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Phantasmagoria – Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pm
Exhibition: Phantasmagoria – PV Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pm Runs from 9th -26th Feb.
Where: Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery, Stour Rd, Fish Island, Hackney Wick, E3 2NT
Contact: david@daggersmiles.co.uk
We would like to make you aware of this exiting exhibition soon to be reveled in East London. Phantasmagoria is a group exhibition featuring the work of some prominent artists and illustrators. PV Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pm. Runs from 9th -26th Feb.
Who is involved?
Andrew James, James Unsworth, Anwot, Isaac Cordal, Martin Wollerstam, Jon Burgerman, Shin Tanaka, Rebecca Strickson, David Shillinglaw, Agent Provocateur, Todd Ryan White, Roman Klonek, Otto Schade, Dave Anderson and Boicut.
What’s it about?
Phantasmagoria will be themed around the ongoing cycles of sub-cultures and counter cultures, their art, and it’s eventual fuelling of canons of mass assimilation by fashion and media to the point of vulgarity and its serendipitous decaying of objective and social meaning in tribal and underground arts.
In 1990 a relatively unknown Canadian essayist Gail Faurschou wrote about fashion’s “ingenious strategy of expansion.” As more artistic raw material that challenges corporate consumerism is made, the more marketable material corporations have to advertise its products. This systematic diffusion of any opposition continues to effectively dissolve and quash any of its subject’s capacity for growth and maturity.
More info?
Please contact david@daggersmiles.co.uk for more info about Phantasmagoria.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Ghosts of Gone Birds
Exhibition: Ghosts of Gone Birds – Last few days – Closes 23rd Nov. – Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, Shoreditch, London E2 7ES
Website: Ghostsofgonebirds.com
Creature finally made it down to the much praised Ghosts of Gone Birds exhibition on Thursday. Here is some of our favourite bits including the King Island Emu by Harriet Mead (Above), a room full of extinct bird paintings by Gonzo artist Ralph Steadman (below) and a bird body outline filled with graphic images and shotgun cartridges, (bottom – sorry but we did not get the artists name).
We highly recommend checking this show out. It’s is now the last few days and closes on 23rd Nov so get your skates on.
By catching at the twigs that form between bliss and me
Artist: Michael Powell
Project: Illustrated story and installation
Website: imaginarymichaelpowell.tumblr.com
It is with great pleasure that we introduce the latest short story from long-time Creature friend and supporter Michael Powell, complete with illustrations he created whilst in Buenos Aires and North Wales.
Click on the thumbnails to view… then use the left and right arrows.
Mike has also made his story a reality by creating “The thing that looks like a tree but is not a tree” in real life… see more images on his blog or at this link: www.thecloudgallery.com – This is one of the best things Creature has ever seen!
Find Michael Powell here:
imaginarymichaelpowell.tumblr.com
www.thecloudgallery.com
Flamingo Arts Project Presents – Illustrators Insight
Project: Flamingo Arts Project Presents – Illustrators Insight
Website: flamingomagazine.com/illustrators-insight
Creaturemag’s Matt Witt will be talking at the next Flamingo Arts Project venture… “Illustrators Insight”. Touching on subjects ranging from the power of social media and collaborations, to the benefits of proactive involvement and interaction with peers and how these can be used to launch and sustain a career in illustration.
Flamingo says: If you’re seeking a career in illustration or graphic arts, or want to learn more about the industry, our experienced speakers will provide a unique insight into how it all works. We’ve brought together illustrators, agents, creative directors and publishers to talk about their work and offer advice to up-and-coming illustrators.
Speakers include:
Pat Savile (Print Club London and Frinton Press)
Rob Reed & Nick Marsh (Illustration agent & professional illustrator)
Maggie Li (Okido Magazine)
Jacob Denno (Popshot)
Matt Witt (CreatureMag)
Natsuki Otani (Illustration Rally)
Jesse Swash (Design by Structure)
Tickets are sold out but keep your eyes on www.flamingomagazine.com for more innovative events like this.
The Flamingo Arts Project
Project: The Flamingo Arts Project
Website: www.flamingomagazine.com/the-flamingo-arts-project
Flamingo, one of Creature’s absolute favourite magazines for illustration, arts and music, is launching it’s first group illustration show at Betty’s Coffee, Kingsland Road, on Friday 26th August. Nine super-talented illustrators, all past contributors to the magazine, have been chosen for their shamelessly bold, graphic style.
The Flamingo Arts Project is a brand new venture, aiming to showcase work by the best emerging artists, and to promote illustration within the wider arts community through an eclectic programme of workshops, exhibitions and discussions. Friday’s show is set to be the first of many, so watch this space!
With commissions from the likes of YCN, inkygoodness and House of Holland under their belts, this is the first time this dynamic group of illustrators will be exhibiting their own self-initiated work to the public. So who are they? Maggie Li, Hattie Stewart, Hayley Warnham, Joey Dean, Donya Todd, Jo Cheung, Jen Bailey, Shaun Lynch, and last but certainly not least, Emma Brown.
Everyone’s invited to the Private View on Thursday 25th August from 6pm for a beer, a chat with the artists, and of course a preview of the original artwork on show. Don’t be shy, apparently they’re all very nice! If you want to pop along, RSVP to rsvp@flamingomagazine.com.
