CALM AIR ALL ICE

Coming up!

2010-05-27T02:32:00.001+01:00

One half of Calm Air All Ice is going to be showing her work as part of Here Today, Gone Tomorrow- a show curated by Fiona Cassidy, who took part in 'Fifty Two'.

The other half of Calm Air All Ice has been showing her work as part of 'Knit one, Purl one' at Touchstones gallery in Rochdale.

Sophie Jones

2010-04-26T20:47:00.000+01:00

Just popping in to let you know that Sophie Jones, one of our stars from 'fifty-two' has an exhibition on at the moment at the Bath Spa Gallery, in the University Campus of Weston College. The exhibition runs til the end of this week, and you can find more info on the facebook group: Bath Spa Gallery at Weston College

52 - it's all over!

2010-04-07T13:19:00.000+01:00

want more pictures?

Claires photos, Camillas photos

We're back! The show was SO much fun - thanks to everyone who turned out for the private view ( and the daytimes following) Installing the show was slightly overwhelming to start - where to begin? It was exciting searching through, hanging, re hanging, and finally stepping back once it was all up - thankfully it all fitted in and (we think) looked wonderful!

Here's some links to a few bits and mentions...my own little post, inky goodness (already posted on the blog by dave bain) a post by kirsty hall who created a piece '52 drawings for claire and camilla' especially for the show and installed it over an epic two days! Susan did some interviews with both me and camilla over on here blog too!

We'll keep updating throughout the week with more pictures and bits from the show!

52 mini interviews: Elin Thomas

2010-04-03T01:57:00.000+01:00

Name: Elin Thomas
Location :Bristol
Age: 42

Websites

http://elintm.blogspot.com
http://elintm.bigcartel.com
www.elinart.etsy.com

How would you describe your work?

At the moment I'm into making textile based pieces. I'm an avid crocheter and interested in the possibilities of the technique and using it in a playful way.

What are you currently working on?

Faux moulds....the furry kind. Not as easy as you think to create an organic look.

Where do you find inspiration for our work?

Stumbling about in the woods. Other artists and makers. The macro experts on Flickr.

3 artist/ designers you love.

Joana Vasconcelos. - Thee Queen of crochet. We miss out a lot on great European artists here in the UK.

Lisa Paterson - Jeweller from. Fresh look

52 mini interviews: Dave Bain

2010-04-03T01:49:00.000+01:00

Name: Dave Bain

Location: Bristol

Age: 26

Websites:

http://www.davebain.com

http://davebainlatest.blogspot.com

How would you describe your work?

I try and bring colour and fun to my work as well as a positive and cheerful sense to my paintings and drawings.

What are you currently working on?

Several projects for some up-and-coming music groups, doing album cover work and installation images. Also, working on some children's story ideas.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I love looking through reference books, bric-a-brac shops and finding music that creates images in my head.

3 artists/designers you love and why!:

Saelee Oh I've only recently come across this lady and can't get enough of her beautiful use of shapes and textures.

Russell Cobb His conceptual imagery is simply astonishing.

Temujin Doran Long-term friend, photographer, film-maker and drawer of stunning line images. Total leg end.

3 things that make you smile:

1) People's favourite biscuit choices
2) Falling asleep with my hand between the pages of a book.
3) Holding hands

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

DECKED
5th - 29th August 2010
Coningsby Gallery, 30 Tottenham Street, London

INKYGOODNESS 4 "PLAY"
2nd - 12th September 2010
EAST Gallery, Brick Lane, London

Inkygoodness Review of 'Fifty-two'

2010-04-01T12:35:00.005+01:00

Calm Air All Ice presents 'Fifty-two'

Calm Air All Ice is a collaborative project between artists Claire Platt and Camilla Stacey and hats off to them, as they've put on a remarkable exhibition fitting 52 illustrators & artists into the smallest gallery of Bristol. Running only until Saturday 3rd April (Noon - 4pm (5.30pm: Sat. only)) the show comprises of up to three pieces each, from the represented image-makers.

Carefully and sensitively hung, the curators lead the viewer on a lively journey around the enclosed space. It's quite the showcase of some of Claire and Camilla's favourite artists, which is reflected in the enthusiasm behind the associated blog, mini-interviews and overall promotion of this exhibit. The windows are adorned with intriguing constructed work, from delicate strung together drawings, to fragile and beautiful 3D sculptural work.

You are then led through a set of pieces all created on unusual surfaces or in unusual ways: dinner trays, odd bits of wood (Amanda Blake's piece caught my eye right away), rounded fabric frames, old photos and woolen sculptures (Claire Platt's own work). Genevieve Dionne has included three of her woodburnt pieces, featuring her twisted versions of creatures - a delight to see in real life.

(Genevieve Dionne)

Bjorn Lie's enormous print starts off the next wall, which continues this snapshot of contemporary illustration. Prints, detailed drawings and semi-abstract art all sit comfortably together, some pieces left open to interpretation, while others, like "Beware Of Yellow Snow" (Dave Bain) are out to amuse.

(Dave Bain)

The final side of 'room 212' is covered with primarily unframed work, ranging from very immediate sketches and photo collage work to the lively colours of Peskimo prints, Debbie Hill's cut-outs, Patrick Gildersleeves oriental based work and Lizzie Stewart's stunning drawings, just to pick out a few.

(Patrick Gildersleeves)

It is remarkable. A brilliant show, with work already selling. If you are in Bristol and have a chance to see it, don't miss out!

(words: Dave Bain on behalf of Inkygoodness)

(Various photos from the opening evening)

We're open!

2010-04-01T01:31:00.000+01:00

For those with a little more pocket money may we suggest...

2010-03-30T15:18:00.000+01:00

One of Genevieve Dionne's gouache and wood burner plaques for £100.

A delicate embroidered print from Lisa Solomon for £200

Lovely mixed media print from Amy Greenan for £235 (framed)

52 mini interviews: Michal William

2010-03-30T00:06:00.004+01:00

Name: Michal William

Location: Bristol

Age:33

Website(s):

www.semi-square.co.uk,

www.localkid.co.uk

How would you describe your work?

I work mostly with photocopies, making minimalist collage/photomontage using text and images. For years I made gig posters, slowly realising that they had 'artistic' merit in their own right, and even slowerly realising that I could even make something that didn't even have any 'information' in it! In my posters I would be facinated by the movement I could create by placing the cut-out letters and numbers and shapes in different places, and how each would determine how and where the others would be placed. Various gravitational points would pull figures, characters, in, and spin them out. And it's this play-fight between choas and control that entertains me enough to continue to create my non-poster work.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently expoloring the flight of sea gulls and ballerinas and others. It's funny.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Old films, old buildings and old books.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Matt Jones (as well as others around him in the Bristol music scene) has greatly influenced not only my artwork, but also has informed my music, temperament and life goals. Before I knew Matt, I was a big fan of the bands he was involved in (Crescent, Movietone, etc), and when I first saw his large white abstract carpentered paintings in 1996, it was some of the first art that I felt I could instantly understand and relate to. And the simple style of his posters for Cafe Mono made me rethink what gig posters could be.

Marianne Brandt is my favourite artist of all time. She is mostly known for her metal design work at the Bauhaus in the 1920's, but at the same time she also produced many photomontages, usually just for herself or her friends. Her photomontages are playful, political and minimalist, and again I felt an instant understanding as soon as I saw them. I have never studied art, and so I can only trust my instincts when making or appreciating it. Marrianne Brandt's artwork stuck out its hand and said 'hello, you and I are the same.'

Charles M. Schulz was suprised himself how a few lines and dashes on paper could invoke so much emotion and human recognition. This is what any form of art means to me - seeing a relationship in it to what you know, belonging to some language that is not part of words (even when words are used).

some sneaky peeks of super affordable work for you

2010-03-29T17:11:00.003+01:00

Peskimo have sent over some photos of their work for the show, can you tell what it is yet?

This have been screen printed using the set up that they've built in their own home, how great must it be to have screen printing facilities at home?

It's a bandit bunny! Just in time to steal all the Easter Eggs! These will be on sale for just £12 so I am pretty sure that they are going to get snapped up quick fast.

And here are three of Fiona Cassidy's 'Units of Habitation' which are just £10 each, or £50 for the set of 7. These little houses are made from hand stitched calico.

