Friday 8th July: LEATHER BITCH - A solo exhibition of new work by Danny Sangra

Danny Sangra's latest solo exhibition of new work including spanning film, drawing, photography and painting opened last evening at Aubin & Wills. "Leather Bitch" is Danny's first exhibition for 2 years and its a massive showcase of work with large canvases, small detailed collages and hand painted patterned leather jackets. Danny is constantly working on different projects - directing music videos, short films, designing knitwear, illustrating ........... so I have no idea when he actually had time to make all of this art!!!!
Here is his latest personal project "The Cereal Box Kid"....

The Cereal Box Kid from danny sangra on Vimeo.

"Leather Bitch" at Aubin Gallery, 64 – 66 Redchurch St, from 7th July – 11th August

Friday 8th July: DAZED 200th Issue Accelerate!

"Hollow"
Dazed & Confused Aug 2011
Photographer: Richard Burbridge
Stylist: Robbie Spencer
Printed Dress by D&G, Top and leggings worn underneath custom-made for DAZED by Jamie Cockerill, scarves by Issey Miyake, head pieces by Recine, bracelets and brooch by Fred Butler, Shin guards worn on arms by Rosy Nicholas for Fred Butler

Thurs 7th July: FENDI for - "Objects of Desire" - on AnOther

AnOther Magazine contacted me to have a little play with some FENDI shoes for their Objects of Desire section of the site. I don't take on much prop styling these days but have wanted to shoot with Kristin Vicari in her flora filled home for a while .............. which I explain over on AnOther, along with the final images by Kristin! Here is a GIF she created whilst Rosy was modelling for the shoot.........

*excerpt from my interview - click here to see*
My work is instinctively about colour and these tan shoes reminded me of terracotta plant post. The burgandy, deep red, orange and yellow of the tights in the show styling also made me think of fake flowers on cacti. It cracks me up how cacti are sold with these ridiculous faux flowers which are actually dyed dried flowers.
I replicated my own cosmic interpretation of these blooms to compliment the shapes of the collection. I then used the pattern embossed in the leather and the palette of the garments to paint the pots.
I like to create site specific scenarios so I contacted photographer Krisin Vicari as Ive always wanted to shoot with her in her botanical filled home. Her apartment is decorated with lots of mint green flora which would act as the perfect backdrop for the set in keeping with the wool felt coat and tote that I really liked. I didn't realise she had a man-hole cover situated in the middle of her exposed concrete floor which was a real bonus and became the main base for the little set. Kristin is also obsessed with high heels (Ive never seen her wear anything else) so I knew she would enjoy this project!

Weds 6th July: The W Project workshop with Cocknbullkid at NIKE 1948

The magnificent W Project initiative has progressed from an exhibition and symposium of female talent across the creative industries to a stream of new workshops. Teo Connor and Loren Platt have organised a few preliminary open call classes to bring together the local community of Hackney to interact with the burgeoning creative industry taking residence in the borough and bring the two worlds together. By inviting teenage girls to meet and interact with artists who have studios in the area, the program has been put together to provide opportunities for the local youth culture to have direct access into exploring the industries operating in the locality.
When I was asked to host an "accessories" afternoon I extended the invitation to Anita Blay a.k.a Cocknbullkid to discuss the creative process between musician, stylist and designer in putting together the visual element of a pop persona. I first met Anita when I cold-called her via MySpace to gift her one of my pieces in the early stages of both our careers which has latterly evolved into collaborating in bespoke pieces.
Anita gave a presentation of her history from which we learned of her education at school holiday courses in Hackney where she first discovered music alongside adolescent contemporaries such as Plan B. After an insight into both our backgrounds, we then sat down to a hands-on experiment in creating hair adornments and necklaces from my craft kits kindly donated by the V&A. All of the 16-19 yr old girls in attendance set about cutting and gluing some beautiful individual pieces to take away and wear .......... with a little tennis Wimbledon themed pattern I made to fit to the NIKE sports element of the gig which was all undertaken in their 1948 premises which has just re-opened its doors since a refurbishment at its HQ in Shoreditch.
Congrats to Teo and Loren for their extra curricular passion inventing this project and thanks to Anita for joining the proceedings to share her story and special energy to make a fun filled experience.

See more live action footage of The W Project at their Tumblr.

Tues 5th July: Andrew Macdonald at Tina We Salute You

Andrew Macdonald has taken over Tina We Salute You with a painting installation from June until August. In addition to his fine art and performance work, Andrew is a milliner who I once spent a lovely weekend with learning how to block a felt hat at his studio in The Chocolate Factory. If you are interested in a millinery class I can highly recommend looking up his events................ and of course a visit to Tina's for an ice coffee in the sunshine and chance to see his beautiful large canvases.

Tina We Salute You, King Henrys Walk, Islington, London N1 4NH

Mon 4th July: June

Elisha sent me this photo of her friend Sandy's daughter June who had a go at making a piece of jewelery inspired by my work ............ too cute!!!

I will be holding an accessories workshop for Hackney school girls on Wednesday at the NIKE 1948 space as part of the new event scheme from The W Project ............ more to be revealed over the next few days here.

Mon 4th July: Shingai's NTC Challenge - Part 5 of 5

........... and the final installment of Shingai's Challenge ......... her sponsored London to Brighton ride on the bike I designed for her with Super Ted .........

Mon 4th July: Prince

We had the time of our lives seeing Prince in concert yesterday ......... and here are our tribute T-Shirts!

Sun 3rd July: NYC Downlow at Glastonbury Festival via MC GAFF E

Here is insight into the world of NYC Downlow at Glastonbury were the trannies take over the fields to bring some disco era flava to the festival mix. My modest position working on the door, finds me charging £2 entry for which punters receive a fake moustache as their ticket to dance the night away in an imagined and perfectly executed atmostphere. The girls glide through the mud in their heels to put together looks that will never cease to amaze me and makeup that defies all trailer dressing room facilities. My absolute highlight of working for Downlow at Glastonbury is witnessing the turnover of outfits during each night over the duration of the four night run. A great deal of fun is had but its actually a very serious affair with expectant eyes on each member to rise to the challenge of creating a masterpiece montage of drag and weave. This year the theme was .........
"recreating a NYC gay night spot circa 1970s through to early 90s. The trannies are rulin', the leather men and clones are hot, the drag is fierce, the queens are shameless, the Cockettes are in town" Jonny Woo
Here are a selection of MC GAFF E's snaps from backstage and in the club ......... a colour infused family photo album of just some of the faces performing........... see who you can spot.......
I have also included some live footage of one of the numbers when the whole crew come together for a routine on the last evening after their own individual acts.