Vauxhall Art Car Boot 2012



Artist Pam Hogg

Sunday May 27th 2012 Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair
Time: 12 – 6 PM
Brick Lane Yard, Corner of Brick Lane and Buxton Street, London E1
Tickets available on the door - £3
Handbag Disco £10

The Vauxhall Art Carboot returns to its home at the Old Truman Brewery for its 9th year. Thanks to event founder and curator Karen Ashton and organisers, we the public are able to acquire one-off pieces from over 70 British leading designers, including Gavin Turk, Carrie Reichardt, Sir Peter Blake, Polly Morgan, Bob & Roberta Smith, Pam Hogg, Jessica Albarn, Pure Evil, Turps Banana, Wildcat Will and more.


Artist: Gavin Turk


Last year we posted the Vauxhall Art Carboot on our blog in celebration of artist talent here in the UK. In the midst of up-coming British cultural events with the Olympics and the Queen‘s Jubilee; Design and Creativity here in the UK will be undoubtedly fierce. Our experience at the fair last year was amazing, last year’s event attracted around 5,000 visitors during the six hour event with queues forming the day before leading to a line-up of 1,000 people by the time doors opened! we went with little one in tow, although busy we were able to manoeuvre our buggy. We found each bootee offered something a little different to suit all pockets from the exclusive, unique to high end collectable art. What is great about the one day event it allows artists to let their hair down and for visitors to engage with art and the artists in an informal way, last year we bumped into Tracey Emin who was personable and happy to engage in an impromptu photo opportunity with our very own Michael Mapp view here

This year the organisers have introduced the Handbag disco, a small fee will provide you with varied entertainment and the chance to win a designer bag worth thousands of pounds, all profits raised will be donated to the award winning charity Just for Kids Law- raising money for disadvantaged children who find themselves in trouble with the law.

This a great event to add to your event calendar!
Look out for event updates at http://www.artcarbootfair.com/  on more famous artists who’ll be taking part along with details on activities and exclusive pieces to be on offer this year.

Shape Open: The winners 2012

Shape Open Exhibition 2012 closed its doors on the 6th May, and luckily enough we managed to get down at the final hour, I was intrigued to see featured works from disabled and non disabled and how the artists would interpret the word disability as defined in the Oxford dictionary. A job well done, over 30 artists who were selected produced works that were emotive, potent and most of all symbolic, transmitting political and social messages surrounding the perception of disability.

On entering the exhibition my eyes was drawn to Ilsum Maeng’s piece later to discover by the event organiser Ben Fredricks this piece won Joint first place award.
Blurred Portrait - Ingeun (2010), which depicts the portrait of her husband as seen by the visually impaired artist.










Lauren Nicholas won Joint first prize with her short film An Ageing Thing, a stop motion animation telling the story of her grandfather- Looking at the changes individuals make to deal with old age- find the artists work here http://www.lauren-nicholas.com/

The People's Choice prize selected by gallery visitors was awarded to Luna Jung-eun Lee for her painting the Anonymous Cheol-Su, North, (2010).












One of our favourites Arthur and the Vandellas



Image: Performer Tonny A




A triple portrait of performer Tonny A, Tonny appears as Arthur and the Vandellas based on the famous girl group. This piece signifies that we can be whatever we chose regardless of race, gender or disability. http://www.charliepi.wordpress.com/






Shape Art executed a memorable event and we are looking forward to next years open event, find out more about this outstanding charity here

Wandsworth Arts Festival 2012



Wandsworth's Art Team-The Shimmy
 Dancer Alexander Whitley-
Photographer:Renaud Wiser-
New Movement collective


The annual arts festival returns to the Wandsworth borough. This year the cultural mix of events and activities on the schedule offers a little something for everyone.

The festival will host main and fringe events not only to engage a wider audience but to support the works of local artists and groups as well as visiting artists from varying boroughs. This year the Wandsworth Arts Team have produced a schedule which will be new, unusual and experimental to say they least! Parts your local shopping districts in the heart of the borough will be transformed into a creative and exciting place to be for two weeks and three weekends, between the 11th -27th May, we have handpicked a few events from the main and fringe program:


Main program

Saturday 19th May 2012
World Heart Beat Music Academy
Cleveland Watkiss Jazz Vocal Concert
Venue: Testbed 1
Time 8pm (Doors 7.30pm)
Free entry
Britain’s lead jazz vocalist presents his acclaimed vocal suite in the stunning ex-dairy warehouse space. Expect to be carried on an amazing journey through musical cultures from Africa to Europe, and the sounds capes of a full orchestra, on the wings of the human voice alone.
Venue details: Testbed1, 33 Parkgate Road, Battersea, SW11 4NP

Sunday 20th May 2012
White Rabbit
Are you sitting comfortably? Secrets
Venue: The Secret Garden Pub
Time 8pm (Doors 7.00pm)
£8 Per ticket
A story telling variety night. A selection of short stories by London writers read aloud by the company. Accompanied by vintage visuals and live music.
Purchase tickets from www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/35405
Venue details: The secret Garden pub, 231 Battersea Park Road, SW11 4LG


Sunday 27th May 2012

Wandsworth's Arts Team
The Shimmy
 1-5pm
Free event
Shimmying through the nooks and crannies of the riverside stretch are the series of arts encounters like you've never had before.
Venue details
St Mary’s Church square, Putney Wharf, Deodar Road and Wandsworth Park,
SW15
For further information contact the arts team 020 871 8711


Fringe Programme

Saturday 12th May 2012 
Chocolate films
Out of the Ordinary
Venue: The Brick Box at Tooting Market
Time 6-8.30pm
Free entry 
Join chocolate films and the young people from the Refugee Home School Support Project on a journey from the unknown; through Tooting Market after hours. Chocolate films have laid on a series of horror films and interactive ‘experiments’…This has been tipped to be no ordinary film screening !
Venue details: Tooting Market, SW17 ORH

Wednesday 23rd May
Bigfoot Youth Theatre
London: Our city, my home
Venue: The Devas Club
Time: 5.30-6.15pm
Free entry
A culmination of dance, drama, music and art will be fused together into a one performance piece which explores how BYT members, their families and local residents feel about their home city being a diverse and vibrant host for the Olympics. This show has been devised entirely by performers who are aged between 7 an 12 and is an exciting plaftform highlighting young talent in Wandsworth.
For further information please call 020 7952 5553
Venue details The Devas Club, 2a Stormont Road, SW11 5EN
To obtain the full festival schedule please visit: www.wandsworth.gov.uk/artsfestival  

Creative Opportunity: Zizzi sign up artist Natasha Law to launch plate design competitio​n

Renowned artist Natasha Law  has teamed up with High Street Italian restaurant Zizzi to launch a nationwide initiative to find the best undiscovered art talent in the UK.


The winning artist will see their designs produced on Zizzi dining plates which will be used (and sold) in all of their restaurants and a royalty from every plate bought will go to the artist.


As well as this the winning talent will have the unique opportunity to be mentored by Natasha who will be able give them top advice on how to make it in the industry and a valuable insight into life as a successful artist.

Natasha herself will also be creating a limited edition, bespoke design for Zizzi which will be produced and sold in selected Zizzi's nationwide, along with the winner's design. Proceeds from Natasha's limited edition design will be going to The Prince's Trust.


The competition requires applicants from all over the UK to demonstrate a passion for art, as well as a flair and talent for the discipline. The finalists will submit their best work that meets the brief 'deliciously stylish' which will be judged by Natasha who will then advise the finalists on how to finesse their final designs.The competition,  is open to anyone who has a passion for, and is eager to build a career in art.  To enter, just log onto www.zizzi.co.uk/freshtalentsearch. The deadline for applications is June 6th.

Shape Open Exhibition: Exploring Ideas of Disability

Exhibition runs until the 6th May 2012
Portobello Gallery-Notting Hill
Tuesday - Sunday 12-6pm

Prize giving event 3 May, 6:30pm
Free Entry.

A few months ago we featured Shape Arts Open Exhibition. As you may recall Shape required creative's to respond to the definition of disability (from the Oxford English Dictionary 1. A physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses or activities 2. A disadvantage or handicap, especially one imposed or recognised by the law).

Interpretations of the disability definition were widely welcomed, from abstract to figurative, from the personal to the political and from the poetic to the in-your-face. Now the time has swiftly arrived to view Shape sought submissions from disabled and non disabled artists at Portobello Gallery situated in West London. The resulting exhibition will highlight mixed ideas on how we view disability within our society. An exhibition worth visiting!!!

Prize announcement
The Shape Open Prize of £500 will be awarded to an artist selected by a panel. The People’s Choice Award of £250 will be voted for by visitors on the 3rd May at 6.30pm.

Venue details.
Portobello Gallery
6 Thorpe Close, Notting Hill
London W10 5XL
For more information please visit Shape Arts

Marley in Cinema

Marley is currently showing Nationwide and can be viewed at the Tricycle Theatre one of London's leading arts organisations who are best known for being representative of diverse Arts and Creative projects until the 3rd May. This intimate Bob Marley film features rare footage of the Iconic singers life, made with the support of his family and directed by Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald (one day in September, The Last King of Scotland). This film is coupled with incredible performances and revelatory interviews with people who knew him best, So not only should this be a powerful portrayal of the musicians life, it may allow us to find out more about the man behind the music which has influenced generations.


To find out more about Marley view the Offical Trailer below:

The Tricycle Theatre 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR
Box office 020 7328 1000
http://www.tricycle.co.uk/