Edith Abeyta is sending some of her 'Bats and Rats' bunnies our way- you can take one home for just £20

Susan Schwake has two of these lovely paintings on cedar wood for just £20 each

Venue Magazine says 'Don't Miss Fifty-Two'

2010-03-27T20:26:00.000Z

So I didn't have time to scan this but if you look closely you can see that our show is one of five that are marked as Don't Miss shows for next week. Pretty sweet if you ask me. Here's an even worse photo of the listing:

I promise i'll get a good scan of it soon.

52 mini interviews: Bjorn Rune Lie

2010-03-26T13:29:00.000Z

Name: Bjorn Rune Lie
Location: Bristol
Age: 32 1/2

Website(s):

www.bjornlie.com

http://bjornrunelie.blogspot.com

How would you describe your work?

It depends who I'd be describing it to....It often features ordinary people in bizarre circumstances or vice versa; outlandish looking characters in an everyday setting. Playful and warm, rich in detail and texture..Possibly overworked a lot of the time.

What are you currently working on?

A picture book for Nobrow Press in London. To be printed in 3 spot colours..Quite exciting, but probably economic suicide.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Everywhere but illustration annuals.

3 artists/designers you love and why!

Jockum Nordstrom, Gosia Machon and Yokoland. Because they are confident enough to do "loose" work. I can't do that myself..It just doesn't feel finished to me if I haven't worked my ass off. Guess you just gotta do what feels natural. And I love this here blog: http://ajourneyroundmyskull.blogspot.com/

3 things that make you smile:

Scrambled eggs, newspaper, Fresh coffee.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Got this really exciting show called 52! Apart from that, no...Well..Jamaica Street Open Studios in June, of course.

52 mini interviews: Edith Abeyta

2010-03-25T22:15:00.001Z

Name: Edith Abeyta

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 44

Website(s):

http://edithabeyta.net

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edithabeyta/

How would you describe your work?

Fiber based installations with 19th century ragpicker sensibilities infused with literature and radical politics.

What are you currently working on?

"My Business is Circumference No. 2" an installation for the Bath Spa Gallery and "Me, You, Us" an exchange based installation for the exhibition "Crossbreed: the art of collaboration" at the El Camino College Art Gallery in southern California.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Much of it comes from reading novels and talking to people.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Porous Walker He has an approach and sensibility like no one else.

Vanessa Renwick The only artist I know who can make black eyes look sexy and the demolition of nuclear reactors beautiful

Yong Sin Her perseverance and dedication to her work is more extreme than anyone I know.

3 things that make you smile:

1. Getting a good night's sleep

2. Being told, "We'll reimburse you for materials."

3. Homemade Stout

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

see answer above

52 mini interviews: Fiona Cassidy

2010-03-24T22:27:00.000Z

Name: Fiona Cassidy

Location:Bath

Website(s): http://www.fionacassidy.com

How would you describe your work?

reversible

What are you currently working on?

working on finding a studio space so I can actually get some work made

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

skips, second-hand furniture shops, neglected urban spaces, building sites

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Ceal Floyer: clever clever titles

Richard Long: he’s taken a simple idea and carried it through with integrity

Susan Collis: immaculate execution

3 things that make you smile:

sunshine

cake

nice surprises

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Dispatch Office Residents 09 - April 30 - May 3 - Spike Island Sculpture Shed, Bristol

Wilderness - May 27 - June 13 - The American Museum, Claverton, Bath

Curator - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - May 28 - June 13 - Fringe Arts Bath - Bath

52 mini interviews: Claire Platt (aka the other half of Calm Air All Ice)

2010-03-24T09:56:00.001Z

hand knitted Heinkel He 111

Name: Claire Platt
Age: 24
Location: London
Website(s):
www.claireplatt.com
blog, flickr, tumblr
and calm air all ice!

How would you describe your work?

an attempt to combine things I love and make them into beautiful objects. or to put it in plain terms (no pun intended) knitted aeroplanes! (mostly)

What are you currently working on?
I'm currently finishing knitting a duck for an upcoming show and planning some new pieces - This summer/autumn marks the 7oth anniversary of the battle of britain so my new pieces will be centred entirely around British planes and those specifically involved in the battle. I'm collecting the new wood cut pieces on Monday! I'm very excited!

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Airshows, the sky, knitting books, fair isle knitting, aran knitting, magazines, galleries, etc etc

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Obviously all the wonderful people involved with this show, but outside of that...

Kiki Smith - her drawings are stunning, and her objects even more so
Rachel Denny - because she transforms knitted jumpers into wonderful sculptures
Jeffrey Milstein - his photographs of commercial airliners are the best I've ever seen, in fact I saw a show of his at the photographers gallery long before I was creating my planes. I think it sat in my head inspiring me subconsciously.

3 things that make you smile:
matthew
sunny days
listening to good music

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
knit one, purl one:Contemporary Knitting and Crochet at the touchstones gallery, Rochdale May 1st-July 4th 2010

52 mini interviews: Camilla Stacey (aka one half of Calm Air All Ice)

2010-03-24T00:10:00.000Z

Name: Camilla Stacey
Location: Weston-super-Mare
Age: 36

Website(s):

http://madebymilla.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camillastacey

http://madebymilla.etsy.com

http://calmairallice.blogspot.com of course!

How would you describe your work?

Drawing plays a large part in my work, it’s one of the threads that links whatever I do, although I do work across a wide variety of media. I have a fascination with found photos and postcards and a love of nostalgia and the past. A sense of time and memory is important to my work.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a series of pieces at the moment that are investigating time, ways of mapping histories and imagined timelines. I am working with found pianola rolls and am enjoying working in a scroll like format- it lends itself well to work about time and I’m starting to investigate making durational work and incorporate the tidal aspect that is ever present in a seaside town like Weston.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Junk shops, old photo albums, found postcards, family histories, old films, ‘treasure’. My house is full of ‘stuff’ and I can’t stop picking up things that inspire me- I’m inspired by pretty much everything I ever see. I love to visit new exhibitions and am a fan of history documentaries.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Amy Santoferraro I saw an exhibition of her work in Cwmbran, Wales completely by chance and I totally loved her use of found objects and ceramics.

Xin one of the artists that sadly couldn’t take part in 52, I love her drawings and paintings, and she also makes amazing comics as well as her Doinky Doodles shop that sells handmade goodies

Maya Bloch: I just love Maya’s drawings and wish I could own one for myself. Her work makes me want to draw more and more and to be true to my own way of drawing.

(Lots of my other favourites are taking part in this show of course!)

3 things that make you smile:

My oldest nephew

My youngest nephew

My niece

(don’t worry I haven’t left anyone out- I only have the three)

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Fringe Arts Bath

May 28 - June 13 http://www.fringeartsbath.co.uk/

Summer Show

Bath Spa University Gallery

17^th June

I’m also curating shows by Rachael Allen from 15^th-26^th March, Sophie Jones from 19^th-30^th April and Edith Abeyta from 3^rd-21^st May all at the Bath Spa University Gallery.

52 mini interviews: Cathy Cullis

2010-03-23T22:12:00.003Z

Name: Cathy Cullis
Location: London / Surrey
Age: 40
Website(s):

http://cathycullis.blogspot.com

http://cathycullis.bigcartel.com

How would you describe your work?

I'm a poet as well as a visual artist, so my mixed media work is about making visual poems. I like to explore word and image, personal experience, line and texture. I'm often working on several different projects at the same time.

What are you currently working on?

Current obsessions are making folding mixed media books and exploring natural dyes on fabric. I'm also working on a new collection of poems, so these ideas are playing together and one thing leads to another.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I'm inspired by an interest in literature, women's lives, the work of primitive and outsider artists, medieval art, spirituality, Victorian obsessions with ghosts, nature.... I studied both English and Art at university and the work I looked into during that time has continued to inspire. I also enjoy visiting as many current art exhibitions as I can get to.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

'outsider artist' Madge Gill - I wrote my undergrad dissertation on Madge Gill (along with other outsiders) and her mesmerizing style has certainly impressed me. My own great-grandmother was a spiritualist medium, so I am very interested in Gill's spirit-inspired work.

