LOCAL TALENT: Paper Girl Belfast // Community Art Project

The call for submissions for the second Papergirl Befast project opened up earlier this month with an invitation for artists, crafters, photographers, writers, textile artists, illustrators and designers to submit their work. "There are no guidelines as to medium," say the organisers "the only real requirement is that the piece be flexible enough to be rolled up."  Sounds intriguing.  So what's it all about

The Papergirl project started in 2006 in Berlin as a reaction to the ever increasingly strict graffitti laws and has grown since to become a global creative initiative with projects now being carried out on 40 cities around the world.  The premise is whimsical, wholly inclusive and yet wonderfully simple - the art is submitted, exhibited and then distributed - for free - by bicycle, on the cities' streets.

According to the organisers, "Papergirl is a non-commercial, guerrilla initiative that brings art to the streets in an alternative and dynamic way by distributing unique rolls of artwork freely and at random to lucky strangers via bicycle."  Last year, artworks from all over the world - including submissions from Germany and Mexico - were displayed for a week in an exhibition at the PS2 gallery before being rolled up and distributed in the Bontanical Gardens.  Absolutely anyone can participate: 

"Papergirl Belfast is an anti-curated, completely inclusive project, so anyone can take part...Both emerging and established artists are invited to get involved and all work submitted will be featured in the exhibition... If you want to be the recipient of a Papergirl art roll, you can only hope that you’re in the right place at the right time on the day of the distribution cycle."

If you want to sumbit a piece of art and share your love of creativity with others, you can find out more at www.papergirlbelfast.tumblr.com!  I, for one, can't wait to get started on mine!

Papergirl Belfast Distribution Cycle 2013 from Jodie Young on Vimeo.

Life in The Village (Haberdashery).

You might remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned the wonderful Village Haberdashery in my Top 3 Online Fabric Shops:  they have such a beautiful selection of quilting cottons, not to mention patterns, wool & accessories, that I was champing at the bit to visit their West Hampstead shop when I was in London over the weekend.

The small shop on Mill Lane is rather off the beaten track but is really worth visiting if you are in the area and are in love with prints, patterns and sewing goodies like I am.  On entering the shop there was a real homely feel to the place as I was greeted by not only the shop owner, Annie, but also her one year old son - a real cutie pie - who was playing with his host of toys!  Annie herself was also in the middle of a craft project which was lovely as it really showed her passion for her trade and also provided some inspiration and ideas about what could be created from her fabrics.

You can tell from the selection of stock that is available that she has a fantastic eye for pattern and colour and through the unqiue patterns and accessories available, a real passion for her trade.  Definately check it out if you are able to or visit online; they also host a host of classes throughout the week including quilting, knitting, dress-making and print-making which can be booked in store on online.  I Love!

Find out more at www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk // 47 Mill Lane, London, NW6 1NB

Kara Walker Exhibition at The MAC, Belfast

We at the MAC are Exceedingly Proud to Present an Exhibition of
Capable Artworks by the Notable Hand of the Celebrated American, Kara Elizabeth Walker, Negress.

We went to see the Kara Walker exhibition at the MAC on Saturday.  It launched on Friday having previously been at the Camden Arts Center in London and discusses or, probably more realistically, challenges notions of race, gender, power, sexuality as well as portraying Walkers own view - as a black woman - of these themes through notable events in US history.

I was particularly moved by an animation that tells the true story of a black family and as well as being somewhat harrowing it also brings reality to an important narrative that could so easily have been forgotten.

Similarly her silhouettes make us question historical presentations of race and violence and highlight, amongst other things, the perceived image/intelligence/character/role of a person through facial profiles stemming from race studies and stereotyping.

The exhibition runs until 27th April.  You can watch Kara Walker talk about her work below.

 www.themaclive.com

LOCAL TALENT - Deborah Toner // Belfast

 

I have always had a passion for the combination of traditional materials with modern design so when I first came across the unique work of textile designer, Deborah Toner almost a year ago I was keen to find out more about her range.  This week I asked her what inspires her work, and what her plans are for the future.

Belfast City Hall Cushion

Created from traditionally woven Irish linen and her own architectural drawings, Deborah Toner handcrafts a range of stunning cushions and panels that celebrate the heritage of the Northern Irish textile industry as well as Belfast as a modern urban space. 

"I studied Architecture at university yet it was only while working towards my Masters that I discovered I could use different media to express my ideas." says Deborah.  "I have always had a big interest in textiles and studying in the Art College in Belfast made it easier for me to explore different ideas.  I began by making a series of maps which went along with my Thesis. The Ulster Museum bought these from me and I think that’s when I realised I could maybe take my methods and ideas further."

