States of reverie – international group show at Scream gallery

states-of-reverie-scream-gallery

Scream Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of young and emerging British and international artists, who have a common desire to explore and create alternative realities. They transport you on a dream-like journey to another time or place, with inspiration drawn from fairy-tales, surrealism, nature, the human body and childhood.

> The above is taken from the Scream gallery website, read more about the exhibition and the artists.

Featured artists
Malgosia Stepnik – Poland | Clare Chapman – UK | Chinwook Kim – South Korea | Guillermo de Zamacona – Mexico | Ann-Marie James – UK | LG White – The Netherlands | Wayne Chisnall – UK

states-of-reverie-scream-gallery

The opening night is on Thursday 13th January – strict guest list only

When: 14/01 till 20/02/2010
Where: Scream Gallery | 34 Bruton Street | London WIJ 6QX, UK | +44 (0)20 7493.7388
Email: info@screamlondon.com

ART-PIE

Specter at Pure Evil gallery

Brooklyn-based street artist Specter is one of these very active artists who always come up with new projects. You may or may not like what he does but you have to give him credits for always keeping his creativity flame burning like Hell.

Pure Evil gallery is currently hosting his first UK solo show where Specter using garments such as scarfs or bandanas in his new portraits.

Here is what Specter says about it – “the story behind the pieces is that these are portraits of people who have influenced me artistically but instead of painting their faces I am painting fabrics that I feel represent them. I basically close my eyes and these images are what appears.”

The show only occupied the front room in the gallery, in other words the number of artworks is rather limited. I was quick to go round then and to be honest did not feel loads of excitment about what I had just seen. While I agree that the use of garments is an unique portrayal approach, it is most definitely not the most emotion-trigger one which I believe portaits should be all about: hard to feel sadness or joy looking at a piece of checkered shirt.

Solid drawing and painting skills though and a great attention to detail.

The show runs until the 24th August.

I cannot resist to include a few photos of Specter’s installations and street artwork which is known for in the US. I could not described better what his work is all about than what I read on the Pure Evil website:

He evolves the subject matter by interlacing influences from the environment he chooses to adorn, incorporating characteristics from the surrounding neighbourhoods, architecture, local business and social economic classes; transforming the unwitting publics’ understanding of the space.

Through graffiti influence, he became obsessed with art in public spaces, where he sees potential inspiration and appropriate location to express his creativity. His aim is to deconstruct preconceived perceptions and draw attention to the neglected and less desirable issues, the non-sensational stories of the undervalued detritus of our culture we seldom hear about.

ART-PIE

Related links
> Specter’s art: www.specterart.com
> Make It Fit” Various & Gould exhibition at Brooklynite gallery (New York)

Photos from the show at Pure Evil below as well as Various street installations and artwork from Specter below

 

WX Street Party: the rise of the non-conformists

Summer time and outdoors urban art exhibition sound like they are made for each other so you imagine my excitement when I heard about the Whitecross street party.

I am lucky enough to work quite near the area and had unfairly some might say went a few days earlier to get a sneak preview at the artworks which were starting to pop up everywhere on the walls of Whitecross street. The huge piece from Burning Candy had definitely open my appetite for more.

I turned up then early afternoon on Saturday and was happy to see that the street was fairly busy with heads going up and down the surrounding walls and fingers pointing at will. I was quick to join and enjoy Burning Candy, EElus or Best Ever pieces.

I was disappointed though by the lack of live events. I perhaps should have turned up earlier and could have attended the giant knitting event or was I expecting too much? Anyway, it was good to see some artists at it at least stenciling and spraying away.

Good day out overall and definitely some awesome pieces to go and see. The street exhibition runs until the 5th September.

Featured artists:
Best Ever | Burning Candy Crew | Carrie Reichardt | David Bray | Dead Leg | Dotmasters | Dr.D | Eelus | Filthy Luker | Gavin Turk | Giles Walker | Small | Mysterious Al | Mr.E.Dawe | Paul Insect | Peter Dunne | Ronnie Wood | Shepherd Fairey | Teddy Baden | Will Barras | Wreckage | Xenz

Related links
> WX street party website
> WX street party on Flickr

ART-PIE

Quality street art spotted in Dalston

I went past it many many times but did not see it or just a glimpse of it and thought that it must be one off graffiti worth seeing surely but no rush for it. I was so wrong.