Nina Bagley is an amazing, supportive friend and artist who has encouraged me greatly. I admire her use of materials in her jewellery making, her subtle use of word, texture and colour.

I really admire Cornelia O'Donovan's illustration and artwork. She is a fab artist and I have several of her prints in my home. Her work makes me smile. I like it's freshness and humour.

3 things that make you smile:

my children - I have two school-age children who are my best critics and tell it like it is!

a good phrase in a poem - you know the kind you wish you wrote yourself!

spring flowers especially auriculas - I collect auriculas, I am a bit of a collector

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Next I'm working on a collaborative book project with a group of other artists - more details on my blog later.

I've got work currently at The Edge Gallery, Lancaster.

Also my work is to be featured in a US magazine this Summer - more details on that to follow also!

52 mini interviews: Alys Paterson

2010-03-23T09:10:00.000Z

Name: Alys Paterson

Location: Bristol

Age: 30

Website

Blog

Shop

How would you describe your work?

Wow it’s hard to describe your own work! It’s colourful, happy and hopefully a little bit magical.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on some cards for John Lewis. After that I am planning a screen print of a boat.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

People, books, music, art, folklore, poetry, films, music, walks, natural history….and on and on….

3 artists/designers you love and why!:

Howard Hodgkin - what he does with colour is phenomenal. Though seemingly abstract his pictures are full of emotion and feeling. Each painting is associated with a memory, a person or place. This is idea is central to my work too, many of the themes I go back to are in very linked to my childhood or linked in with how I am feeling or how I want to feel.

Maria Kalman - read "Principle of Uncertainty' or look at her blog ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ and you will love her too:

Rob Ryan – His work is beautiful, lyrical and all over my walls!

3 things that make you smile:

Family and friends

Gretel – our family cat

silliness

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

I have been asked me to take part in the next 'Girls Who Draw' postcard book and exhibition, which I am very excited about.

52 mini interviews: Simon Daly

2010-03-22T18:32:00.000Z

name: Simon Daly

age: I usually pick something from 1957 or 1923 when filling forms like this on the internet.

websites: http://chip-fork.com

How would you describe your work?

I would avoid describing my work. These questions are hard. Its only because you offered to punch me on the nose that i'm having another go. If my work was a dvd it would be a early eighties tv box set that was next to Children of the Stones and Quatermass in the shop. That's more of a description of a dvd I like than any thing I've produced. My work is not a dvd.

Looking at my website I'd say I like drawing and colours. Looks like there's some thing to do with popular culture, with animation, comics, and computer games. There's some sort of attempt at humour or something to do with ideas? who knows?

What are you currently working on?

I'm kinda in-between things at the moment. I'm thinking of doing more digital stuff in the future. I've just finished up some 3d modeling on the computer. Doing that has made think about ways of working at higher speeds. Of simplifying things and combining 3d modeling and drawing. So I'm modeling 3d environments but some of the edges of objects are drawings rather than models. So I'm trying to merge a bunch of techniques into a new process. I don't know where its going but its a long time since i spent any time trying new stuff out for its own sake.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Books at the top of my pile are Miyazaki watercolours, a book of aerial photos of Britain, book about Kamishibai.

I've been looking at painting lately because of the 3d models. Trying to work out how to work more like that with patches of colour rather than having too much of the wrong detail as is the tradition with computer graphics.

3 artists/designers you love and why!

I would have liked to spend more time answering these questions properly. But then the show would be over. And where would that time come from anyway.

Nathan Fowkes : Found this the other day. Painting is good. I'm really into painting at the moment. Because I'm making 3d models ?!

Paper Rad: i cant explain why i like that stuff as much as i do

Hayao Miyazaki: could try and link to some interesting things you might not have heard of but Miyzazki. just, you know.

3 things that make you smile:

"now I wont be able to buy my hovercraft"

er...

Plus two other things.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc.?

I have nothing upcoming. but I think I'm starting from scratch again anyway. I'm not really into physical objects at the mo. And I'm not sure its relevant to exhibit digital stuff.

(Simon was bullied into answering some questions for us, pointing out to me that 'not everyone likes to fill in forms as much as you do Camilla' so I feel a bit mean, but seriously Simon is great and Claire and I LOVED the postcard he designed for our original Calm Air All Ice show last year so we had to invite him back)

52 mini interviews: Laura Donald

2010-03-21T20:05:00.000Z

Name: Laura Donald

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Age: 29

Website(s): (websites, blogs, flickrs, etc you name it, we’ll link it!)

Blog

etsy

shopify

How would you describe your work?

That is a tough one! I’d say I am fairly eclectic, which is really the diplomatic term for a jack of all trades! I have to say, the first time I did a craft market and saw all my wares together in one place, I was surprised by how… jaunty everything looked. The things I make definitely do make people smile. Well, they either smile or look confused!

What are you currently working on?

Building up a healthy supply of stock so that I have more time to work on new ideas. Despite developing a (tragic) allergy to sewing, I have lots of embroidery-based ideas and plans, but probably more embroidered products than embroideries, if you see what I mean… I can’t say any more just now!

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Television, fairy tales, chats, charity shops, vintage craft books and (obviously) the internet. Getting into reading other people’s crafty blogs is probably why I do what I do. I also find I get really inspired by looking at supplies. Visiting an art/fabric shop always sets my mind buzzing with potential new projects.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Finding it too hard to narrow down, I’ve decided to focus on stitchers and have picked three good-humoured embroiderers who are far from traditional. Here goes…

Lou Trigg whose Dusty Springfield embroidery directly inspired me to sew my first ever Dot Cotton portrait! Her tragic women collection is amazing.

Claire of Miso Funky who holds down a full-time job while running a veritable cross-stitch empire! Claire has given me lots of advice and encouragement over the past couple of years and was also the first person to stock any of my work.

Jessica Kallam who gives away a hand-made embroidery on a monthly basis. She used to give away an amazing embroidery every single week! I wish I was as fast (and as generous) as her!

3 things that make you smile:

EastEnders (except when people die – I’m still not over the live episode)

Charity shopping

People choosing to buy something I’ve made myself – still so exciting!

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

You will find me selling my wares at the Made In The Shade Springtime Jamboree (the Lighthouse, Glasgow on Saturday 17^th April) and at Say No To Plastic (Oran Mor, Glasgow on Sunday 18^th April).

52 mini interviews: Ekta Kaul

2010-03-21T19:50:00.000Z

Aerialscapes (detail), hand-dyed, embroidered and needle-punched.

Name: Ekta Kaul
Location: Bath
Age: 32

Website(s):
www.ektakaul.com
Blog

How would you describe your work?

Tactile, graphic compositions underscored by bold colours. I make contemporary textile wall hangings, quilts and scarves.

What are you currently working on?
A new body of work inspired by lines...weather patterns, aerial photographs of fields.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Contemporary architecture, urban textures, aerial photographs, music, anything and everything.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Kate Blee Her use of colour!
Frances Geesin - I love her experimental approach to textiles
Karim Rashid - The colours, the diversity of projects and inspirational spaces

3 things that make you smile:
Adding to my collection of Indian textiles

Picnic on a perfect summer day

Mock the Week

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
Origin- The London Craft Fair (hopefully)

52 mini interviews: Lex Richards

2010-03-19T16:23:00.000Z

Name: Lex Richards

Location: Dorset
Age:32
Website(s): Not yet - in process!

How would you describe your work?
Applique retro inspired tropical pin-up!

What are you currently working on?
New floral and bird pieces to later transform into fabric repeats using CAD

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Nature - always

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Claire Platt - V.talented designer/knitter - beautiful recycled Owls and fantastic neck cuffs. ;)

Bluebell gray - she paints amazing florals which translate into all sorts of fabulous interior pieces- chairs, cushions etc..

Miss Van - Awesome Frenchie graffitti artist

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
Not at the time of answering these questions, but new endeavours constantly present themselves!

52 mini interviews: Ben O'Leary

2010-03-19T15:39:00.000Z

Name: Ben O'Leary
Location: Bristol (UK)
Age: 30
Website(s): www.thingsfromhere.co.uk

How would you describe your work?

Eclectic, in that I don't have any one particular medium or style I prefer to work in, it varies depending on what materials I have to hand or the space I'm working in, although currently I've been focusing on collage and photography

What are you currently working on?