Belfast Listed Buildings Panel

Having been developed from her initial university pieces, Deborah's current maps provide a wonderful snapshot of urban landscapes and, through the use of different colours and textures, highlight the layers of the city that have built up over time.  Her map showing Belfast's listed buidings (above) evokes a sense of the layering of the past with each green block representing one of the city's historical landmarks.

"I am inspired by architecture and the built environment around us [yet] I love that something as precise as an architectural drawing or map can be made into something soft, luxurious and tactile.  My work has a lot of unique qualities. I try not to make the same thing twice."

To ensure that each of her pieces is unique, Deborah continually switches between different linen types and thread colours ensuring that each image becomes an indivudual re-presentation of her initial drawing.  Through her use of machine stitching, her images also appear to show the ubiquitous movement of the urban landscape whilst at the same time capturing an immediate, fleeting moment of time through the sense of light and space.

Albert Clock (unfinished)

Since completing her Masters a couple of years ago, Deborah has been selling her work at St. George’s Sunday Market as well as through different shops, some of which she has created bespoke ranges for.  She also takes commissions saying:  "I think my work sparks an idea in people’s minds and is nice to work along with them to create what they want." 

You can find out more about Deborah Toner at:

Twitter: twitter.com/TonerDeborah
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Deborah-Toner/
Online: deborahtoner.co.uk

Local Talent: Angelika Latko // Belfast

I first came across Angelika Latko at the monthly Fine and Dandy Market at Belfast's Crescent Arts Centre and was struck by the unique way that she seemed to interpret her subject matter.   It encapsulated all that I though was 'totally cool' when I was a child: fairytales, dinosaurs and simply beautiful drawings and it evoked in me a real sense of nostalgia. I was keen to find out more about her work and contacted her to ask her a few questions about her work and background.

"I studied fine art in my native Poland for five years before coming to Belfast to study Graphic Design.  I was keen to learn something more contemporary and wanted to consolidate my passion for  illustration, collage, photography and animation."

Her combination of these four design elements is clear through her wonderful Red Riding Hood series, created for the MacMillan Prize 2013 brief which portrays the classic children's story through a set of five images (see 3 below).

Angelika graduated from Ulster University in July last year and I asked her about her plans for the coming year.

"I am currently working as a freelance illustrator and want to continue doing this through 2014.  I also have a couple of ideas for self initiated projects I would like to make happen in my spare time and I would love to devote some time to create an animation, one of my lifetime goals."

You can find Angelika at February's Fine & Dandy Market or online at www.angelikalatko.com.

LOCAL TALENT: Emma Jackson Illustration // Belfast

"I wanted to figure out my own 'visual language', 

a way of working that was unique to me"

"I think I've always known that I'd be working in a creative environment" said Emma Jackson, when I asked her what inspired her to pursue a career in illustration.  "I never imagined doing anything else.  When I reached university I knew I wanted to focus on drawing -  I wanted to figure out my own 'visual language', a way of working that was unique to me."

Having completed her degree at Falmouth University, Cornwall last summer, Emma returned to her native Belfast and launched her own business designing and creating stationery, prints, paper-cuts & installations.  She has since completed commissions for local shops; show-cased her work at markets and events throughout Northern Ireland, and designed her wonderfully cute "Sad-Sailor" Lino Print to raise money for the charity Movember.

iPhone Case available to buy through Love Through Design

"Falmouth [University] offered great links to industry," she continues, "and lots of trips and visits to meet art directors, designers and other illustrators who were actually doing it for real."  

Now 'doing it for real' herself, Emma's current work appears to continue to embrace her love of simple, clean lines and block colours with her main passion - paper-cuts (creating images from cutting and layering paper elements) - cumulating in striking graphic pieces.  

Her collection entitled Aesop's Fables, inspired by classical tales including The Fox & the Grapes and The Crow & the Swan, was featured in an exhibition on Children's Classic Literature in Belfast's Botanic Gardens in October 2013. 

The Fox & the Grapes

It's been a busy year for our local girl.  

Emma's brand-new website, emmajackson.eu launched last week and I asked her what her plans are for 2014.

"I really just love where I am right now; I feel like my work is constantly changing and I have learned so much in the past few months from leaving university in July to starting my own business and working it out for myself.  Personally, if I can continue to do this for as long as possible - working for myself, building a client base - I will be over the moon."

You can find out more about Emma Jackson Illustration online at

www.emmajackson.eu
www.facebook.com/emmajacksonillustration