“#SAVE The Last Dance…”

You will not leave.

You,

offspring of Dvorak.

You,

who distort fallen leaves,

underfoot,

in your vernal rendition,

your rich, Autumn rite.

You,

sprites,

who contort and convert the Now-century,

writhing

and crumpled in Krump,

gyroscopic and free…

… You, nymphs,

 who behold fawns of fashion,

whilst trashing the air of the après-midi,

causing blithe interference…

… Yes, you,

elvish synonyms,

interface rhythm,

Parisian protocols,

banking and flanking,

from left and from right,

as myriad moving material

slices through spotlight.

You,

who transform Nature’s atmosphere,

piercing the raven-haired habitat,

writing in space with your form,

split the atom,

the norm,

as an army of classics, abstracted,

defy and define,

with news-worthy chronicles,

re-setting garments, to zig-zag convention,

re-dressing the balance

of how to keep cool,

when the weathervane indicates, ‘warm’.

You will not leave me.

You will not leave my mind’s eye.

You,

living portals of dreams,

have affected my Soul,

with your

mischievous movement

and palette of

fanciful,

creative schemes.

 

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

“Kors And Effect…”

Welcome to a world,

where an arts and crafts backdrop

bursts into Bahia babes,

in blasts of flowers…

… and riotous hues

of pinks and blues,

mismatch stripes,

that clash,

with roaring animal prints.

Stroll along the painted pier,

where fluted flares and fringe,

drop voluminous hints and

flit about with flirty florals,

flipping between

blocks of black and bucket hats.

Listen up!

A musical mega-mix

mirrors the material mash-up,

inviting you to crash the

beach-club party…

Just turn up..

for this is a world,

where the hipster-hillbilly,

meets hip-hop sensibility,

and celebrates the young at heart,

ready to run free!

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

“Let’s Get Lost…”

Let’s get lost,

with Chet Baker in mind…

… and wander around in fascination,

for some while….

… find ways to exchange currency of cultural evolution,

as we pound the pavements of fair Londinium!

Let’s cut-a-dash,

as finery of footfall,

with the silken swagger of Paul Smith suit-wearers,

and Converse,

as we talk.

Why not pause and reflect, on Maddox Street…

and wonder…

… how hyperrealism makes you look, on repeat,

in doubt of your own human status…

… How the naïve maturity of an Opie line,

defines the crisp colour-work,

… how staggered prisms recline.

What make you of the Moebius “Marilyn”?

No trademark bubble,

no pink, to blush in…

just the merest hint of matte rouge,

and roll-neck, en noir…

… but piercing eyes, blue…

… crystalline, stinging, compelling,

up close and afar,

that seize you with X-Ray precision…

Like yours…

Let’s go to Bel Air…

let’s make that decision to breathe in the truth of Pétrus,

cast in bronze,

with karate-chop curvature…

… How the medium moves to defy

any ocular sensor.

Nonsensical?

¡Si, pero fabuloso…

… yo quiero comprarlo, por favor!

Before we can process,

let’s accept invites to descend into ordered confusion.

Where walled icons rally with sculptural volleys…

and we play bystanders,

with ground passes,

game for meandering…

… Letting the artistry set matching doubles,

of musculature mapped-out in marble…

Marvel at mirrored maquettes, in full bloom…

… at the gentle dichotomy,

carving the room with uncovered,

and still, under wraps…

Let us project that the next private viewing

will shout,

“Yes!”, “No!”,

maybe influence a shrug….

Let’s hit the road again,

laugh and unload our collated refrain

and transpose its profundity,

let it all happen,

as we, two, get lost in a hug.

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

“The Dream…”

Tell them the Dream.

From silence, bring it forth.

Walk in parables of Destiny

and talk, at length, of the circular rainbow.

Believe that ears will hear and hearts will understand

the Message,

from the good soil of your Spirit.

Tell them the Dream.

In all of its angry determination.

Call at every station of defiant ambition.

You have the unlimited ticket, which will take you beyond.

Reach it.

Lay it out there.

Be. The. Dream.

The mosaic of visionary influence.

The night-time imagery. The daytime clarity.

Be the Dream and the Landscape.

Change the atmosphere for others to breathe and live their own.

Be in the Dream.

Drape yourself in it.

Wrap yourself in golden finery and glow, like an imminent harvest.

Be the Dream

in the rapids of every tear that falls.

In the valley, see through their mist,

to the Truth of the depth…

You thrive at the core of possibility.

So…

…time-step, with the precision of Astaire.

Jump steps and split-leap, with the courage of the Nicholas Brothers.

Land every part of what you imagine.

Answer the Call.

Dare it into being.

Till the earth of your celestial plan

and celebrate that you are a party

to the impossible, made real.

Oh, be your Dream…

and ever tell them.

Leave the nightmare behind in its own scream.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

“Add first-class Crafts Council exhibition to your 2018 #Collect-ion!”

“Don’t look at it.”

“Do not look at it.”

“Do. Not. Do. It!”

… I hear my inner self repeat, with increasing urgency…

It, being the gorgeous bumper edition of gallerists and artisans represented in the exhibition programme, for the Craft Council’s 2018 edition of “Collect”.

Had I so done, I should have missed my raw and undercooked responses to the copious amounts of brilliance, staged within the haven of the ever-immersive, ever-metamorphic, Saatchi Gallery.

Had I succumbed, I should never have wandered, gawping and wide-eyed, with childlike wonderment, at the genius on show.

Thus, I resisted, and the urge fled, swiftly replaced by internal utterances, released upon sighs of creative satisfaction, at the indescribable, maker-to-viewer, virtuous circle.

It’s as if I didn’t know I needed to eat, until I was eating…. and I’m ingesting a one-time-only, Ossobucco-risotto-of-artistry, garnished with lightly-grilled garlic and flitting flakes of taste-bud-tingling, bites of bacon… Followed by dark, decadent, cherry-chocolate Eton Mess with a flourish of glistening sauce and a scintilla of snow-iced sugar!!

Yes! We’re talking, transcendence of levels!

The restless wresting of pre-determined vocation and preternatural aptitude, with optically chiasmic outcomes that shatter mythological starting or finishing points… Instead, impelling you simply follow that which is vanishing.. because, therein dwells the actual point where true art begins…

Sow “SEE-DS” at the turnstile of this mixed-media manifestation, where concrete and polystyrene form alliances with resin and styrofoam…Witness the wonder of woodwork-tradition holding hands with its technological progeny, under the watchful eye of Sarah Myerscough and see it transformed, in all of its spine-bending glory, at the “Designer Bookbinders” locale, where delicate iterations abound and a deluge of the literary, literally seeps beyond the covers, throwing down the gauntlet, as you dare walk past! No sooner do you grasp, than are your fingertips glazing luxuriant ivory leather, eye-line entranced by piercing palladium and leaves of glittering gilt. At the hands of Annette Friedrich, Virginia Woolf howls orders that you re-direct your discerning glance, in appreciation of a seven-year expedition to visually express her stellar text. Willingly observe, for here you will find a pass-the-parcel of encasement, elevating the elegance of prospective presentation into an exhileration of reception!

“The Bishopsland Educational Trust” invites you to continue their quarter-century celebration, with the gift of silver. Exquisite interpretations of argentum adorn the space with a dazzling display of decorative designs, balancing the conceptual and the practical with distinct ease. Search diligently “Among The Trees” to find a fine “Fractal Wrap Bowl”, the faithful incarnation of a “Silver Leaf Pen Tray” and an “Undercliff Walk Dish, Looking out to Sea”… All, of which, are, in the estimation of one, justifiably-impressed attendee, “entirely Insta-worthy”! Take time to daydream there… you will soon be in concurrence!

“MadeInBritaly” Gallery makes a mighty ‘stand’ for outlandish ostentation, with a gregarious presentation of the works of Shakespeare! The height of ‘peacocking pottery’, it is an adaptation of extreme abandon…The height of embellishment, its contemporary portrayal of the “Bard”, in ceramicist Sunday Best, with all of the trimmings, is akin to an anarchist fashionista, beholding herself in the mirror, whom, rather than removing her last string of pearls, will add another ten, plus a clutch of brooches, for even greater measure of lasting looks!

The chorale of complementary ceramic appeal on offer in the domain of acclaimed gallerist, Cynthia Corbett, is undeniable. Riotous in regurgitated Royal Doulton, fair, smashed to smithereens by creator, Sandra Shasou, about-face and come face-to-face with a bewildering rendering of glaze-dripping desserts, which, subliminally induce the childhood feelings of having over-eaten, when the innocent tin of chocolates has been left ajar and becomes a Pandora’s box of tempting treats! Equally, in real-time adulthood, be prepared that you might wish to leave but, like the best of delectable delights, will somehow, be unable to tear yourself away…

…and yet, extricate yourself, you must, for the prospect of deeper emotional alignment awaits…

…in the constellation of the “London Glassblowing Gallery”…

which is mind-blowing!