I then decided last week end that on my way, I should go and check out that piece on the wall which is actually only half visible from the street and surprised I was to find a multitude of awesome street art stuff all around me and the sun was out that day big time so happy face I must have pulled. Continue reading Quality street art spotted in Dalston

Boy Soldiers Exhibition at Graffik London

boy_soldiers_e-flyer

A group of specially selected artists that have come together to produce their unique interpretations of the legendary Howard Marks (known as an elite British drug smuggler)

Artists taking part include Goldie, Charles Lutz and Terry Cryer, and these exclusive portraits will culminate in an exhibition at RedHouse Originals (Harrogate) in October to coincide with the UK cinema release of the ‘Mr Nice’ film. Continue reading Boy Soldiers Exhibition at Graffik London

Sean Avery's sculptures of broken CDs

When having CDs is becoming so nineties, everything getsstored online in the cloud as they call it, Meet Sean Avery, a talented artist, thought twice about discarding his CDs and have found a way of turning them into amazing and crafted animal sculptures.

Sean Avery has created a series of sculptures—from bears to peregrine falcons and even the Loch Ness monster thanks to a clever use of the reflective splinters of his CDs. There is no much more to say to appreciate the time, effort and above all talent in his artwork.

Nick Gentry is another artist who recycles once very useful objects. His thing are floppy disks used to make up portraits.

The humming bird and the rat are just superb. Have a look below.

Rat by Sean Avery

Humming bird by Sean AveryCat by Sean Avery

Dragon by Sean Avery

Wildlife photographers joined forces and talent to present Remembering Rhinos

Incredible images by some of the world’s best wildlife photographers will be brought together in this much-anticipated new book, with exclusive launch event and exhibition in London this month.

_______

Remembering Rhinos | Art-PiePowerful images of rhino taken by some of the world’s top wildlife photographers will be unveiled at a free London exhibition and an evening of talks by leading conservationists, as the much-anticipated Remembering Rhinos book is launched this month.

The beautiful photographic book is a follow-up to the hugely successful Remembering Elephants project, which last year raised over £135k for international wildlife charity Born Free’s elephant conservation work.

It has gained widespread support from a host of celebrities including Russell Crowe, Chris Martin, Joanna Lumley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Holden, Emilia Fox, Caity Lotz, and Katherine Jenkins, who posed with their copy of the book as part of a social media campaign on World Rhino Day.

Remembering Rhinos | Art-Pie
Click to enlarge

Stunning images from the project will be on display at a VIP private view on Tuesday 31st October. The event, held at La Galleria, Pall Mall, will be attended by celebrity wildlife ambassadors as well as a number of the internationally acclaimed photographers, whose work is featured in the book.

The exhibition will remain open 10am – 5pm each day until Saturday 11th November – an unmissable opportunity to view the exquisite imagery, and purchase limited edition prints and copies of the book.

Remembering Rhinos | Art-Pie
Click to enlarge
Born Free patron James Lewis will preside an auction | Art-Pie
Born Free patron James Lewis will preside an auction

Tickets are still available for a very special evening about rhino conservation and photography at the prestigious Royal Geographic Society, on Wednesday 1st November.

The event will be introduced by Will Travers OBE, President of Born Free and will include talks by Saving the Survivors founder, vet and photographer Johan Marais and former Wildlife Photographer of the Year Steve Winter.

The founder of Remembering Wildlife initiative, Margot Raggett, will compere the evening, which will culminate in an auction of some of the images from the book, presided over by TV auctioneer and Born Free patron, James Lewis.

The books themselves will also be on sale on the night with some of the photographers available to sign them if requested.

Tickets are available at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering-rhinos-book-launch-tickets-34138488137 and start from £25.

Find out more about Remembering Rhinos at: www.rememberingwildlife.com/remembering-rhinos

Learn more about the work of the Born Free Foundation at: www.bornfree.org.uk

_______

Private View at La Galleria, Pall Mall
Red carpet arrival Tuesday 31st October, from 7pm
> Free exhibition runs from Monday 30th October to Saturday 11th November

Rhino conservation talks at the Royal Geographical Society
> Wednesday 1st November from 7pm

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS