Sunday 10th December: The launch of Peckham Levels

Simon Whybray's pink staircase for Peckham's multi-storey carpark entrance to Bold Tendencies has undergone a multi-colour makeover to launch the location's new venture "Peckham Levels".  The empty shell has metamorphosed into a fully fledged seven story complex for creative arts and the community.  Here are Magda Kaggwa's photos from the opening night on Friday when the construction site first opened its doors to the public.  Check my recent post about 3rd Rail screenprinting who will be part of the residency of artists offering services and studio spaces as part of their positioning within the cooperative.  Although they are currently raising money to complete their resource, they were onsite hosting live screen-printing of SuperMundane tote bags for the private view.   Find out more about the multidisciplinary multi-plex here and back 3rd Rail on Kickstarter here.

See archive posts on the pink stairwell here and here.

Thursday 7th December: The Insta-Economy

I love attending educational events especially panel discussions and seminars on business as this is something I'm eager to get the latest insight on!  Last week Instagram launched an independent research study into UK Small Business which illustrated how entrepreneurs have grown with the platform.  Some examples of these success stories came together to share their journeys from "Vicky's Donuts" bakery to "Earl Of East London" candle makers and "Campbell Cole" leather accessories.  In these cases hobbies have become legitimate businesses and a totally new career for each creative.  Vicky was able to gain exposure and create a community from Kate Moross offering to mentor her with graphic design and branding.  Earl Of East London started off selling at local produce markets and since building a loyal following online have now opened their own shop and have 120 stockists internationally!  Nottingham based Campbell Cole have changed their annual strategy of ceasing to exhibit at trade shows and transfer that allotted budget and energy into marketing and sales purely through Instagram.

We were given the physical report to analyse but these examples of real stories infront of us is what really made an impact, even more than the incredible data.  Apparently 1 in 3 UK small businesses have built their business on Instagram.  That could be because 76% of adults in the UK own a smartphone and use it more than any other device for Internet!   This means businesses have had to adapt to reach their customers through a mobile screen which explains the boom in a new wave of embracing social media as the main focus in business strategy.  Since Instagram launched in 2010, accounts have been able to forge valuable connections with clients which is both benefiting local communities but also creating new networks across the world with the break down of geographical borders.  Globally Instagram is an escalating community of 800 million!  51% of UK small businesses say Instagram is a way to connect with customers in other countries and their expansion is having a direct impact on the UK economy from both profits and job creation.  Predictions for the future are sizable so Instagram are putting more dedicated business tools in place to help small businesses expand over the coming years.

So if you have a passion or an idea, don't hesitate to give it a chance and the best place possible to test the waters is most definitely Instagram............. its proven!

My snaps are from the seminar and LetterBug's paint palette at the Insta-Economy Christmas market in Spitafields.

Tuesday 5th December: "THE COME UP" by Charles Jeffrey at NOW Gallery

Charles Jeffrey's runway shows are always a work of art in themselves with theatrical set design and performance happening alongside the LOVER BOY muse models.  His clubnight which has self-financed his business has emerged from the basement of Vogue Fabrics and blossomed into a legitimate design house.  That is why I was so pleased to see Lyall Hakaria at the private view for Charles Jeffrey's debut solo show at NOW Gallery because it was Lyall who first told me about his talent.  Lyall not only supported Charles with his nightclub to host parties but also studio and skills for sewing the first collections.  Here he is in character as "Collector" at the opening night of this art show as part of the characters Charles has devised for the project, including himself as "The Artist".  For the private view he addressed the crowd behind a lectern of a myriad of fake microphones for a speech to thank everyone and himself for blessing us with this show!  The whole night was a riot with Theo Adams theatrics, turning the gallery into a pseudo Studio 54 with Josh Quinton spinning disco and confetti canons covering the sculptures in showers of colour.

The shapes that hang from the seven metre ceiling and take up the circular floor space are like Jack and the Beanstalk come alive.  It's Charles Jeffrey's own illustrations given a new perspective out of the sketch book and blown up to a magic, major scale.  He's not just leaving it at that though.  He's inviting visitors to add to the narrative by joining in and drawing directly onto the works.  Calico also hangs on the wall as a blank page for pattern from the hands of all the footfall which he'll later use as fabric in his collection.  This work of art will become a new work of art in the future!  The show "The Come Up" is installed for three months so be sure to check it out and leave your Sharpie shapes on the cooperative canvas!

See archive posts here.

Sunday 3rd December: #SAMPLEchristmas at Greenwich Peninsula

Cosmic & Colourful magpie finds at the Urban Village #SAMPLEchristmas artisan market supporting seventy emerging independent designers at Greenwich Peninsula curated by Hemingway Design.  A festive gateway of vintage neon was installed by God's Own Junkyard and music came courtesy of Ebony Steel Band and DJ's playing from a mirror-ball covered caravan!  A second glittery airstream was home to Blow LTD where I had a manicure to tidy up my mitts after a wreath-making workshop with Florunikon.  It was such a nice chance to meet the faces behind the Instagram accounts on a weekend when independent traders left their studios to show their wares and share their stories on #smallbusinesssaturday 

(My snaps here include top to bottom:  Camille Walala for GoodLife London, Giannina Capitani knitwear, Maya Njie Perfumes, Rissoto Risograph Prints, Type Tom letterpress, Little Imp jewellery, Rokus London jewellery, Tracey Neuls shoes, Pelican Story, The Botanical Workshop, Earl Of East London, Florunikon wreath workshop)