Never… I repeat, NEVER, have I experienced such perceptibly perplexing prismatic soul-stirring… It’s impossible maths, made plausible!

Shapes and undulations are, initially, recognisable… cuboids and spheres, for instance… until a plenitude of pyramids come into view, seeming to subdue the perfect storm of internal, ice-blue vortices. Not over. Etch-encrusted forms appear and, that which you cognitively know to be glass, beguiles you, enough to override synapses and believe, definitively, otherwise! Still not over. Empowered by the ethereal, Sabrina Cant certainly can and does mystify, with dichroic treatments. Think, solidified lustre-dust, contracting the Saatchi surrounds and transmuting them into the pitch-black counterpoint of a hand-held kaleidoscope. The Gallery becomes a galaxy, the longer you stare.

Not over, still, for the pages of their studios are as open books, to visitors wishing to become immersed within the library of pursuit of such high creativity.

I register reverberation around my inner ear… “Is it all too beautiful, too rare?” I recognise the refrain as, altogether, fallacy. In rebuke, I answer. “It is undeniably necessary, to be present amidst oeuvres which overwhelm the senses, nay, fundamental in re-igniting the inherent comprehension of the infinitesimal ends to which these master-artisans will reach, in order to give existence to the extraordinary.” Mic dropped…reverb silenced!

“Collect” is intrinsically thus.

The Crafts Council has enclothed the Saatchi Gallery with an unswervingly spirited assemblage of objets d’art, as much conversant with each other, as with the active onlooker. Their resonant, idiosyncratic idioms tuck and taper into the concave chambers of the heart, until, out of the many, emerges one, universal level, that being, the harmony of Human Connection.

On this, the final day, I encourage you to add the unique beauty of your voice to this indelible creative experience and realise, first-hand, the fortifying dynamics of its uncompromisingly unifying, Universal soul-song.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

***

“Collect”, The International Art Fair For Contemporary Objects, presented by The Crafts Council, which ends today (25 February 2018)!

Social Media:-

CRAFTS COUNCIL

Twitter: @CraftsCouncilUK ~ Instagram: @craftscouncil ~ Facebook: @CraftsCouncilUK ~ Website: www.craftscouncil.org.uk

SAATCHI GALLERY

Twitter: @saatchigallery ~ Instagram: @saatchi_gallery ~ Facebook: @saatchigalleryofficial ~ Website: www.saatchigallery.com

~

Profound @A_F_R_O_W-Appreciation to Jill and Maria from the Crafts Council, for organising my incredible visit to the one-of-a-kind experience of “Collect”!

 

 

 

 

 

“The Power and Glory of Balenciaga!”

“Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion” at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a veritable rhapsody.

A rapturous round of applause to the unmitigated guile and talent of a supremely-gifted tailor and cutting-edge innovator.

Laid out over two amazing floors of crystal-clear creativity, a culmination of past, present and future clauses of the highest quality design are seamlessly-rendered, through quintessential craftsmanship and ground-breaking technology, as only the V&A can do!

From the tenderest beginnings of a Cristobal, who is born in País Vasco, Spain, raised against the backdrop of a consummately-skilled dressmaking Mother and instructed under the tutelage of only the very best in their respective fields of design, to the Master Couturier, in his own right, it is an utter delight to quick-unpick and unpack the realm of raiment which would see him thrust into the fashion foreground and remain there.

Breathless, at every turn, am I. Inspirational in every era of his existence, was he.

Moreover, this exhibition is a power ballad to sartorial intent…

…the curation process, of which, began in 2015 and reaches its maturation in an assemblage which extends beyond the ‘comprehensive’, but is deep-dyed in its sensitive depiction of a uniquely imaginative and inventive world.

From the lab-coat efficiency of pattern-cutting precision (which we might now call ‘minimalist’), to the command of experimental flights-of-fancy (which we might now call avant-garde), the genius of Balenciaga is honoured, with the finely-tuned accuracy of the Maestro, himself. It is effortless glamour-on-demand!

Rather fitting, then, that the ground-level should be sprinkled with the glitter of socialites and movie-star patrons, such as Anne Bullitt Biddle, Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Ava Gardner.

…Toile-to-attire, the entire archival lay-out is akin to the ultimate ensemble…

Yet, not to be outdone by such levels of haute grandeur, the inclusion of C21st advancement is employed, with distinct aplomb. Not only do dress-making demonstrations adorn expansive HD screens, but, on ascending a staircase as grand as the pinpoint pick-ups of a couture wedding gown, they continue to be displayed upon the vast columns of the V&A, itself. Further revelations of the boning construction which lies beneath the gowns, are discovered through inspired collaborations between The London College of Fashion and X-Ray photographer, Nick Veasey, respectively. Each technique serving to enlighten the creative process in all of its methodical glory, acting like a hand-through-time in enlisting modernity to mirror and reflect the labour of love which it took to create, then, and disseminate Balenciaga’s originality, now.

