night which launched yesterday with a YOYO X Anon takeover, showing prints by Matt Stuart.  

Thursday 19th May: "Rumble in The Jumble" for The Music Circle / Oxfam

It was the 5th edition of The Music Circle's fundraising jumble sale for Oxfam's international womens rights projects.  Every year exceeds all expectations, building on the previous year's success and this one was no exception, topping any totals to thirty three thousand pounds.   The Circle's founder Annie Lennox donated an entire stall of her own clothes as did many other celebrities whose garments were dotted around the rest of the Oval Space like a treasure hunt.  I had my annual "Spectrum" stall with my own multicolour garments and a myriad of goodies kindly given to me by the following generous souls:  SKIN (Skunk Anansie), Kim Howells & Chantal des Vignes at HUNGER Mag, Kitty Joseph, Bernstock Speirs, Kate Moross, Quentin Jones, House Of Hackney, Stance Socks, Quay Sunglasses........ some anonymous stars......... and Lizzie King who made us tropical decorations for the after-party.

Massive thanks to everyone as I couldn't have done it without these answers to my pleas and prayers for spare samples and second hand clothes.   Every penny counted and they all added up to this truly immense sum!  Congratulations to the organisers Kate Hutchinson, Emily Cooper, Laura Martin and Gemma Cairney who spend their year devoted to this cause.  And congrats to Amanda Maxwell and Amy Lee for curating the day and night of female talent DJ's including Clara Amfo and Snoochie Shy.

Find out more here. 

Wednesday 18th May: Andy Warhol: ARTIST ROOMS at Firstsite

From early pencil drawings and canvas paintings to screen-print portraits and wallpaper, all the way thru to covers for Interview and album artworks and finally ending on film.............. Firstsite's "Andy Warhol:  Artist Rooms" is a brilliant taster into the pop-art legend of the Campbell's soup can.  This main exhibition is accompanied by two more displays of specially comissioned work by both Hattie Stewart and Camille Walala and a programme of events and film screenings ......... which make it a worthwhile day-trip to visit the oldest recorded town!  My home town!

Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester , Essex, CO1 1JH

Tuesday 17th May: Camille Walala at Firstsite

If you look at the tiny black silhouette of a person's outline under the enormity of the wall here, you can get a grasp of the scale of the architecture of Firstsite.  The gigantic slanting interior wall has been covered in Camille Walala's op-art interpretation of pop-art for the current show at Colchester's contemporary gallery.  The palette picks up on the pink and yellow of Warhol's prints and the pattern mimics his use of drop shadow and the half-tone dots from the screen-printing process.  Not only has she covered this epic surface but also decorated the front-desk and tables of the cafe for a complete Walala take-over.  

Follow Camille's Instagram to see more from the project.  

Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester , Essex, CO1 1JH

Tuesday 17th May: Hattie Stewart at Firstsite

Illustrator / Artist Hattie Stewart hails from the same home-town as me, initially studying art in Colchester in Essex.  She has returned to bring her distinctive style to the local modern art museum as part of the current Andy Warhol exhibition.  With reference to Warhol's cow wallpaper, Hattie has made a repeat pattern of her prints to line a gallery with her own pop-art fly-posters.  Her doodle-bombing is diplayed alongside smaller detailed paintings on shelves to complete her own world within the "Andy Warhol: Artist Rooms" themed show. You can purchase replicas of the posters in the museum's shop!

Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, Essex,  CO1 1JH