Weds 18th April: Secret 7" for Teenage Cancer Trust

I love vinyl and I love art.  Therefore this  Secret 7" show caught my interest when Where's My Jumper tipped me off about it via Twitter.  Seven bands have donated a track to The Teenage Cancer Trust to sell this Saturday on Record Store Day.  The limited run of each 7" single are individually packaged in a totally unique art-worked sleeve.  The artists responsible for the 700 singles are a mix of international submissions, contemporary illustrators and designers, a selection of industry heavy weights, the actual bands themselves and teenagers who receive the support of the charity.  No one piece is labelled so its a guessing game of which song and which designer is combined in a record when you come to purchase it.  Here is a little indication:
Musicians include:  The Cure, Noah & The Whale, Florence & The Machine, Ben Howard, DJ Shadow, CSS and Bombay Bicycle Club
Artists include:  David Shrigley, Michael Spencer Jones (Oasis, Verve), Central Station (Happy Mondays, Black Grape), Toby Mott (De La Soul), Stylorouge (Blur, The Cure, Morrissey), Richard Evans (The Who) and Grammy winner Peter Corriston (The Rolling Stones, Billy Idol, Carole King, Debbie Harry, Led Zeppelin, New York Dolls and Tom Waits)
I think it's a safe bet that these scribble big hair illustrations are portraits of Robert Smith and going to be The Cure record ......... perhaps even a Shrigley cover?  There is one magnificent sleeve I'm pretty sure I know the culprit behind the intricate graphic cardboard motif - Chrissie Macdonald.  If I were to buy one it would be this coral cover............ which would you choose?   I really like the felt lion too............. !!
The private view took place last evening at Idea Generation Gallery in Shoreditch and now open for public viewing ahead of the sale on Saturday.  The starting bid is £40 with a first come, first serve basis............. so get down there early and look deep in your pockets for this great charity................... teenagers have very specific requirements when being treated for cancer as they feel alienated from both children's and adult's wards............... and now there is a dedicated initiative actively fundraising to provide a solution to this specific situation.   


(Above are my own personal favourites ............ but if you are a Florence Welch fan you really need to see for yourself as they are all remarkable!)

Tues 17th April: Artist Profile - Thomas Petherick

                            

Coming from a props-making background I have first-hand experience of knowing exactly how difficult it is to construct exact objects and the inordinate amount of time too!  If you are a perfectionist this is stretched even further.  Here is the work of Thomas Petherick who fabricates his work to a detailed degree and for this reason I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these incredible beaded jaguar heads.   By referencing the ornate original, he scaled up the skull in core-foam and then mathematically decorated it to perfection with beads, replicating the tiled pattern.  It blows my mind to think how he managed to do this and in a very short space of time, turning round the two pieces in just eight days!  SKILLZ!

I have previously featured Thomas's work on the blog via the headpieces he has collaborated on with Charlie Le Mindu.  It is his handiwork behind the latest collection, captured in the Zoe Hitchen film featuring Princess Julia with lilac and black large sculptural sections of hair.  In addition to these animal masks for Tupac Martir, Thomas has been creating special pieces for various designers, stylists, photographers and directors since graduating from Goldsmiths College last year.  You can see a selection of these when you scroll down his site and above are some shots from his studio space where the magic happens.  To follow future projects coming out, find his Twitter and Tumblr. ................... and see our official commemorative portrait from when Thomas and Charlie took us to The Crazy Horse in Paris on my Tumblr.  

Tues 17th April: "Designing Women: Post - War British Textiles" at FTM

                            

Here are snaps from the current exhibition at Zandra Rhodes Fashion & Textile Museum on Bermondsey Street.  The show entitled "Designing Women: Post - War British Textiles" is a selection of textile prints by the females who pioneered the colourful graphic style we are now so used to seeing across interior design.  You might walk around the gallery and take for granted the contemporary style of these fabrics, so it's good to go with the insight that this was the very first foray into abstract surface design.  It's also a fantastic idea to go at the time of a guided tour to have an hour's explanation and detailed account of the movement.  
The display starts with the most recognised leader of the group - Lucienne Day (partner of Robin) with her famous "Calyx" pattern which featured in The Festival Of Britain.  This is followed by my personal favourite - Jacqueline Groag, who liked to use flora, fauna and fun in her motif work.  Amongst over 100 works are six talents who experimented with bold bright shapes transforming accessible soft furnishings for the home throughout the 60's and 70's.  Its clear to see the inspiration from Miro's mobiles and Picasso's cubist portraits, translating the artistic moods into products for aspirational British households to decorate their homes.
You can finish your visit at the museum with a snoop around thier gift shop and pick up your own cushion replicated in some of the designs from the show.  There are other Rhodes related merchandise too, including t-shirts for just £5.  As Bermondsey Street is gathering momentum for the new destination to visit with The White Cube it is certainly something to put in your diary............ especially the "Exhibition Highlight Tour" every Wednesday at 1pm with free entry included in the ticket price.  Also check out the extensive programme of events, talks, workshops and courses.


16 March - 16 June 2012Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am - 6pm  

The Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3XF