 Earnest testimonials from couturiers and contemporary designers throughout the timeline, signify pertinent reminders of the extraordinary profundity and reach of Balenciaga’s influence. As if his, own, dextrous fingers had extended through history into the gloves of their giftings, such stand-out creators as Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha, Josep Font and J.W. Anderson recall, not only, his pure innovative power, but the exact point of departure for its impact in their own lives, let alone practice… although, it soon becomes clear-cut, that the two are, most definitely, one-in-the-same…

… which brings a romantic reciprocity to the story… for the glorious Balenciaga blueprint is bold and beautiful…the perfect parure… an unmissable suite of style, woven into every echelon of fashion finery, from menswear to womenswear… and echoing through functionality, from sportswear to eveningwear, with architectural sensibility.

All-encompassing proof, if proof were necessary, to “[re-assert] the fact that he’s not just shoes and handbags, he’s so much more”*…

…and always will be.

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

***

“Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion” is on now, until Sunday 18th February at the V & A.

~

Quotation Credit: * Cassie Davies-Strodder (Curator)

 

 

Private View: ‘Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains’ Prog-Rocked my world!

Remember the great old days of the multi-player grams?

In essence, when one 7-inch had played, the next would fall into place, in wait for the needle-drop which, in-turn, had the listener on the edge of their seat, anticipating three-minute hedonism…The comforting, rhythmic crackle of the revolving disc emitting through the speakers, accompanied layer upon layer of delicious acoustic nirvana…

Similarly, ‘Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains’ at the Victoria and Albert Museum is an absolute layer-cake of multi-media escapism!

Thus, do not attempt perfect recall…. Simply receive the state-of-the-art Sennheiser cans, turn on, tune in and rock out!!

Far be it from me to suggest you turn up in your best swimming ensemble either, but I am charging you to ready yourself to dive into the deepest end of your psyche than, either you realised you could, or ever knew existed!

Yet, have no fear!

…Just don’t be surprised if the self-contained audio frees you to such an extent that you get raucous in your own mind, then get loose and strut like a star at your own concert!

F.Y.I…. Lay-out, unnecessary.

Simply, follow the cleverly-integrated repeat motif of telephone boxes and you won’t miss a beat.

Expect to be swallowed whole, though, by the frontal lobe of an entirely immersive moment in time, which challenges the norms of what we know to be time-travel and sends you hurtling through a vast maze of music, moods and ground-breaking creative moves.

I mean it….

…At times, everything engulfs you.

In one pace, you move through the avant-garde ambition of Pink Floyd, to the incredible physical objects of stage memorabilia. The next step, you round the corner and see pigs flying over Battersea Power Station! Mesmerising are the conceptual ideas behind the fine artwork and eclectic wardrobe and wondrous are the intimate band voiceovers, guiding you, like long-lost friends, through the stories behind such shifting sonic patterns and vivid chord progressions encountered in the vast ocean of soundscapes, known as their all-consuming albums!

What is remarkable is that you never, ever lose the feeling of being a child in the best room of toys…

…especially when up-close-and-personal with some of the most exceptional musical instruments, displayed at all eye-levels, adding an awe-inspiring reverence to guitars and drum-kits, which have vibrated some of the most directional hits in prog-rock history. However, before any childlike, look-but-don’t-touch disappointment tries to encroach upon the wow-factor, you spin on a dime and see the sweet-shop set-up of mixing desks, encouraging you to become über-producer and remix ‘Money’! Although already blessed with a biting, syncopated bass, my version became even more sizzling, when placing the line centre-stage, which is just where I love my bass to be! Then again, removing all else, save the pealing clarion of ‘Money’ and the subsequent vocal rendition was a sheer joy, particularly with a splash-and-dash more reverb…

I truly loved that particular, free-flowing quadrant of the collective Pink Floyd brain.

In fact, I wasn’t aware of trying to work anything out in a strictly linear fashion, but I am sure that there was a mass of rapid visual information processing going on, because I was still thinking about it all days later…

For me, that’s quite the point of the best memories.

No matter when or where you are, there’s no need to attempt to bring them to mind, because effortlessly, they revisit you.

In such a way will all of the treasured experiences in this extraordinary exhibition become and remain immortal.