You’ll find Betty’s Coffee, Dalston’s newest independent coffee house and gallery space, at 510b Kingsland Road, London. The exhibition runs from 26th August until 17th September 2011.
Find out more: www.flamingomagazine.com/the-flamingo-arts-project
David Litchfield Drawing a Day Exhibition
On 30th June 2011 David Litchfield’s epic drawing a day project came to a climactic end. His final image of a tattooed strongman included the names of all the fans that gave support via his facebook page throughout this year long project. On Friday 12th August and for the first time, the entire collection of 356 Illustrations was displayed in David’s home town of Bedford. This was not to be missed.
I arrived at the gallery in Castle Lane Bedford to be greeted by everyone’s new favourite artist. His face was beaming, the atmosphere was buzzing, jovial and warm and the walls were hung from top to toe in images, each individually framed and lovingly labelled with a title, number and date.
“It starts over there and continues over there.” Said David, pointing simultaneously at two corners of the room as he was pulled back into the heaps of praise.
There is a lot to take in here. On one hand you have the spectacle of the entire collection, 365 drawings by the pen of one man. On the other hand you have each individual piece to consider, taking into account the mood of the artist on a particular day, the medium, colour, detail, texture, right down to the piece of paper it was drawn on. Dotted among the sketchbook pieces were more opportunistic works scribbled on Guardian pages, writing paper and stickers.

It’s a universal show, appealing, endearing, friendly, a little bit dark, there is something for everyone and this will no doubt propel the project beyond the borders of Bedford. It is a clear success and David is admired.
How does David feel to be stood in a room full of people stood in a room full of his drawings?
“It was great. I was a bit shocked that there are so many people here. They all had so many questions and everyone was really interested in the project and why I started it… I think- apart from my wedding- it was the best night of my life. Even tho I was left a bit overwhelmed by it all.”
If we take a minute to consider this… Let’s say that on average David spent 1 hour a day on this project, that’s 365 hours, approximately 15 days and nights, solid drawing. It really puts into perspective the dedication and passion that is required to complete a consistently impressive drawing a day for an entire year.
David may be the first person to embark on and complete a drawing project on this scale , he is definitely the first person to do it in such style, attracting such interest and developing such an involved audience. This is not just an artistic triumph it’s also a fine example of innovative artistic practice, the power of self publishing and the use of social media to connect with an audience and effectively launch a career in illustration.
So what’s next for David Litchfield and his 365 drawings?
“This was never meant to happen, it was only ever meant to be a sketchbook project… there are people here tonight that want to turn this into a daily calendar… The show is to be taken to Sheffield and there is interest from a gallery in London….”
Just goes to show that if you have got something good it will grow on its own. David’s got talent and he has created a monster here, it’s a project with legs and life, a fine example of one mans dedication to his artistic and self development.
Find David here:
tinkerd.tumblr.com
@le_david_tinker
You can be a featured artist too, click here to find out more.
Endangered Creature Alphabet

The endangered Creature Alphabet now has it’s own home over at: www.endangeredalphabet.com
It makes us very happy to announce the release of our latest collaborative project – the Endangered Creature Alphabet – An illustrated collection of 26 threatened species, drawn by 26 talented artists.
You can view our new e-book here by clicking the full screen option in the window below. Thanks to everyone involved, your work is amazing. Look inside to check it out!
Help us spread the word. If you are an artist or publication and would like to run a feature on this book then we have put together this handy press information pack - click here to visit the press pack page. For further info please send an email to creature@creaturemag.com and we will be in touch right away.
One for the weekend- Elli Chortara
Artists: Elli Chortara
Title: Strange Wise Owl – Should Have Been Wiser.
Website: www.ellichortara.com
Thanks to Elli Chortara for creating this lovely illustration especially for Creature. Expect to see more contributions from Elli coming soon. Have a great weekend.
Anna Calvi- Blackout (single)
WORDS: MELANIE McGOVERN
Anna Calvi’s position atop 2011′s pedestal for ‘breakout music’ was cemented at the end of last year when she won a BBC nomination for the ‘Sound of 2011′ poll. This hype has gone into overdrive in recent months with the much anticipated release of her debut eponymous recording from Domino Records.
With the assurances of none other than Brian Eno- who has described Calvi as “the biggest thing since Patti Smith“- studio work for Johnny Flynn and tours in support of Interpol, Arctic Monkeys and Grinderman, her press adoration seems entirely justified. Her’s is a style of music that really can’t be classified, inspired as much by Django Rheinhard as Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone and Greek soprano Maria Callas; it is a dramatic, theatrical affair, with Buckley-esque guitars spinning webs of dark seduction around the listener.
An eclectic mix of seductive vocals and swirling powerful guitar riffs, her second single ‘Blackout’ (taken from the debut LP) delivers a near- perfect vocal performance. With its haunting beginning, Calvi’s voice finds the perfect balance between power and passion, projected against a colourful backdrop of evocative instrumental richness, subtle plays of percussion and intricate vocal nuances.
Calvi is undoubtledly an artist so assured with a voice so compelling that you just have to follow the hype.
Anna Calvi released ‘Blackout’ on Domino Records 21 March, 2011. Download it now.
RATING: 4/5
SOUNDS LIKE: Nina Simone, PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley























