Exhibition: Phantasmagoria – PV Thursday 9th Feb 6-9pmRuns 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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Creaturemag regular Lauren Archer talks to Manchester based folk-artist Joel Nicholson a.k.a Butcher the Bar about his influences and experiences ahead of the release of his new album For each a Future Tethered on indie label Morr Music June 2011. He fills us in on his dream collaborations, tour plans and his song writing process…
Noted for his minimalist arrangements and earnest vocals Butcher the Bar is a serious candidate for the ‘one-to-watch’ title. Akin to twee-poppers The Boy Least Likely To, Joel’s strength as a performer comes from his ability to convey emotions with sense of integrity through his guitar driven melodies, producing some of the most charming Americana folk-based independent music on the UK folk scene.
illustration by Alex Rolfe
Hey Joel! We were really excited to feature your track ‘Bobby’ on our Mix Tape last month. How long have you been on the music scene?
JOEL: Well I started writing songs for what would eventually appear on the first album in 2007, so since then really. I’d been in a couple of bands before then with friends at school and at university but nothing that had ever gotten really serious. Even when I was in bands I always wrote songs on my own so (maybe) you could argue that I’ve been developing this solo project for years, just VERY gradually finding a style I feel comfortable with.
You’ve definitely nailed your ‘style’; we really like the confessional vocal arrangements and the simplistic instrumental layering. Tell us, where are you hoping to take this project? Any exciting plans for 2011?
I don’t have a specific direction [in mind], I’d just like to keep writing. As
I develop and grow as a musician maybe the music will take a different direction. I cant see myself ever making a considered decision to purposefully ‘change’ direction, I’d prefer for that to happen naturally. As for 2011, the new record will be released in June, then we’re planning to play shows throughout the UK and Europe in Autumn/Winter.
illustration by Kathryn Corlett
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
The whole thing has been great. Just being able to write music and release it is enough, and heading overseas to play shows out of England is lovely. The tours in Portugal, Italy and Germany were a definite highlight and having Seasick Steve play on the new record (and the way in which we found him) was another.
What about the new album For Each a Future Tethered? What’s your favourite track off the new album?
That’s hard. I think Bobby might be my favourite from this record, it’s a relatively simple song and the lyrical topic isn’t very pleasant (one of my room mates at uni was wrongly accused of a sexual assault) but I like the dynamics [of the track] and over the recording process it really evolved.
Speaking of recording, whose been an influence on you in terms of your sound?
Mark Kozelek is big hero of mine and the way he plays guitar really opened my eyes to new ways of writing. Paul Westerberg is quite a recent influence, but maybe not for this project really… When I listen to The Replacements it just makes me want to form a loud scratchy rock band!
My friends and family have been great. Their support and encouragement is incredibly helpful when writing songs especially as I don’t have other band members to bounce ideas off or stop me from going down the wrong path. Any genuine enthusiasm for something you’ve created, or are proud of, is usually infectious and motivating, Barney was really helpful with that.
illustration by Emma Jardine
What about the lyrical process; where do you take your inspiration from?
It really depends… some lyrics come before the music, in which case the tone or topic would be more specific, but if the melody comes first or guitar parts, the lyrics as a whole can feel more like a collage of thoughts or ideas. But generally speaking I take most inspiration from people around me and situations that I’ve been in, whether they’re trivial or life-altering experiences. All is open to be scrutinised or exposed artistically.
What has been your biggest challenge as an artist?
The making of the new record was a challenging experience, as it involved a lot of patience. I live in Manchester and we did all the recording at Barney’s (producer) place in Richmond, London, meaning we could only work on average one weekend a month. In hindsight the time in between sessions was actually very beneficial as we could utilise the time apart to pick apart the material we’d recorded or songs we’d yet to record, allowing us time to change any details we weren’t entirely happy with, or fix parts that didn’t work. It would have been awful to release a record with tiny faults that we didn’t give ourselves time to consider, so for that reason im glad it took a year. It was just hard earlier on in the process as it was often hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel [but ultimately beneficial].
If we were to say “Who’d be your dream collaboration”, what would you say? Who’s the ultimate artist you’d love to record with?
Prince.
illustration by Kerri-Ann Hulme
Ha! We’re Prince fans too (as a side note, it’s really interesting just how many folk-musicians out there really bow down to Prince an artist who you wouldn’t necessarily associate with the genre!) But from a musician’s perspective, you do play quite a few instruments, many of which are bought second-hand from flea-markets and the like… Were you encouraged to take up music as a kid or was it something you came to later in life?
I started listening to music form a relatively young age through my older brother, then in my early/mid teens I started listening to bands like Weezer, Smashing Pumkins, Idlewild etc which encouraged me to want to learn to play guitar. My older brother Adam taught me my first few chords , so I’d say he was the first person to get me interested in playing. Since then I have picked up a couple of other instruments, mainly stringed, and I’m currently learning the piano. (I just recently moved into a house with one in the spare room, so I have no excuses now!)[Professionally speaking]I actually studied Media Production at University which involved a lot of script writing and film making, which at the time was all I wanted to do. After Uni I went down to London and worked for a bunch of post-production companies, but it didn’t really work out. I think I felt obligated to at least try and pursue it. I often get ideas for film projects and scripts, and SOMETIMES I’ll spend time developing the ideas but making music is certainly the main creative outlet in my life, and most comfortable with.
Joel’s new album For Each a Future Tethered will be released in June on Morr Music and the band are are currently planning a European tour for Autumn this year.
A HUGE thank you to our illustrators Kathryn Corlett, Emma Jardine, Kerri-Ann Hulme and Alexandra Rolfe for their amazing illustrations. Please please take the time to visit their websites and check out more of their wonderful and whimsical artwork!
NEXT UP? We talk to DIY London-based shoegazer dream-pop outfit Lilies on Mars. Interested in illustrating this? Tweet us @ Creaturemag or BettyHammer
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