 

©AFROW2017-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Just Kids’ Ekows youth, with g-Ilori-ous designs on life!

‘EX.TRA.ORD.INARY!’

I said.

‘Here?!… Errr, are you sure?!’

He said.

’44 Great Russell Street! Yes! This. Is. It!’ I exclaimed, eyeing-up my destination with unadulterated glee, whilst my, ex-policeman, driver suspiciously cased the joint, with entirely less enthusiasm… Pupils darting from dash-to-doorway, he confirmed the number and wished me a, no less quizzical, ‘Have a nice day?!’, as I sent a sunshine smile his way… Nothing was going to rain on this parade… Neither an unconvinced driver, nor the inference of imminent precipitation from the indecisive clouds above!

One man’s doubt was my wonderment!

To me, this crumbling Georgian townhouse in the centre of London, was the architectural embodiment of a stroppy teen. Unkempt, undone…. As if it had just rolled out of bed, to be faced by early-visiting relatives… whilst utterly overshadowed by its beyond-presentable, elder sibling opposite, in the guise of The British Museum! In this case, considering myself the ‘cool Aunt’, who sees beyond the skin-deep, I sought to get to know the narrative behind the edgy, yet dishevelled styling of this work-in-progress…

No sooner thought, than materialised Maria, Gaby (and later, Emily), of Plinth UK, part of the four-strong collaboration (including ‘Photo London’, ‘Sedition’ and ‘Thames and Hudson’), presenting this on-edge edifice for its imminent launch, that evening, as ‘The Magnum Home’…. a boldly inventive, site-specific, multi-media presentation of ‘Magnum Photography’ and interior design installation, as curated by Cultural Polymath, Ekow Eshun and Artist extraordinaire, Yinka Ilori, respectively.

As I was to learn, there would be a lot to celebrate… What with Magnum celebrating its 70th anniversary, a range of complementary, unique merchandise and a Thames and Hudson publication to fête…there would, in addition, be the sheer triumph in overcoming the feat of transforming this shell and nurturing the angst-ridden, adolescent assembly into an absolute must-see, Magnum Home-of-a-house-party!

This was my idea of pre-private-view perfection!

My diehard loyalty to experiencing the behind-the-scenes process, in search of the sneak-peek pieces of the progress-report were, as ever, fuelling my creative engines… Such anecdotes as the microscopic attention-to-detail with which Ilori approached his responses to the photography, which co-curator, Eshun, had ‘trawled’* through, were captivating. From conceptualising the ‘Venice Beach Room’ in lengths of lofted, multi-coloured Dalston drapery and matching beach umbrellas, to upcycled deckchairs with bespoke Aburi fabric, designed by Eva Sonaike, the primary relationship between hues, not only juxtaposed the stark black-and-white series by David Hurn, but further, seemed to pull the emotional richness and spirit from each image, rendering the substance alive within the space. Having drawn the eye up through soft-furnishing treatments, the skylight reconnected me to the sun (not rain!), and as swathes of rays came flooding in, I was immersed further into the West-Coast world of ‘Perfect 10’, bikini-clad babes and bicep-curling bodies, some on-the-cusp of ‘Muscle Beach’ glory… others not! Yukka plants further guided my eyes down to a floor which had not been ignored….quite literally inscribed with a single series of lines, as to invoke the boardwalk and roads, which, to me, mirrored the plethora of teen human traffic, waiting to flirt their afternoons away, before finishing or, moreover, starting their homework! The youthful need to be centre-of-attention, was represented by a bold block of blue, upon the courtyard wall. Definitely flashy… almost gaudy, it is accompanied by a bench, in-turn, supported by sherbet-lemon yellow barrels, embellished in pen-and-ink, utilising Ilori’s idiosyncratic flourish….the prime position for a selfie-centred shot!

The Plinth ethos of integrating art and design in an authentic and multi-accessible way would spiral upwards through the house, which, with every step of my expertly-guided tour, was transforming into an ever-increasingly, thought-provoking, home. Eshun’s awareness of the ‘danger of romanticising youth culture’** was compressed into a finely-assorted array of photographs, acutely dissecting its rollercoaster-like dichotomies…. From the chilling portrayal of political ambition of the next-gen UKIP candidates, being displayed, disconcertingly prom-style, ascending the staircase… and the extreme anger captured through the monochromatic lens of Ian Berry, in the stiflingly small ‘Skinhead Room’, to the feisty ode to West Midlands glamour on a gregarious night out and the high-octane Harrow Boys, flanked by disapproving parental looks, which formed Martin Parr’s collection, the visceral intensity of the ‘pack tendency’ was, at once, hard-hitting and eye-opening.

Chris Steele-Perkins, meanwhile, packed a punch with a room that visually soliloquises the group aesthetic, through the viewfinder of the Black diaspora… Encapsulating the joy of the dancehall days, through ‘Disco’, the larger-than-life print, mirroring the flamboyant females who’ve taken-to-the-floor… holding court up-high, whilst mid-twist and bowing down-low, in almost reverential catharsis! Not to be outdone, a portrait sits above the mantelpiece… pride-of-place, as if to suggest the ‘number one son’… Staring, quietly confident, through a crown of cascading dreadlocks, the unframed persona showcases effortless style and profound substance. This palpable freedom threw me back to Parr’s Harrovians, whose hyperactivity, although captured in a full-bleed palette, is being contained by the use of solid frames…which, to me, spoke to the hovering constraint of tradition.

In the ‘East-Coast Room’, such tacit messages would continue to register via the compelling works of Ferdinando Scianna and Eve Arnold. Surrounded by images in New York subway trains, you are with the people…. watched over by ‘The Guardian Angels’ at one end and an extreme close-up of a fellow male passenger at the other… hanging off the ceiling handles and leaning into the lens, as if he were about to kiss you on the cheek! The sense of belonging, as witnessed in one group, is beautifully contrasted by the sensibility of developing flirtatious assertiveness…

By the time you reach ‘Cuba’ (a.k.a ‘The Isle of Youth’) on the top floor, creaking floorboards and dust-clouds give way to full-blown ‘amor’! Entering through a heavily-beaded, rust-hued curtain, an amalgamation of its dynamism and passion are symbolised texturally, through woven textiles, tonally, through clashing fabric patterns and sonically, (during the evening viewing), with booming Cuban-heel-tapping basslines! A visually vociferous canon of calorific attraction by Michael Christopher Brown, are pinned-up, like teen idol posters, devouring the den walls… The hours poured into Instagram research into the country, conducted by Ilori, have certainly paid off!

Absorbing the greatness on offer left me full-to-bursting… and returning to the start of my journey I was carried, three-sixty, from the hot Tropics, back to the ‘Club Tropicana’-vibe of Venice Beach… More enthused than ever, I was also left anticipating the night ahead… which promised much and, due to teamwork-making-the-dream-work, completely over-delivered, in every way imaginable!

‘The Magnum Home’ is a thunderous meteor amidst the ‘Photo London’ firmament… ‘Just Kids’, a free, all-encompassing, once-in-a-lifetime rendition of the thrills and spills of youth lifestyle… Its masterful curation distils the ‘white cube’ experience, by expanding it into an, unintimidating, tangible environment with which we can endlessly relate, namely, ‘home’. ‘Barbie Dream-Home’ it is not, but its raw and undercooked state segues seamlessly into the very nature of the young, rough-diamond within us all and with interactive events and tours set to run through Sunday, who knows what unearthed potential you might discover?!

~

©A_F_R_O_W2017-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

Click-through for:-

Events at ‘The Magnum Home’

Limited Edition Merchandise for ‘The Magnum Home’

~

Quotation Credits:-

*Ekow Eshun: @EkowEshun (Twitter: 16/05/2017) ~ **Ekow Eshun: P.V Q & A (‘The Magnum Home’ 16/05/2017)

Congratulations and warmest Afrow-appreciation to ‘Team Plinth’ for such an amazing time…with special mention to Maria, Gaby and Emily for being the most illuminating tour-guides…and Team VERNISSAGE__ for the Blogger recommendation!

***

How do you solve a problem like ‘Utopia’? Follow the Arts Trail!

September was a SCORCHER of a creative month!

First up, was London’s inaugural Design Biennale, held in a Somerset House, replete with a host of 37 global delegations, problem-solving the notion of ‘Utopia’, through pure, clear Creativity… Yes, friends, I repeat, Creativity, with a definitive, capital ‘C‘!

Something about the socio-political mood revealed the V and A weathervane, in the courtyard, with new eyes. Surrounded by a singular weather-system, within the cobbled square… the perfect, windswept movement of a majestic installation called to mind the damage that the ever-developing power of such wind would and could do, in parts of the world which I could not see.

Ensconced within the wings, both East and West, resided ingenuity and innovation borne beyond blue-sky thinking… such as Sweden’s curated ‘We-topia’, which encapsulated the impact of serendipitous community collaboration, to form a collective of artisans, articulating the diversity of devastatingly desirable, stylish and, moreover, sustainable, homeware… via ‘Level’, Austria’s paean to light and balance, reflecting the pointed delicacy of the global butterfly effect… to Spain’s neon-laced, VR Reality vision of the future, accessed through a mirrored time-tunnel, reminiscent of the final, technicoloured vortex to the full-circle life-span, in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’… From navigating the modernisation of irrigation systems, in order to enhance the growth and yield of vegetation, in addition to stimulating ecosystems, proposed by the U.A.E, to Greece’s audio-visual honouring of the migratory patterns of peoples and their bespoke utilisations of a unique composition of marble…the entire London Design Biennale experience did more than represent the United Nations of Innovation… Underneath, and often, starkly, beautifully evident, was the best of expertise in fabrication, function and flair, infused with joyous wit and extensive wisdom. It has been, and will remain, one of the most engaging, thought-provoking private viewings which I have ever attended… where offerings (some of which were tantalisingly unfinished the day before the launch) of the power of dreams, were made pragmatically, believably real… It was a undeniable triumph and I am already declaring, alto voce, ‘Roll on 2018’!

If that were not enough, up popped the first, ever, Catford Arts Trail! This free, open-house event (including workshops and activities), spread over two consecutive weekends, was based in-and-around 31 venues, enthusiastically celebrating the creative energy and spirit of entrepreneurialism flowing throughout the area (much like the River Ford used to do!).

Event experience corroborated that I was up at the crack of dawn, set up with a super-hearty breakfast, my trusty map and an empty bag… ready to be filled upon my Arts Trail adventure… and what a brisk few hours of flying-visits it was! In fact, I’m sure that my, somewhat, ‘Phileas Fogg excursion’ at the London Biennale, had prepared me for my artistic treasure hunt…

Every house was handsomely bedecked in a clutch of brightly-hued balloons, a signpost, standing proud and true, emblazoned with the ‘Catford Arts Trail’ logo and quite often, the added bonus of a handwritten welcome, second only to the glorious souls inviting us in!

I first paid a visit to see the wondrous world of intricately-woven 3D structures created by Stella Harding… some which resembled robust, warrior masks, others, no less impressive,  fashioned with measuring tape! I was delighted to ascertain that there were two places remaining upon her contemporary basketry course, at Morley College (although I somehow doubted that would be the case by the day’s end, so great were the pieces). Work by accomplished ceramicist, Robert Cooper, was also on show… this time, woven around narratives linked to the Japanese tea rituals and foraging at the River Thames for broken fragments of old crockery, from which to devise new stories, through re-purposed pieces. I believe I overheard him regaling a tale of his Aunty, to a fellow visitor as I left!

With a cool breeze for company,  directing me onward, I wound around the corner, to take in the home textiles of ‘Sophie Home’ and locally-themed prints of ‘Place In Print’. Once again, the array of wares was first-rate! Although demonstrating differing elements of the design spectrum, both sets of products screamed ‘modern classics’. From tea towels to cushions, I was particularly taken by the bold use of minimal, neutral colourways, spiced up with slices of citric tones, in the soft furnishings, as well as the quirky and most charming individuality to the playful prints.

Now, you won’t believe this…but, what with all of the fun and creative fact-finding, time veritably flew by…but I had one last stop to make before winging my way back to the homestead… Quite frankly, amidst all of this awesomeness, I needed my fill of fantastic fashion… I found it, and then some, at House 24, upon the trail… which is where I also remembered to pick up my ‘Catford Arts Trail Card’, which, when stamped 9 times, at 9 different venues, would automatically enter me into the draw to win £100 worth of goodies from my chosen Catford Artist!

Once I got my stamp, I got to know the uber-cool sculptural jewellery of Katie New. Colourbursts, like the richest of cabochons, radiated through her collection of handmade articles. Standouts combined the strength of precious metals with the embossed textures of fragile leaves and were a perfect foil to the stunning designs of Jasmine Carey a.k.a ‘Deco 22’. Having followed Jasmine’s continual rise as an exceptional style artisan, I am an absolute aficionado of the clean-lined aesthetic of apparel that she produces, with the quality of her precision-cutting and the overall outstanding execution of assembly, giving masterly substance to highly-covetable and wearable works of art. Highlights? The entire collection!…If pressed, then, my star-buy would have to be the nod-to-40’s-glamour, expressed as a belted black-and-white overcoat, with a fit-and-flare silhouette to live for, invisible pockets that are so invisible, you’d think they were trompe l’oeil, and a steal at £65, (due to it being a sample)! As for accessories (yes, she designs and makes those too!), I adored all of the leather goods.. from wallets/ card-holders, to folios… and the cutest gift bags, containing a pin cushion and pins, perfect for new and experienced crafting types, which were simply darling!

