Friday 13th Dec: Teds Draws vs. Work It

Time for T ……….. t-shirts ……….. and Teds Draws ………… in a collaboration with Work It as the latest merch to come from the girl's label.  Ted is known for penning a particular style of caricature of pop-culture icons from Steve Bucemi, Christopher Walkin to Snoop Doggy Dog and Missy Elliot.  The first colour variant to his signature monochrome illustrations is the pink inked portrait of Lil' Kim.  The launch took place at local treasure trove Pelican's and Parrots Black where Loren recently picked up a winner Versace print body-con mini-dress.  Head over to their site to snap up this limited edition celebration of the Queen of r'n'b.

(Images from both the launch party, invite and snaps at the artist's studios)

Friday 13th Dec: Christmas at Andrew Logan's Glasshouse

From Nelson Mandela's portrait in South Africa via the last post, to his legacy prophetically immortalised in reflecting bright lights of Andrew Logan's mirror sculpture.  Every Christmas Andrew opens the doors of his glasshouse in Bermondsey for a festive get-together and chance to invest in a piece of his unique cosmic work.  The installations are constantly moving and changing - with the latest face to take centre stage on the stairwell being Nelson Mandela.  I wonder where this wonder will end up one day………….. genius.

(Photos include Kose Jean's metallic marbled shoes, me wearing a Kitty Joseph glitter print neoprene box jacket, La Touche snapping hats on Keely Hunter and Kitty)

Tues 10th Dec: South Africa via Alex Cunningham

In the tradition of my Uncle Travelling Mac style features where I ask friends who are travelling to send me snaps from their adventures - here are Alex Cunningham's photos from Johannesburg where she is on location for a shoot.  It's happened to fall at the pivotal time of Nelson Mandela's death … … ..  which I'd like to mention on the blog - and here is the perfect visual opportunity for insight into the city this last week.

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

Monday 9th Dec: Jeremy Deller's WARP vs. TATE

We had been eagerly anticipating this event, counting down the days to have the chance to rave inside Tate Britain ℅ winners Warp records and our favourite (Turner Prize) artist Jeremy Deller .   This is what I love about England - that one of our most important institutions stuffed with serious historical art was happy to open its doors to the public to have a free party?!  The  WARP vs. TATE night had a line up inc.  Rustie presents Rave (in the Pre-Raphalite room), Hudson Mohawke's Summer of Love, A tribute to 808 303 by Hellicar & Lewis ……… and Jeremy Deller's ACID BRASS ft. Fairey Brass Band.  After the individual acts installations scattered around the galleries, the crowd amassed for the crescendo of the brass band playing 808 State's "Pacific" and A Guy Called Gerald's "Voodoo Ray".  We all know that Deller is the don, and this event was just the latest evidence of that legacy ………. BOOOOOM.  Watch Rollo Jackson's raving Morris Men film for the event's media partner DAZED here.

Thank you Verity Keefe for helping me get in the building, past the epic que wrapping round the whole block.

Satuday 7th Dec: Meadham Kirchhoff "Fashion In Motion" at The V&A

Yesterday the V&A invited me down to take-over their Twitter and Instagram feed from front row of their "Fashion In Motion" show - the latest designer act to be presented being Meadham Kirchhoff.   Here are some of the snapshots from the retrospective catwalk show in the Museum's Raphael Gallery with a greeting card style set by Philip Wiegard.  The running order was divided into divisions of seasons separating A/W10 dressing-up box cracker crowns and veils to S/S11 candy colour Courtney Love cut layers to S/S12 "the girl on the cake" to the the A/W12 tinsel sequin disco dolls thru to S/S13 Nasir Mazhar bow emblazoned boater hats with brocade suits.  James Pecis revived each signature hair style from corkscrew tendrils to spectrum dyed rainbow weaves and Florrie White's makeup sprinkled the sparkle dust and crystal beauty spots.  Jeffrey Hinton compiled the soundtrack as usual which was a perfect fit with his own film installation adjacent in the "Club To Catwalk" exhibition.  Princess Julia was pretty in pink with a sequin turban on the front row and other guests included a cluster of Gothic Lolita girls in these kawaii court shoes and lace trimmed pop socks.

Thanks to the V&A for asking me to be the guest blogger for this event, taking over the hot seat from Susie Bubble who reported from last month's Kansai Yamamoto showcase.  Thanks also to my hat-appreciation partner La Touche for a few of these shots as my finger wasn't quite quick enough on the trigger to snap and type Tweets in the same manoeuvre! 

Friday 6th Dec: TEED Zine by Dan Wilton

Last night was the launch of Dan Wilton's photography zine documenting his time on tour with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs in Croatia. The packed out event at the Wayward Gallery on Mowlem St included a DJ set by the man himself with a little help from his dino girls and on show was a selection of the snaps featured in the zine. The pictures are great documentation of what has been an incredible year for the TEED clan, and feature some beautiful shots of the croatian landscape.

 Dan captures perfectly the friendships and good humour of Orlando and his crew, providing a great insight into the dynamics and fun nature of the group and... as the saying goes, what goes on tour… ends up in an art gallery in east london (!)

Words Amy Lee

Photos:  by Fred ft. guests Top to bottom - Daryoush Haj-Najafi w/ Isa GT, Stephanie Sian Smith w/ Dan Wilton, Orlando Higginbottom w/ Nina Ribena, Yunus & Eliza