Running the one of the best artist bookshops in the UK, and making plans for our next Xmas exhibition.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Everywhere; books, films, architecture, moslty vintage stuff, modernism etc.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Sophie Woodrow

Mudwig Dans

Marci Washington

I think their work all shares something, in different ways. There's a darkness to it, and a twisted mix of Victoriana and natural history.

3 things that make you smile:

Good charity shop/car boot sale finds, Dogs, Music.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

I'm working on designing/producing my own merchandise.

52 mini interviews: Bess Harding

2010-03-17T09:48:00.000Z

Name: Bess Harding

Location: London

Age: 25

Website(s):

Blog

Website

Shop

How would you describe your work?

Simple, clean, quirky, child-friendly, witty and diverse. I started off making fabric dolls and little characters, but this has grown to include illustration and some painting.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve been concentrating mostly on two-dimensional things, including illustrating some children’s poems, experimenting with papercutting and a bit of logo design. I’m also contributing a monthly DIY craft project for the lovely online children’s magazine/blog Small.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I’m inspired by the creativity of other artists, but try not to let other people’s work influence mine too much, most of the time I’m not really sure where my ideas come from. One thing that always makes me desperate to create is reading interiors magazines like Elle Deco and Living Etc. or flicking through my scrapbook.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Kristen Vestgard for her absolutely divine, ethereal and unique paintings

Oliver Jeffers for his incredibly brilliant children’s illustrations that are seriously artistic and manage to be equally appealing to adults ()

Julie Arkell for her offbeat-but-beautifully-made papier mâché creations.

3 things that make you smile:

Swimming in the sea, an unexpected pun, when something I make turns out just how I imagined.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Nothing at the moment. I have my Etsy shop though, which I intend to spend more time stocking up!

52 mini interviews: Shannon Rankin

2010-03-15T16:42:00.001Z

Name: Shannon Rankin
Location: Rangeley, ME U.S.A.
Age: 38
Website(s):
Fine Art
Flickr
Blog
Etsy Shop
Facebook Fan Page

How would you describe your work?

While bearing traces of the original form, I deconstruct maps to create new geographies, suggesting the potential for a broader landscape.

What are you currently working on?
I just wrapped up a small, varied body of work for a show at Craftland.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I am inspired by geological and biological processes; patterns in nature, geometry, botany, and anatomy.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Adam Fowler: He creates intricately layered hand cut drawings.
Anna Hepler: I love everything she makes.
Richard Galpin: He peels photographs.

3 things that make you smile:
Baby T (Our kitty Theodore)
The chickadees that ring the little bell outside
My squeeze’s dance moves

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Convergence : A survey of process, pattern, and place Craftland Gallery
March 18th – April 17th, 2010
Providence, RI
website

Drawing in Thread
March 30th – May 2nd, 2010
Mount Ida College Newton, MA
website

Pattern Recognition
May 8th, 2010
Zero Station Portland, ME
website

A Map Show (Title TBD)
Spring 2010
June Fitzpatrick Gallery Portland, ME
website

And a solo show at Gallery Voss Disperse / Displace
December 10th, 2010
Gallery Voss Düsseldorf, Germany
website

52 mini interviews: Amy Greenan

2010-03-15T16:30:00.000Z

Name: Amy Greenan
Location: Niagara Falls, NY -- just minutes from the famous falls themselves!
Age: 39
Website(s):

http://www.amygreenan.com, which has links to just about everywhere else, including my blog and Flickr.

How would you describe your work?

Mysterious, though at times quite colorful. Thoughtful, nostalgic, hopeless.

What are you currently working on?

I have a few things going on, some still just in the thinking stages. There's a series of grisailles that I call my ghosts (see above image as an example) that include not only ghosts of people, but ghosts of things as well. I will be making a series of small paintings based on some old, beat-up "cutter" quilts I've recently purchased -- the way the patterns of fabric have been juxtaposed is fantastic, as are the colors. Some are very faded, some still quite vibrant. I've been trying to get back into sketching in my sketchbook regularly again, and I want to make some of my own (bookbinding is another passion of mine).

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

In so many places. I know that my observational skills have improved one hundred fold in the past few months since I started teaching drawing again. My students inspire me to try new things, and to see the beauty in the everyday -- whether they realize it or not! I'm really attracted to architecture, though more in the sense of buildings that are comprised of basic shapes, pretty bare-bones, not necessarily "pretty" stuff. I live in a city that still has a lot of factories operating, where the atmosphere does funky things at sunset. I love to see how light plays off of those big boxes, too. If I stopped at the side of the road to photograph everything that caught my eye, I'd never get anywhere.

My own nostalgia has always inspired me. I'm always looking and thinking back for ideas.

3 artists/designers you love and why!

1. One of my idols (yes, I truly mean idol) is Richard Kegler, who is the founder of P22 Type Foundry (http://www.p22.com/) and of the Western New York Book Arts Collaborative (and its physical home base, the WNY Book Arts Center -- http://www.wnybookarts.org/). He has done so much for the arts community in my region, and is tireless in his efforts to try to make things better for everyone, on so many levels. Not to mention, he makes really cool stuff -- typefaces, books, letterpressed artwork... I interned for him at P22 back in 2000 and have been pestering him on and off ever since. I'm now teaching at WNYBAC regularly, and always so happy to work with him and his amazing wife, Carima El-Behairy.

2. Tae Won Yu has been a huge inspiration to me for many years now. He is not only an incredible artist and designer, but he is also a musician and was in the band Kicking Giant back in the 90s, part of the Olympia, WA scene. He also has a Tumblr account (http://taewonyu.tumblr.com/) where he posts a new image each day as a challenge to himself. It's just gorgeous, sensitive, smart stuff.

3. Sonja Ahlers is a super-talented Canadian artist I have known since I first started making zines. We traded ours for many years and hers are among my real treasures. She's just coming out with her third book, The Selves (Drawn & Quarterly) (http://www.amazon.com/Selves-Sonja-Ahlers/dp/1770460101) that will surely be a must-have. She also has an Etsy shop.

3 things that make you smile:

My gardens (vegetable and flower) -- for which of course I have a blog, my little family (three cats and my partner, Casey), and being able to take time to make art, in whatever form it takes at any given moment.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc.?

Yes! In May, I will be having a little solo exhibition in Buffalo, NY at a restaurant called Betty's . Normally I might not be so inclined show at a restaurant, but Betty's not only has great food at their openings, they also have a wonderfully discerning curator for their exhibitions, Kathy Sherin. Nice clientele, too.

This fall, I will have a solo exhibtion at ARTMission in Binghamton, NY. It's a few hours away from home base, so I am looking forward to having my work seen by a whole new group of people!

52 mini interviews: Kate Parsons

2010-03-13T00:57:00.000Z

Name: Kate Parsons

Location: Spike Island Studios, Bristol

Websites: www.kate-parsons.co.uk / blog / Saatchi gallery website / AXIS / Arts Review website / BANA/ University o f the Arts, London / facebook

How would you describe your work?

It is a cross over of sculpture and anthropological research. The work is conceptually based and process lead, often using the materials to inform the semiotic value of each piece and /or installation. The materials I use are usually cheap but used in conjunction with the concept of the piece. The work encompasses video and photographic work as well as sculptural and found materials.

What are you currently working on?

I am working on a series of works based on my recent research trip to South East Nigeria, for which l received an Arts Council Grant for the Arts. This will be an installation comprising separate elements which are floor based. This on-going work will be on display at Spike Island Open Studios at the beginning of the May Bank Holiday. The film work is now completed which consists of 3 looped pieces and then two films called ‘Night’ and ‘Day’ – see website for details of these and other works.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Mostly from African culture and artefacts which may be connected with their traditional religions or their domestic artefacts. However other influences are obviously European and l love the Arte Povera group of artists. The artists l look at shift depending on what l am doing and l like to keep an eye on the London scene.

3 things that make me smile:

College website sensoring the photographs of my rocks – obviously too sexy!! GYRO has a whole new meaning!!

Charlie my Spotted Bengal Snow (cat) pin balling golf balls around the floor boards

My tree frog croaking to my alarm going off

Do you have any other upcoming shows coming up?

Open Studios at Spike Island and in the process of negotiating proposals for the new work based on the Nigerian trip.

A long long list

2010-03-11T22:01:00.000Z

We've got a list of links to the websites of about 45 out of our 52 artists up over on the sidebar, take a look, hop around and see what kind of things we'll be showing. Some of the artists involved don't have websites, others' are under construction at the moment, but if you are taking part and I seem to have missed you off the list, or sent the link to the wrong place please let me know!

52 mini interviews: Kirsty Hall

2010-03-10T09:27:00.000Z

3 Score & 10

Name: Kirsty Hall
Location: Bristol, England but I’m a Scot originally
Age: 42

Website(s):
Website & Blog
Twitter
Facebook Fan Page
Video channel
Flickr

Basically, I’m all over the internet like a cheap rash!

How would you describe your work?
Obsessive repetitive process.

What are you currently working on?
Mostly the apron covered with sequins that I’ve been working on since last summer. But I’ve just started a couple of new pieces using crochet & I’m about to start a new series of drawings.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Everywhere really, stuff I see & things I read. I read a lot of non-fiction and much of my work is inspired by that. I also tend to like the little everyday things that most people ignore or despise – for example, I have a bit of thing for the patterns on net curtains.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Eva Hesse – for being fearless, original and one of the best artists of the 20th century.

Tom Friedman – I love the way he takes things to their logical extreme.

Ernst Haeckel – for being a crazy mad Victorian dude!

3 things that make you smile:
My chickens
My family
Gary Larson cartoons

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
Nothing else at the moment but I’m open to offers!

and the winning 52 is...

2010-03-09T15:34:00.000Z

photo by mag3737

Thanks to all who voted! and congratualtions to mag3737 for this wonderful 52 which will be used for the postcard for the upcoming exhibition!

52 mini interviews: Courtney Chelo

2010-03-09T15:27:00.001Z

source

Name: Courtney Chelo
Location: Somerville, MA
Age: 24

Website(s):

carbonmade (getting a makeover!)

flickr

How would you describe your work?
Maps, anatomy, birds, paper planes, old books, and some paint. Mixed media on paper, sometimes some needlework tossed in for fun. Most of what I make is at least half recycled or thrifted and made new again.

What are you currently working on?
Getting my studio space set up again! I was renting a studio with friends and that dissolved after a year, so now I'm working out of my house. It makes for a bit of a tight squeeze in terms of storage, so it has also been a good incentive to destash before getting any new materials. I've been so focused on making lots of small stuff lately than I'm looking forward to spending some spring afternoons on the porch altering some larger thrifted paintings. I'm also excited to do some more three dimensional stuff with boxes.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
All over the place. I've been reading a lot for the first time since college and that helps with inspiration. Plus I try to keep a lot of fun-to-look-at stuff around my house, so when I'm feeling uninspired a little lap around the apartment or a flip through an anatomy textbook helps.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Cassandra Warren is not only an amazing artist, but a wonderful friend.

Victoria Statsenko is my newest artcrush. Keep an eye out for this young lady!

Louise Bourgeois... "one of these things is not like the others," i know, but i had to include her. her work has always struck a chord.

3 things that make you smile:
This cat. This lady (and that wall of hers). This lamp.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
My work is on display for the first time for the month of March at BUOY Gallery in Kittery, ME. It is part of a large group show for the ArtPM Challenge. For New Englanders, the opening is Saturday, March 13 from 7-11 pm!

52 mini interviews: Patrick Gildersleeves

2010-03-09T00:10:00.004Z

Name: Patrick Gildersleeves

Location: Brighton

Age: 24

Website: www.wowoutrageous.com

How would you describe your work?

Very good

What are you currently working on?

A book, lots of small drawings, my first solo album and some secret things

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Old photographs of people from far away places in strange clothes, kung fu films and in my dreams.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Hokusai, especially his manga. Everyone knows his waves and mountains, but his drawings of people look so free and easy but real.

Susumu Katsumata, I read his Red Snow book recently and the stories in it are great.

Mary Blair did some lovely illustrations, especially in I Can Fly.

3 things that make you smile:
Singing, dancing and people being stupid

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
Pick me up graphic art fair in Somerset House in London.

52 mini interviews: Gail Mason

2010-03-08T20:09:00.001Z

Name: Gail Mason

Location: Bristol Spike Print Studio

Age: variable

Website(s): www.gailmason.co.uk

How would you describe your work?
painterly silkscreen monotypes that are concerned with the positive impact of colour, and charting the journey through emotional landscapes.

What are you currently working on?
Ongoing series of silkscreen monoprints as above, together with an investigation into flat colour markmaking and stillness in semi abstract landscapes. I have also recently been working in black and white portraiture and landscapes as a counterbalance to the hectic world of abstract colour

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I don’t actively search for it, it just arrives- probably through allowing whatever needs to be explored at the time, and through the process of mixing colour on the day. I think we absorb so much through reading and visual research, and just being, that its hard to pinpoint where the starting point of something began.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
Barbara Rae for her use of colour, Alison Lambert for her passionate portraiture and Gerry Dudgeon for his sense of space

3 things that make you smile: pussycat pounces, sunshine, and my daughter.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

solo show ‘Moments of Clarity’ Spike Print Studio, Bristol
1st March – 8th April,
www.spikeprintstudio.org.uk

Black Swan Open, Frome
20th March – 1st May
www.blackswan.org.uk

Spike Spring Sale, Spike print Studio Bristol
Sat 20th March 11-5pm
www.spikeprintstudio.org.uk

Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford
Easter Showcase
30th March –25 April
www.wisegal.com

Micro Art Project
Spike Print Studio Bristol Early May

Bristol Tourist Centre
March/April
www.visitbristol.co.uk

52 mini interviews: lou lou and oscar/Lisa Aaron

2010-03-07T18:06:00.000Z

'catching up'


Name: Lisa Aaron
Location: Edinburgh/Jersey UK
Age: 39
Website(s):
blog
etsy
flickr

How would you describe your work?
Someone described it as haphazard recently, I think I will go with 
that. Perhaps throw in eclectic too.

 What are you currently working on?
Some pieces for a show, I can't be too explicit but there will be a 
large hand embroidered wall hanging, a plush creature and a small 
installation piece. The show it titled Lost at Sea so that may offer 
up a few clues!

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
All over the place. I visited Deyrolle in Paris last autumn, the 
collections of insects and butterflies, the tiny animals in cases 
impressed me, so, natural history of course. Cold, cold places, the 
Arctic, pointy mountains, lines of poetry, song lyrics, books I have 
read, the embroidered collages made recently are pretty much homages 
to the writers and artists I love.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
This is the hardest question, to pick three !
 Bela Tarr  : Made me fall in love with cinema again.
Caroline Gaedechens :Old magic.
Rachel Ortas : Colour

3 things that make you smile:
Bed picnics with my husband & son
Opening a surprise parcel
Drawing a new creature

 Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
I have just released a plush exclusive with Schmancy 
I am taking part in a group show at Gallery Hanahou called Lost at Sea in May.
Plush You L.A. in August.
A show in Wales, UK much later in the year.

52 mini interviews: Peskimo

2010-03-07T15:16:00.000Z

Name: Peskimo

Location: Bristol

Website: www.peskimo.com

How would you describe your work?

The first word that springs to mind is ‘fun’, we aim to create work that makes you smile. It’s illustrations of monsters, rabbits and all that lies between the two. Its often character based but also often food & cake based.

What are you currently working on?

We have a new screen printing studio set up in our spare room, which is causing us a great deal of excitement as the myriad of possibilities start to take shape in our brains. We are also working on some toy projects and looking into tropical fish.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

We get inspired by all kinds of things, from the ordinary to the unusual. Particularly around the local streets of Bedminster where you couldn’t make up some of the things you hear. Ideas are usually born out of silly things we’ve said or dreamt up.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Noferin – We love the simple characters designs, who all have a rich background story. They embrace strong ethics in their process, the wooden toys are beautiful!

Charley Harper – Again, we love the way his illustrations reduce the subject to only what is needed.

Tom Gauld – the subtle sense of humour that carries through all of his work.

3 things that make you smile:

3 cakes.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

We have a tea and cake themed exhibition opening on March 19^th called Tease Made. It’s a joint exhibition with our illustrator friend, Chris Dickason. It’ll be the first show at a new Bristol venue, called Start Space. On until April 11^th.

52 mini interviews: Genevieve Dionne

2010-03-07T15:04:00.001Z

Name: Genevieve Dionne

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Age:29

Website(s): just flickr for now

How would you describe your work?

surreal

What are you currently working on?

woodburns of dogs and drawings of obscure history

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Stories, conversations, found ephemera,

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

(if possible please provide links to websites/blogs)

Henry Darger; because he created an entire reality just for himself

Shary Boyle; because her imagery is so different from anything in this world

Hieronymus Bosch; because of all the fantastic and ridiculous details in his painting

3 things that make you smile:

Cooking

Walking

Dog Watching

52 mini interviews: Lisa Solomon

2010-03-05T09:06:00.000Z

how fantastic! a taster of the work will actually be recieving for the show!

Name: Lisa Solomon
Location: Oakland, CA USA
Age: 36
Website(s):
website :: http://www.lisasolomon.com
blog ::
flickr ::

How would you describe your work?

I think one unifying factor in my work is the notion of hybridization. I’m repeatedly try to fuse materials, or concepts, or formal aspects that may at first appear disparate. I’m also interested in the domestic and domestic practices [and by default how this relates to gender] - and how to celebrate or monumentalize them. I consistently use thread as a drawing device and as a means to enhance the dimensionality of my work.

I’m interested in patterning and repetitive behaviors. How recurring imagery can alter our view of something – perhaps re-framing and re-purposing our relationship to something we may usually overlook.

I am also supremely interested in the intersection of art and craft.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on a series of doily drawings depicting viruses. I’m also about to start working on a series of commemorative pieces – using color and embroidery stitches to represent important dates of loved ones.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
practically everywhere.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
currently I’ve been obsessing over Lauren DiCioccio, Victoria May and Mung Lar Lam

3 things that make you smile:
my daughter on a swing
my husband emerging from the kitchen with a fantastic dinner for me
my dog and cat spooning in front of the fire

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
my work is currently in these two shows
Depth of Surface
By a Thread

I’ll be having a solo show at Angels Gate in the Fall and a 3 person show at Art Stream Studios at the end of the year

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Yumi Okuda

2010-03-05T08:56:00.000Z

Name: Yumi Okuda

Location: Brighton

Website(s):
http://www.yumiokuda.com/
http://yumiokuda.blogspot.com/

How would you describe your work?
wonky organic veg box

What are you currently working on?
joke book with debbie hill

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
walking somewhere quiet when you can hear the wind.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
• andy goldsworthy: beautiful
• kaye blegvad: mysterious
• laura carlin: fun

3 things that make you smile:
• homemade food
• notes and letters
• breeze

Remember we asked for your photos? now we want your votes!

2010-03-03T18:16:00.000Z

So around a week ago we called out for your pictures of the number 52 to use for the postcard for the show. Now we're calling for your vote! Pick out your favourite from the pictures below and drop a comment with the number of your favourite picture! voting will close this Sunday! Thanks!

(1) photo by Tinee Häcker

(2) photo by Tinee Häcker

(3) photo by debbie hill

(4) Photo by debbie hill

(5) photo by mag3737

(6) Photo by bluedeepblue

vote away!

p.s check out the new calm air all ice flickr

52 mini interviews: astulabee/Nicole Licht

2010-03-03T17:59:00.000Z

Name: Nicole Licht

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Age: I'm counting on my fingers to make sure ...37 I thought maybe I was still 36 but no dice.

Website(s):
www.astulabee.com,
blog,
Flickr

How would you describe your work?

nature inspired, imaginary, secretly angsty

What are you currently working on?

experiments with wall pieces

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
costume design, movies, music, random photographs, my materials.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

I like too many artists and designers ... so many, so just off the cuff, specifically and sentimentally:

Jason Rhoades when I saw his Cherry Makita show at David Zwirner in 1993 I was so blown away with the rubble, huge active motor, duct tape handmade tools and fictional storytelling I kept saying to myself, "So excellent, art can be this!" I can still remember how excited I felt.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder made life changing, ever stylized, entertaining and brilliant films, where things do not end up all well: Chinese Roulette, The Marriage of Maria Braun, In a Year of 13 Moons. So good.

Gillian Wearing her photographs give opportunity to the sitter (or stander). I love this.

3 things that make you smile:

Have you seen my puppy? Ridiculous.
My boyfriend and child are both pretty funny.
Finding that someone else has just up and washed the dishes.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

I have a plush exclusive coming up with Schmancy, I'll be participating in a group show called "Lost at Sea" curated by Kristen Rask at Gallery Hanahou in May

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Mithila 'Mithi' Shafiq

2010-02-28T22:25:00.000Z

"foxtrot"

Name: Mithila 'Mithi' Shafiq

Location: Bristol UK

Age: 36 on St Patricks Day

Website(s): http://planetmithi.com ; http://cargocollective.com/planetmithi, http://planetmithi.blogspot.com, http://planetmithi.etsy.com/

How would you describe your work?

'Happy' ;)

What are you currently working on?

Tons of competition briefs and some personal work building up towards my final degree show in June.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Everywhere! A lot in nature; in science (I'm an ex scientist); in big band jazz/swing music and dance (that's my other passion); Asian culture/stories/mythologies (I'm Bangladeshi, brought up in Malaysia); anything mid-century modernist.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Theres SO many people ... but at the moment, being very inspired by vintage children's book illustrators ...

Alice and Martin Provensen

Alain Gree

Miroslav Sasek

The simplicity of the illustrations, and the happiness and positivity they evoke really appeal to me ...

3 things that make you smile:

My husband

Lindy hop

Charity shop/flea market/ebay vintage lucky finds

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

Degree Show, Bower Ashton Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol, 18th till 24th June, which then moves to:

D&AD New Blood in the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London from 24th June to 29th June, then to

Conningsby Gallery, off Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4RJ July 5th to 9th

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Susan Schwake

2010-02-28T22:17:00.000Z

"Downstream"

Name:  Susan Schwake
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Age:  really? 52 :) That works out well for this exhibition!

Website(s):
http://www.susanschwake.com
http://www.artstreamstudios.com/
Blog
Flickr

How would you describe your work? 
eccletic and nature based.

What are you currently working on? 
i am working on some interpretations of Birch trees for an exhibition in Romania. Also, a
public art project.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Nature, my family and lots of interaction with young budding artists.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Megan Bogonovich - a wonderful friend and total inspiration as an artist as she fearlessly forges through porcelain and clay making mind bending objects.

Stacey Esslinger - native of NH, she makes porcelain handbuilt functional ware which is so unique and
detailed it blows me away!

Penelope Dullaghan - I love her playful illustrative way that she handles artwork. Each of her pieces
bring me back to Ezra Jack Keats, whom I have always adored.

3 things that make you smile:
my daughters, my husband and The IT Crowd!

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
Currently I have a series of 50 prints at The Working Proof to
benefit Medicin sans Frontiers - They are all original monotypes with
hand painted elements. Link


This year I have been invited to exhibit in MESTECHENI - BIRKEN _
BIRCHES in Romania 

I am also working on another public art sculpture this year for the
City of Rochester. It will be unveiled in May and on my blog at that
time.

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Leah Duncan

2010-02-28T22:06:00.000Z

Rainy Day Limited Edition Giclee Print available here

Name: Leah Duncan
Location: Austin, TX
Age: 27
Website(s):
www.leahduncan.com
Etsy
Blog

How would you describe your work?
Slightly ambiguous, probably flowery drawings with an influence from folk art and children's illustrations with a western flair.

What are you currently working on?
I'm working on expanding my product line.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Nature, animals, the quiet moments in my life.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

Camilla Engman: Clearly one of the best of our time.

Betsy Walton: Oh, I just love her style! There's something so unique about her work.

Orla Kiely:I'm my happiest when I can see my work on something useable. It's inspirational to see someone like Orla be so successful at creating her own distinctive line of products.

3 things that make you smile:
My husband, my cats, cowboy boots.

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
I'll be a vendor at the very first Renegade Craft Fair in Austin in May.

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Helen Entwisle

2010-02-25T16:50:00.000Z

Name: Helen Entwisle / memo

Location: Leeds, UK

Age: 25

Website(s):

www.hellomemo.com

blog

etsy

How would you describe your work?

most of what i do is based on things that i collect or things i observe

What are you currently working on?

a new zine, a secret website and a series of new screen prints

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

objects that i've collected and filled my house with provide lots of inspiration, being quiet and looking at things is good too. as is an interesting conversation with as friend. i suppose you could say i can find inspiration in everything around me

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

my all time favourite artists are jim houser, margaret kilgallen and yoshitomo nara. they know a good colour combination when they see one and create really simple and thought-provoking work

3 things that make you smile:

good coffee, dogs, finding amazing things in charity shops/at carboot sales

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

i have a zine in an exhibition in san francisco at the moment at anno domini gallery

i'm hoping to organise a group show with friends later in the year too but thats still just an idea in my brain

52 mini interviews: Roz Inett

2010-02-25T16:37:00.000Z

Installation- The Cave

Name: Roz Inett

Location: Kent, UK

Age: 24

Website(s):

http://rozinett.blogspot.com/

http://rozinett.carbonmade.com/

How would you describe your work?

Childish escapist nonsense.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on the 'I only like chihuahuas and dresses' series and branching out into writing.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I am inspired by stories, folklore, fairy tales, dreams and snippets of over heard conversation. I try not to think too much when I draw, and just let my imagination take over.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :

David Shrigley made me see drawing in a new way, and fall in love with it again!

I love Marcel Dzama's folkloric drawings, they have a beautiful delicacy that disguise the darkness of what is going on.

Scott Radke makes these strange and haunting marionette sculptures. They sort of look like worried and vulnerable children in animal suits. They are creepily beautiful.

3 things that make you smile:

Doctor Who, cinnamon flavoured cereal and a good nights sleep.

52 mini interview: Jill Bliss

2010-02-24T20:06:00.000Z

'Wapiti Meadow' original archival ink drawing on paper, 19"x 24"

Name: Jill

Location: Portland Oregon

Age:

Website(s): (websites, blogs, flickrs, etc you name it, we’ll link it!)

www.jillbliss.com

blog.jillbliss.com

shop.jillbliss.com

How would you describe your work?

nature-inspired

What are you currently working on?

new art pieces and a new line of stationery for chronicle books.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

everywhere!

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
betsy walton

Apak Studio
Yellena James

...my current fave artists here in portland. we're having a group show together this summer!

3 things that make you smile:

tea

chocolate

my dog

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:

elemental group show

together gallery

portland or

july 29th - august 29th

collaborative artwork by apak, betsy walton, jill bliss and yellena james.

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Tinee Häcker

2010-02-24T11:10:00.000Z

'coral chirp collage' 10x15cm

Name: Tinee Häcker

Location: Stuttgart, Germany

Age: 36

Website(s): http://7morgen.blogspot.com http://flickr.com/fuchspanzer

How would you describe your work?
I am a printmaker, but also love to draw, paint and do installational or conceptual work, too. My work is illustrative, romantic, simple, detailled and not always as serious as it might appear.

What are you currently working on?
At the moment I am cutting blocks for a 5color linocut print for an art portfolio edition, which will be published on occasion of the 2010 soccer world cup. 22 artists from South Africa and Germany will join and contribute for a good cause...

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
In everyday life. Books, papers, inks, friends, family, home and garden, travel and stay...

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
I am in total awe with the old dutch master of portrait - Frans Hals. He had a very sharp eye for details, without being meticulous (do you say so?) I guess thats why he always succeded to catch the persons characters so well. He mixed sloppy brush strokes with very accurate details. Wonderful! I also love japanese wood cut prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige, great craftmanship and the first popular art available to (almost) everybody back then. Third, hmm, maybe Warhol? He made me go POP...

3 things that make you smile:
cake for breakfast
things that go wrong
my little baby daughter

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
You will find some of my prints in the "KUNST.taxi", from March 2-8, 2010 at the UND'#5 art platform in Karlsruhe, Germany. Some other prints will be exhibited in the German House in Johannesburg, South Africa and in Stuttgart, Germany, during the summer. The exact dates will be announced on my blog http://7morgen.blogspot.com

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Gunilla Jähnichen

2010-02-24T10:52:00.001Z

Name: Gunilla Jähnichen

Location: Cologne; Germany

Age: 37

Website: www.gunillajaehnichen.de

How would you describe your work?

same but different ( that would be the title and description of those pieces I've sent you)

What are you currently working on
lot's of paintings

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
old masterpieces mixed with everyday life

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
John Currin
Rita Lundqvist
Jeff Olsson
Yoshimoto Nara

3 things that make you smile:
molly monster
merryl streep
my children

Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions/shows etc:
upcoming show at Bugno art gallery, Venice in May

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

52 mini interviews: Debbie Hill

2010-02-24T10:38:00.001Z

So in anticipation of our upcoming show 'Fifty-Two' we're going to be given you a little inside info on the artist/designers/makers involved starting with the wonderful Debbie Hill...

Debbie Hill from Museum of Invention series 'The Chicken & the Egg of Inventions' (I think we all know why I like this particular piece!)

Name: Debbie Hill
Location: Brighton
Age: 26

Website(s):
www.debbie-hill.co.uk
www.debbiehill.blogspot.com

How would you describe your work?
Eclectic. I like to use different materials and image-making techniques: whatever works most effectively for the subject matter. My "day job" involves a lot of computer-based design work so I like to be a bit more hands-on in my personal work.

What are you currently working on?
My shopping list collection: i collect shopping lists
I'm not sure what the plan is yet but for now I'm just enjoying illustrating the lists.
I'm also working on an illustrated joke book with fellow fifty-two contributor Yumi Okuda. It's in the early stages but we're having a lot of fun thinking up jokes.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Working alongside others is always a good way to get inspired...drawing parties are the way forward.

3 artists/designers you love and why! :
• Sarah Neuburger: because everything she does puts a smile on my face:
• Eric Carle: What's not to love? Great colours, great textures, great animals.
• Theresa: I've only just discovered her blog but I love her use of cut paper and bright colours.

3 things that make you smile:
• Pigeons (www.protectthepigeons.blogspot.com).
• Group cycle rides.
• Unexpected post from nice people.

Don't forget to keep checking back for news about the show, interviews and more!

fifty-two: we want your photos!

2010-02-22T18:05:00.000Z

In anticipation of the upcoming Calm Air All Ice exhibition 'Fifty-Two' we are on the hunt for photographs of the number '52.' What we're secretly hoping for is that one of the 52 artists involved will in fact live at 52, but perhaps we will not be so lucky, maybe you live at 52? or your parents? or a wonderful neighbour? or your bestest friend?

We want your photographs of all things 52, be it a door number, a random sign, your kids number blocks, etc! Get creative - find a 52 and your photograph could be used on the flyers and posters for the exhibition!

If you want to submit your photograph please email it to:
claireelizabethplatt (at) hotmail (dot) com
by Sunday February 28th 2010

After this we will be holding a poll and all will be welcome to pick their favourite 52 for the exhibition!

Get snapping!

Calm Air All Ice Presents...

2010-02-02T12:27:00.000Z

March 28th - April 3rd 2010
Room 212
Bristol

workshops!

2009-11-02T18:47:00.000Z

I am super sick but I keep meaning to post this! if your in bristol please come along to our workshops! it'll be super fun! (and I promise I will hopefully be germ-free by then!)

what is that aeroplane?

2009-06-19T15:59:00.002+01:00

I normally use etsy, but I'm experiementing a little and I've opened a store on big cartel! here I've got some badge sets, emroideries and planes for sale! Please check it out!
http://claireplatt.bigcartel.com/

Pick a colour

2009-05-26T23:59:00.002+01:00

You can pick a set of 4 hand screen printed 1" badges for just £3 by clicking on the image above, or heading over to Folksy. I'm giving Folksy a try for a while as dealing in my own currency is so much easier! However- don't be put off if you don't live in the UK, I ship to everywhere on the planet and accept Paypal in a multitude of currencies.

These badges are made in a limited edition of 24 sets, and as several sets sold during the week of our exhibition if you want to get your hands on some you better act fast. Each set is slightly different due to it's hand made nature.

I'm going to be listing more items for sale over the next few days, soon as I'm 100% recovered from the show!

Thanks to everyone who came to visit us- it was lovely to meet some fellow bloggers, and the feedback we both got was really positive...now we just have to wait until October until we do it all over again.

2009-05-18T23:00:00.002+01:00

As Claire said in her post- the weather yesterday was horrible, it was pretty horrible again today- I hope it's not like this all week. Here's a few of my photos from yesterday's installation.

A brief break in the rain let me pop outside and take an 'almost finished' photo

then it's back to torrential rain, while Claire hangs hankies in the window

One of Claire's plane formations

part of my selection- screen prints, embroidery and a whole lot of hankies.

hung!

2009-05-18T08:17:00.001+01:00

We hung the show yesterday! and now it's open from today till saturday! The weather was absolutly awful yesterday, which made many of my pictures very dull looking so I shall re-photograph when I'm there on wednesday!

2009-05-17T12:30:00.002+01:00

Installation begins...the weather is pretty horrible so I'm not sure if we're going to get any very good photos today, but keep checking back and see how we're progressing!

Now just what do you call them?

2009-05-15T12:29:00.002+01:00

Thanks to some very kind folk I am now building up an interesting list of names that people have for these 'fortune tellers'. The name fortune teller seems to be used in the UK, USA and New Zealand, but there's lots of variations to be found, here's the ones i've been told so far...

Salt Cellars (thanks Sarah)
Cootie Catchers (thanks to numerous Americans)
Himmel und Hölle (thanks to Johanna from Germany)
Chatterboxes (thanks to Jen)
Ravas (from Lia in Romania)

Thankyou Poppytalk and Mr X Stitch!

2009-05-15T10:39:00.002+01:00

Poppytalk and Mr X Stitch both mentioned our exhibition on their lovely blogs. It's really nice to hear what other people have to say about our work-we're hoping to get all the work photographed on Sunday when we install, and then there'll be lots more images for you to look at if you can't actually make it along to the show. We'd love to hear what you think about it all!

Poppytalk also have a studio tour with Claire that they did last spring.

knitknitknit

2009-05-13T09:13:00.001+01:00

I've been busy knitting alot, and still am for the show! These are some of the almost finished ones in my studio on monday! I've been knuckling down (and still am) so there should be quite a few more ready for the show!

we love badges

2009-05-05T12:40:00.002+01:00

A sneak peek at badges currently in production for Calm Air All Ice.

2009-04-28T23:07:00.001+01:00

The super lovely Chip-Fork has made a poster for our show, this is the almost completely finished version. I really like how it combines our work.

work in progress

2009-04-23T17:23:00.002+01:00

I've been screen printing onto vintage hankies that came all the way from California, and then doing some basic x-stitch on the top of them. I want to go back and re-work the stitching on this one, but I also wanted to show that there's some work being made!

Today I spent the day screen printing onto paper- one of my top secret projects that I hope will turn out ok- it involves using multiple colours and making sure things are aligned well, which spells disaster pretty much.

Tomorrow i'm going back to print two more colours and see if I can start to pull everything together a bit - in four weeks time the show will nearly be over and we'll be on to thinking more about our next one later in the year.

2009-04-19T18:14:00.002+01:00

I found this little treat for Claire yesterday whilst I was at the seaside (I live at the seaside, but yesterday I was actually on the beach), for some reason they were selling laminated place mats featuring 'Legends of the Air' and I couldn't resist picking one up for her.

Our work continues, but we both have to be careful not to get distracted by the news that we have lined up at least another two exhibitions for us- more details nearer the time.

formations

2009-04-17T17:14:00.002+01:00

These are some of my planes in flight formations! It's a start - slowly my ideas are coming together - theres some more formations here

Pick a number

2009-03-26T02:12:00.002Z

Still stitching away at the vintage hankies and turning them into fortune tellers full of strange fortunes. The numbers were picked at random- I wonder if there's any meaning behind them...

knitted planes

2009-03-02T20:15:00.002Z

This is my first attempt at a knitted plane! The shape is fairly simple, as I cut the wood underneath with a saw! Hopefully I'll be using a lasercut for future attempts! I'm quite pleased with it though, dreaming about having fleets of them on flying across the wall.

Pick a colour

2009-02-21T16:24:00.000Z

I've been trying to get some photos of these embroidered pieces for you to see, but I don't seem to have mastered the art of taking good photos of my work. I think what I notice the most is the state of my hands!

These are one of my interpretations of the paper folding games that I played when I was younger, i'm not sure what they are called- do you have a name for them?

A sort of introduction to the Calm Air All Ice blog

2009-02-17T19:59:00.000Z

(I don't know what's going on with the crazy formatting in the post down below, but hopefully it's just when I look at it and you can see it nice and clearly...)

We set this blog up as a way of documenting our progress towards the show, and to provide somewhere for us to direct people who won't be able to come and see the show 'in real life'- nearer the time we will be listing work for sale, and hope that this blog will act as an archive of our experience working together.

Both Claire and I keep blogs elsewhere and have found the internet and the blogging community to be invaluable to the way we make our work, and our networks, and it feels natural to be setting up a blog for this show.

'Calm Air All Ice' started as an idea Claire had for us to show together, following on from our exhibition with Cindy Jaswal at the here gallery in 2007. Our work is different and yet the same, we are both inspired by similar things and share a reverence for vintage fabrics and traditional craft techniques. We plan that 2009 will be our year for global domination, starting with this little show...

CALM AIR ALL ICE

2009-01-17T00:05:00.001Z

18th-23rd May 2009

Room 212, Gloucester Road, Bristol

Claire-Elizabeth Platt and Camilla Stacey

CALM AIR ALL ICE

Coming up!

Sophie Jones

52 - it's all over!

52 mini interviews: Elin Thomas

52 mini interviews: Dave Bain

Inkygoodness Review of 'Fifty-two'

We're open!

For those with a little more pocket money may we suggest...

52 mini interviews: Michal William

some sneaky peeks of super affordable work for you

Venue Magazine says 'Don't Miss Fifty-Two'

52 mini interviews: Bjorn Rune Lie

52 mini interviews: Edith Abeyta

52 mini interviews: Fiona Cassidy

52 mini interviews: Claire Platt (aka the other half of Calm Air All Ice)

52 mini interviews: Camilla Stacey (aka one half of Calm Air All Ice)

52 mini interviews: Cathy Cullis

52 mini interviews: Alys Paterson

52 mini interviews: Simon Daly

52 mini interviews: Laura Donald

52 mini interviews: Ekta Kaul

52 mini interviews: Lex Richards

52 mini interviews: Ben O'Leary

52 mini interviews: Bess Harding

52 mini interviews: Shannon Rankin

52 mini interviews: Amy Greenan

52 mini interviews: Kate Parsons

A long long list

52 mini interviews: Kirsty Hall

and the winning 52 is...

52 mini interviews: Courtney Chelo

52 mini interviews: Patrick Gildersleeves

52 mini interviews: Gail Mason

52 mini interviews: lou lou and oscar/Lisa Aaron

52 mini interviews: Peskimo

52 mini interviews: Genevieve Dionne

52 mini interviews: Lisa Solomon

52 mini interviews: Yumi Okuda

Remember we asked for your photos? now we want your votes!

52 mini interviews: astulabee/Nicole Licht

52 mini interviews: Mithila 'Mithi' Shafiq

52 mini interviews: Susan Schwake

52 mini interviews: Leah Duncan

52 mini interviews: Helen Entwisle

52 mini interviews: Roz Inett

52 mini interview: Jill Bliss

52 mini interviews: Tinee Häcker

52 mini interviews: Gunilla Jähnichen

52 mini interviews: Debbie Hill

fifty-two: we want your photos!

Calm Air All Ice Presents...

workshops!

what is that aeroplane?

Pick a colour

hung!

Now just what do you call them?

Thankyou Poppytalk and Mr X Stitch!

knitknitknit

we love badges

work in progress

formations

Pick a number

knitted planes

Pick a colour

A sort of introduction to the Calm Air All Ice blog

CALM AIR ALL ICE

18th-23rd May 2009

Room 212, Gloucester Road, Bristol

Claire-Elizabeth Platt and Camilla Stacey

before, during and after