With that… I was creatively spent!

… I returned to Afrow-H.Q, a fully-fledged member of the Catford Arts Trailblazers (as I like to call us!)… with the enduring memory of, not only the warmth of welcome at each and every home, the willingness of each designer-maker to share their inspiring stories, but most of all, the camaraderie of fellow Arts Followers, cheerily directing one another along the way…

The sincerest of congratulations to all involved in continuing to spread the word about the strength-in-depth of creative endeavour, both borough-wide and globally….

In an ever-changing world, moving from relative strangers to creative neighbours is, surely, the greatest treasure of all!

©A_F_R_O_W2016-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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London Design Biennale 2016 ~ Somerset House

Catford Arts ~ Stella Harding ~ Robert Cooper ~ Sophie Home ~ Katie New ~ Deco22

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Twitter Testimonial from London Design Biennale!

“LDN Design Biennale Retweeted Afrow:

“Problem-solving the notion of ‘Utopia’, through pure, clear Creativity” – thanks to @A_F_R_O_W for a great review of @londonbiennale 2016”

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Twitter Testimonial from Sophie McNiven, Catford Arts Trail Organiser and Founder/Designer of ‘Sophie Home’

“Sophie Home ‏@shopsophiehome Oct 30

@A_F_R_O_W thanks so much for this write up! As one of the organisers of @catfordarts too, I’m particularly delighted to read of your joy!”

‘BLACK STAR’ will shine at the BFI!

When the BFI celebrates achievement in film and television, it celebrates!

Case-in-point, the glitz and glamour of the 60th London Film Festival, which wrapped with a glorious nod to director-extraordinaire, Steve McQueen, who was awarded with the BFI Fellowship.

Hot-on-the-heels of the highly-successful event, the baton of style and substance has been passed on to the ‘Black Star’ season, commencing today and billed by its programmer, Ashley Clark, as ‘the biggest ever celebration of black screen talent.’* Having seen the line-up, not only would I second that statement, but boldly add to it as, quite possibly, the most comprehensive collection, yet, of across-the-board artistry within the genre.

A constant in facilitating the continuance of creative excellence, irrespective of creed, colour or gender, the BFI announced the upcoming season to great fanfare at the eponymous ‘Black Star Symposium’, during the London Film Festival. Headlined by in-demand Actor, David Oyelowo, and attended by other such esteemed panellists as Amma Asante (multi-award winning Writer/Director) and Noel Clark (groundbreaking Actor/Writer/Producer), to name but a few, the conference also marked the first stage of research into the compilation of material, revealing the changing landscape of British cinema, both on and off-screen, purposed with being a game-changing benchmark regarding inclusivity and diversity, for decision-makers within in the industry. Asante being the first Black British Director to open the London Film Festival with ‘A United Kingdom’, starring aforementioned David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, marks an indelible tribute into such an inspirational endeavour.

With a schedule showcasing contributions from recent and distant past, ‘Black Star’ boldly goes where no season has gone before! Heroes and heroines from, both, small and big-screen, display the many narratives of the Black Diaspora, which are seamlessly woven into a tapestry, resplendent with grit, grace, class, cool and undeniable, landmark artistic virtuosity.

Landmark performances from Poitier to Prince, Baker to Bassett, Ejogo to Ejiofor, Kitt to Kid ‘n’ Play, Nicholas Brothers to New Jack City… Hollywood, Nollywood…culminate in a meticulously-planned, nigh on, inexhaustible selection! Add to that, a generous helping of Q-and-A’s, enough to quell the appetite of even the most inquisitive of movie-goers and a mid-season exhibition dedicated to the genius of Paul Robeson plus a 2-4-1 offer on tickets (see T’s and C’s below)** and you’re ready to plot your own cinematic odyssey!

Enjoy!

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Click below for more information about the ‘Black Star ‘ Season at BFI Southbank and Nationwide!

http://www.bfi.org.uk/blackstar

@BFI (#BFIBlackStar)

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Credits

*Source (Ashley Clark quote):BFI Southbank ‘Black Star’ Season Programme, p.18.

Ticket Offer Terms and Conditions

** To redeem the 2-4-1 ticket offer, you must quote ‘STAR241’ when booking online, in person or by phone. The code CAN be used more than once but the offer ONLY applies to the purchase of two tickets for the SAME film. The offer EXCLUDES previews and special events.

(Offer information correct at time of going to press).

©A_F_R_O_W2016-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED