The Age Of Stupid

Further Info:
The Age Of Stupid

Your Invitation to ArTea Party

Steriogram Vs Michel Gondry

How cool is this! Michel Gondry made the video for Kiwi band Steriograms's Walkie Talkie Man. It is full of yarn and knit - very lovely and oh so clever - we like!

The Earthman Project

The Earthman Project is a not-for-profit organisation based in Florida, USA that uses the powerful mediums of music, art and technology to inspire both kids and adults to protect our environment, teach the importance of conservation and promote the power of creative action.

Further Info:
The Earthman Project

How to Make a One Bobin Scarf

Garden Girl is such an inspiration - is there anything creative this women cannot do!
In this video (part of a series) we are shown how easy it is (relatively speaking) to spin a bobbin full of yarn from natural fibres. But, not content with sourcing natural fibres, presumably from her local shop or farm, the ever resourceful Garden Girl has literally fleeced some freshest of fresh angora from her bunny rabbit - wow!
Unlike commercial media that seems to thrive on making sustainability appear like a very nice but practically impossible to attain nirvana, Garden Girl's videos make us feel as though a simple, sustainable and beautifully creative life is readily available for us all. All it takes is a bit of learning and re-learning. Garden Girl helpfully provides us with easy to follow lessons.
Watch, rate, subscribe and be inspired!

Persepolis: The Story Of A Childhood

Persepolis is a wonderful book by Marjane Satrapi about growing up in Iran and her family's experience of the Islamic Revolution. This is not the same telling that has been expounded by conventional media.

Marjane's story gives a fresh perspective on both Iranian daily life and the life-changing impact of huge cultural, political and religious change. Taking the form of a graphic novel the book, Persepolis imaginatively portrays these events from both an historical and the unique perspective of a child.

Visit Random House, Pantheon Graphic Novels for a taster of Persopolis and buy a copy here.

If you are a yarn artist in London pop along to Kniterati - I Knit's book group evening on 3rd March from 7pm where Perspeolis will be reviewed amidst the knitting and crochet.

From: Pantheon Graphic Novels
"Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where it elicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman's Maus, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country."

Further Info:
Persepolis / I Knit / Kniterati Facebook Event

Cockroaches On Trees

Here are two more gems from those clever Throb Goblins via Cantankerous Frank:


Further Info:
Throb Goblins / Cantankerous Frank

ArTea Application Extension

The deadline for application to be a part of ArTea Party Wandsworth next month has been extended until Saturday 7th February so there is still time to apply for a spot in our eco art & craft exhibition sale.

More info here

Root Ginger, London, 17Feb - 1Mar09

Jenny Wicks is a photographer on a mission. Her aim? To encourage ideas and challenge our thoughts about WHO we are, WHY we are the way we are, how we may be MORE defined by our family than we care to admit or even contemplate, and why some people have RED hair!

Root Ginger, Jenny's project on this theme, is full of stunning portraits of children and adults blessed with red and ginger hair. The exhibition will be held at the Idea Generation gallery from Tuesday 17th February until Sunday 1st March.



From: Jenny Wicks Photography:
"Red hair is the last bastion of political incorrectness and although you cannot compare it wholly with the treatment of other minority groups I think it does illustrate how some members of society act towards people who simply look different to them."

The exhibition will also see the launch of Root Ginger the book and film of which a sneak preview can be viewed above. All 3 aspects of the project are intended to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust who provide information, support and research into the UK's most common inherited, life-threatening disease.

Root Ginger
17th Feb - 1st March 2009
Idea Generation
1 Chance Street, London E2 7JB

View Larger Map

Further Info:
Root Ginger MySpace / Jenny Wicks Photography / Idea Generation / Cystic Fibrosis Trust

South London Creative Talent Wanted!

There is still time to be part of the Wandsworth Fairtrade Tea Party extravaganza that will be ArTea Party II this March! But the deadline is Sunday 1st February so get your skates and creative thinking cap on and apply by email today!

ArTea Party Wandsworth
Saturday 7th March 2009
The County Arms
345 Trinity Road, Wandsworth
London SW18 3SH
ArTeaParty.blogspot.com

Freedom?

These photographs, some astounding, some heart-breaking, some mind numbing, are from different sources compiled on The Big Picture section of Boston.com. They tell a story that we often, for many different reasons, do not want to hear, prefering to cosset ourselves away in the 'safe' world of work and home and TV and food and work and shopping/pub/church and home and TV etc etc.

From: Boston.com:The Big Picture
"Tens of thousands of Africans - men, women and children fleeing their homeland - attempt to make the perilous trip from their home countries to Europe every year, seeking refuge, asylum and economic opportunity. Some travel thousands of miles overland, being handed from smuggler to smuggler, ending up at one of many ports in northern Africa, to be packed into makeshift boats and make treacherous sea crossings to European soil, to places like Spain's Canary Islands and tiny Malta where they hope to either sneak in unnoticed, or, if intercepted, be allowed to stay. Many do not survive the journey..."

Some Comments:
"Many of the people in those photos come from coastal fishing communities. Their waters have been fished out by factory fishing and trawlers mostly from the EU and Asian countries. Off the coast of Somalia the fishing has been particularly devastating, and the Gulf of Guinea has suffered badly from overfishing. The EU countries have been dumping their toxic waste off Somalia for at least 15 years. A lot washed up during the tsunami. "Free" trade has also put a lot of African agriculture out of business with highly subsidized competition. These are major push out factors for workers in the developing world. Most people would rather stay in their own country if they can make a living there. But when you can’t make a living in one place, you’ll try and find a place where you can make a living. The alternative was voiced by a Zambian farmer-trade unionist . . . “If you will not pay us reasonable prices for our exports, we will export ourselves.”"
Posted by xcroc January 23, 09 02:43 PM

"So many pictures, so many people. Not one smile, and that speaks volumes."
Posted by Julia January 23, 09 04:16 PM

"heartbreaking -- how do i hide myself in my basic bauble of troubles? I who am just so lucky to be born in a place where how good I can replay my music is an ongoing obsession? How do I hide myself day after day when the world is full of such faces? Each just wanting a chance to eat a full meal, be able to name a child before 5 and know that their future is just?
Yet my humanity at once blinds me and shows me -- this is the curse and the blessing of a feeble mind."
Posted by septemous January 24, 09 01:47 AM

"If, in this age of free enterprise, we are to believe in the freedom of trade, then why not also believe in the freedom of travel? Why does a crate of banana's have more rights of movement than a human being?
Open all borders and let the chips fall where they may. There's plenty of people in Europe who would love to emigrate too. Why are we all trapped in the boxes we were born into?"
Posted by danskkr January 26, 09 03:51 PM

Further Info:
Boston.com:The Big Picture / Media Storm: Kingsley's Crossing

Althea Crome and Coraline

Althea Crome's torturously teeny tiny knits star in the upcoming Coraline film by Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas. This hand-made movie is the first of its kind to be shot in 3D and promises to be an spookily enchanting treat. The story is based on a childrens classic by Neil Gaiman and opens on 6th February 2009.

Further Info:
Althea Crome - Bug Knits / Coraline / Neil Gaiman / YouTube Coraline Films

Night Jam At Artangel

From: Night Jam
"NightJam is a music and photography project exploring the London night by Scanner with MCs and photographers from the New Horizon Youth Centre, the day centre for homeless young people in King's Cross.

“So, welcome to the London that never sleeps, yeah, will never dream – can’t – and will never see…Yeah, while you’re counting sheep...” (MC Utta, Sleepless City)

In early Summer 2006, Scanner invited young people at New Horizon Youth Centre in King's Cross to collaborate on a creative project that expresses how the city at night looks and sounds to their eyes and ears. Through music and voice the group explored the sense of freedom and fear, exhilaration and solitude of the concealing darkness. Between sessions, they captured their nights on camera.
NightJam presents two elusive visual and musical journeys through the city’s ‘quiet’ hours. NightJam is a new commission for Artangel Interaction's Nights of London series of artist-led collaborations exploring the nocturnal metropolis with the people who wake, work or watch over it."

Further Info:
Artangel / Night Jam / Scanner

ThrobGoblins International

Marc Roberts creates wonderfully topical, no-nonsense cartoons for ThrobGoblins International

Check them out on the blog and subscribe to the cartoons

Further Info:
ThrobGoblins International

The Age Of Stupid

UK Release: 20 March 2009

From: The Age Of Stupid
"The Age of Stupid is the new film from director Franny Armstrong (McLibel) and producer John Battsek (One Day In September). Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at "old" footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Further Info:
The Age Of Stupid / Spanner Films

From Biro To Daisy Vase

From: Giffin Termeer

DAISY VASE, 2003

"The Daisy Vase changes our casual relationship to this hugely produced item into a personal and sometimes fragile experience. Made from ballpoint pens these little vases are hand blow-molded by Jim. As the plastic becomes flexible it stretches allowing the vase to sit naturally."

Daisy Vase measures 5"x2"x4" and is made from a bic(tm) pen.
Further Info

Environmental Graffiti

35 Greatest Works of Reverse Graffiti



From: Environmental Graffiti, Aug08

"Welcome to the world of reverse graffiti, where the artist’s weapons are cleaning materials and where the enemy is the elements: wind, rain, pollution and decay. It’s an art form that removes dust or dirt rather than adding paint. Some find it intriguing, beguiling, beautiful and imaginative, whereas others look upon it in much the same way as traditional graffiti – a complete lack of respect for the law. Reverse graffiti challenges ideals and perceptions while at the same time shapes and changes the environment in which we live, whether people think for the better, or not."

View the complete listing

Wardrobe Refashion Tips

The folk at Nikki Shell's fabulous and newly revamped site Wardrobe Refashion are geniuses (genii?). Have a look at some of the wonderful stuff they have created from used and pre-loved items of not only clothing but food cartons!!

Minnietheminks takes an old rice bag that has served its time as a rice holding implement and transformed it into a useful peg bag simply by inserting a hole in the front, a wire hanger at the top, stitching all in place, et voila - one unique and beautiful clothes peg holding product - hurrah!

Meanwhile, PumpkinNiki has made not one but two new items from a drinks carton (or in this particular case a pumpkin eggnog carton!! - those statesiders will consume anything, ha!). With some clever cutting, folding and stitching, this recycler extraordinaire has a new coin purse and business card holder - FAB!

Many more refashioning ideas can be found at Wardrobe Refashion

What's In Your Pants?

From: More Than Pretty Knickers
"Morethanprettyknickers has one aim: to change the textiles industry for the better! We want to see standards raised at every level of production from growing to sewing, from cotton to bottom! We want to see fashion become a sustainable business driven by the demands of well informed shoppers who give a damn about where there stuff comes from."

Further Info:
More Than Pretty Knickers / Eco Boudoir

Ethical Fashion Forum Events

"The Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF) is a new kind of trade association for the fashion industry, led by businesses, for businesses, and focused on social and environmental sustainability.
The Ethical Fashion Forum aims to facilitate broad and fundamental change towards better practices in the fashion industry within the next 10 years."

Fashion + Seminar: Sustainable Fabrics and Components
Tuesday, January 20 2009, Rich Mix, Brick Lane, London

Spotlight on Sourcing: 1 year seminar series
Rich Mix, Brick Lane, London

JOIN THE ETHICAL FASHION FORUM As an individual
WORLDWIDE

Fashion+ Workshop: Sustainable Fabrics & Components
Tuesday, March 17 2009, Rich Mix, Brick Lane, London

Bread and Roses

Protest song of women textile workers from Lawrence Massachusetts, USA, who went on strike for 11 weeks in 1912 demanding a better quality of life and working conditions for all workers. The words were written by the poet James Oppenheim and the song has since been taken on by trade unionists, particularly women's groups.

"As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts grey,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses;
For the people hear us singing; 'Bread and roses! Bread and roses!'

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children and we mother them again,
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies, give us bread but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching,unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for but we fight for roses too!"

Source: The Bread and Roses Pub, Clapham, London
YouTube

30,000 Mile Ride Home

Peter Gostelow is a friend, cyclist, photographer, speaker and above all, a world traveller. He has spent the last 3 years on his bike cycling from Hokkaido, Japan across 30 countries back to the UK.


The journey was originally intended to take 1.5 to 2 years but, as happens on all the best journeys, plans altered along the way and the trip stretched to almost 3 years. Luckily for us less well travelled folk, Pete documented the experience on his online journal Long Ride Home at Crazy Guy On A Bike.

As well as storing up countless memories in words, Pete recorded his journey with incredibly beautiful and telling photographs.

From Pakistan to Kyrzygstan, through Korea, China, India and beyond, Pete has captured an enchanting essence of the places visited giving us a mouthwatering taste of the astounding beauty of landscapes and people he encountered along the way.

Back in the UK, Pete is sharing his amazing experiences of life on the global road by giving talks that are both inspiring and educational. To preview the presentation and book Pete to speak at your school, business or community group visit the Peter Gostelow website here.

Further Info:
Peter Gostelow / Flickr / Long Ride Home / Red Bubble Calender

Amoeba Vs Enamore Movie 2

Helena Smith: Mirage Pictures, Edinburgh

Mirage Pictures
Filmhouse Cafe, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh
until 4th January 2009

We've surely all come across a set of old photographs and wondered what was the story behind them. We assume there is a story simply because the photographs exist and perhaps this is a fair assumption.

But what if the images within the photographs are staged - contrived to stimulate our imagination? Can we tell the difference? Questions of perception and reality arise. What is 'real'? And if a history is 'faked' or staged does that make it any less real? After all, unless we were there when the picture was taken how can we ever really know what is behind a photo? Appearances are often deceptive and all 'truth' is transient.

Helena Smith's exhibition of photographs from her Mirage Pictures project throw some light as well as shadow on the subject of the 'real and the imagined'. The pictures are stills, publicity shots and a candid behind-the-scenes on-set peak from the lost archive of Mirage Pictures. But the 'set' is constructed not for a movie but for the photograph - for the Mirage project. Mirage Pictures is an imagined film studio and each film depicted is from the artist's imagination.

Developed from Helena's work whilst studying at Central Saint Martins College of Art this fascinating photographic project is well worth a visit. Mirage Pictures was previously exhibited at the Curzon in Soho, London last year and is currently on display at the Filmhouse Cafe, Edinburgh until 4th January 2009.

One Million Beer Bottles

... and it’s a Buddhist Temple


From: Doug, 24Oct08, greenUPGRADER
"Thai monks from the Sisaket province have used over one million recycled glass bottle to construct their Buddhist temple. Mindfulness is at the center of the Buddhist discipline and the dedication and thoughtfulness required to build everything from the toilets to their crematorium from recycled bottles shows what creativity and elbow grease can accomplish."

Amoeba Vs Enamore

The Enamore Collection of womenswear, lingerie and accessories has long been a source of eco fabulousness. Using recycled, organic and other sustainable fabrics, designer Jennifer Ambrose and her team have consistently turned out beautiful, unique pieces of ethical fashion that delight and inspire. So it should come as no surprise that the Enamore movies, made in conjunction with Amoeba, are just as beautiful and inspiring.



There are four short films in the series. You can watch them all when you join the Enamore Group on Facebook as well as on YouTube. bluAngel loved them and we're sure you will too. We will post the next one here shortly - enjoy!

Further Info:
Enamore / Amoeba

Green Porno With Isabella Rossellini

I am rendered almost speechless. Disturbed? A little. My flabbergasted yet quietly impressed jaw is still on the floor. I have to share this with you, to see what you think. Wow!

Watch here: Green Porno

Warning! Some viewers may find these videos offensive as they contain scenes of a very sexual nature. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Click PAUSE or STOP, close the window... Go make some tea and calm down.

Take the quiz instead:

Go Ganesha Go: Peace Made Visible

Naturalmente Roma is an art initiative, founded in 2003 by Rose-Marie Gnausch. The group are requesting expressions of interest from worldwide artists to take part in an exhibition next May celebrating peace. Entries demonstrating peace, manifest in the symbol of the elephant inspired by Hindu deity Ganesha, son of Shiva and 'Remover of Obstacles', will be shown in Cyprus with the possibility of travelling further afield thereafter. To take part apply here.

From: Go Ganesha Go
"AN INTERNATIONAL CALLING FOR ARTISTS OF ALL DISCIPLINES AND ALL MEDIUMS

Topic: Elephant as symbol of PEACE
Site: Ledra Street, Cyprus
Proposed time period: May 2009

The common symbol for this project is the elephant. The elephant stands for grandeur and peacefulness, it being an animal that lives in harmony with its disparate surroundings.

Artworks in the form of elephants in all different shapes, sizes and mediums will be exhibited on Ledra Street, on both sides of the dividing line, in Spring 2009. Through its calm presence, the elephant will transcend its status as a symbol and become a real, visual and tangible experience of peace open to everyone. The works will be shown alongside the artists name, address and nationality. Thousands of different elephant figures created by people from all around the world will be testimony to a worldwide affirmation of peace."

For more information and to enter the exhibition visit Go Ganesha Go

How Things Could Change...

From: Amnesty International
"Billions of women, men and children face levels of deprivation that undermine the right to live with dignity. Hunger, homelessness and preventable disease are not inevitable social problems or simply the result of natural disasters – they are a human rights scandal.
In 2008, we have a great opportunity to take a leap towards securing justice for people everywhere whose economic, social and cultural rights are violated."

Further Info:
Amnesty International

Take The Handmade Pledge

The silly season is approaching fast and I can see your mind ticking over gift lists, wondering where to shop, what to get, how to wrap. Well, hang on just a minute dear reader!

Before you traipse your generous self and eco shopping bag down to the stores, make a cup of tea, find some paper and a pencil, have a little sit down, doodle a little, maybe nibble on some cake (I find it helps loosen the creative urge), let your mind wander and think about gifts you can make instead.

'What?' I hear you screech from down the cables of the internet highway.
'Me, little old me? Make something? From scratch? Moi? Non! Ce n'est pas possible!'

Well, my friend, protest as much as you like, but I don't believe a word of it. We can all make something. Let's think. Perhaps you can bake a cake, cook up something fruity, brew some beer, draw a pretty picture, sew and stuff a small toy, knit a bobble hat, crochet a long scarf, take a photograph or two and frame them, write a heartfelt poem on beautiful handmade paper, plant a seed in a pretty pot, carve something out of wood, make an interesting clay model, paint an abstract, colourful picture on canvas...

Perhaps there is something you used to make at school but have forgotten how? Well, look it up on the internet (that's what it's there for after all) and remind yourself how. Perhaps you've harboured dreams of being a photographer, well get out there and practice - see what you can come up with.

If you're unsure, there are heaps of places online and off-line that can offer advice and tips for everyone no matter how lacking in skills or creative inspiration you may think you are. And if you don't get it right the first time, persevere and you may even find yourself having fun along the way.

There is definitely at least one thing we can all make using our skills and resources that will make someone else smile when they receive and unwrap their gift. I guarantee it - only give it a go!

And if you really feel you can't come up with the goods, then find someone else to make it for you. Whatever you decide to do, take the pledge with us and buy handmade this year.

From: Buy Handmade
"Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.
The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing."

Further Info:
Buy Handmade

Graffiti Reborn

So you think you know graffiti? You're down with Banksy. Friends think of you as an expert in street art, perhaps? Think again. Watch and learn...

The new graffiti is here, in reverse. It's clean, literally. It's green and greenwash simultaneously. It looks great.

From: Reverse Graffiti Project
" Standing in one of the moss and dirt covered tunnels in Leeds, England, Paul Curtis, "Moose" as he calls himself, saw marks on the wall where the shoulders of unsteady drunks and the fingertips of curious children had exposed the shiny white tile. And with only a pair of socks as his tool, reverse graffiti was born.

No paint. No defacing. Moose makes his art by cleaning; removing the ills of dirt and pollution by de-defacing- wiping away dirt into large type and shapes, leaving nothing behind but a beautiful work of 'green art.'"

From: Street Advertising Services
"Street Art by Street Advertising Services with Water pressure cleaning is not illegal, we are simply cleaning the streets and are not in breach of the Highway Act"

Further Info:
Reverse Graffiti / Street Advertising Services

Get Crafty With Wardrobe Refashion

As an artist, I am blessed with a natural predilection for creating stuff from other stuff. As a woman I can lay claim to a magpie eye for shiny, pretty things, particularly haberdashery and fabrics and the patience to source and return them to the nest.

This talent (which some neanderthals may refer to as a design fault) sits very well in combination with the desire I have been cultivating over the past 10 years to lessen my impact on the planet. Thus, I have in recent years, along with many others it seems, developed an addiction to salvage, reclamation and re-design.

The hunt for perfect and potentially perfect pre-loved items is one that beats regular shopping hands down. Whether it's vintage shopping at the local market, hunting on the never ending aisles of the internet or good old charity store foraging, taking new-old finds home and turning them into something else is a magical experience that I highly recommend.

Often the new item turns out to look less than 'perfect' in the commercially-branded-made-from-new-ingredients-hot-off-the-production-line sense. This is because it isn't one of those. It is a handmade piece of me and all those who previously owned it with a history that stretches further than a faceless person in a far flung sweatshop. I can take pride in this and the kind of individual 'faults' and unique quirks that only come from free creativity.

Thinking about having a go yourself but not sure where to start? There are a growing host of sites (many of which are listed in the bluAngelAlmanac sidebar) full of information and tips for beginners as well as more advanced ideas and patterns for when you become an expert.

Give yourself time and a lot of patience to discover and develop the right skills for you but don't expect to become an expert overnight. Practice, practice, practice and the art of salvage and re-creation can be yours. Think of all those surprised happy faces at holiday times and birthdays as beautiful, handcrafted, thoughtful gifts are unwrapped instead of shop-bought, homogenous items. And no more traipsing round the high street searching for perfection in the house of smoke and mirrors either!

To encourage your handmade fashion recycling, creative Nichola Prested has set up Wardrobe Refashion, a blog site where users can take the following pledge and vow not to buy new items for either 2, 4 or 6 months at a time. There is a simple list of Rules to follow and support from other users. If you have a needle and thread, some time and a desire to connect rather than disconnect through fashion - why not give it a go?

"I __________________ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed__________________"

Read Nichola Prested's interview with the V&A here.

Further Info:
Wardrobe Refashion

Woooooogy: Short Experimental Film

Korean director Woooooogy surprised us with this delightfully disturbing debut piece simply entitled, Short Experimental Film. bluAngel is not entirely sure which character applies to the director's descriptions but this added sense of confusion and unpredictability makes for a very appealing film. Let us know what you think...



Further Info:
Short Experimental Film / Woooooogy on YouTube

Elephant Paints Self-Portrait

Not sure what to say about this yet, so will just let you watch...



From susty.tv on Vimeo

From Catwalk To Congo - Rankin At The National Theatre

Fashion photographer Rankin's latest exhibition is a collaboration with Oxfam, sponsored by The Co-operative Bank, to raise awareness of the plight of people displaced from their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The temporary camps in Mugunga are now home to thousands as a result of the incredible violence taking place in the region.

Rankin's well-known portrait style, usually reserved for fashion industry celebrities, has been put to good use here, photographing these courageous people, suffering but not suppressed. Aptly representing the resilience of the Mugunga camp residents the name of the exhibition is Cheka Kidogo which means 'laugh a little' in Swahili.

Photo by Andrew Davies

From: Oxfam News Blog, 20oct08

"Rankin swaps fashion world for African war-zone
Famous for his portraits of Kate Moss, Kylie and the Queen, photographer Rankin has joined forces with Oxfam to bring the faces of those caught up in the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo to London’s South Bank.

Opening tomorrow (21 October 2008), his exhibition – sponsored by the Cooperative Bank and hosted outside the National Theatre – sees Rankin’s celebrity portraiture being used with entirely different subjects – the residents of Mugunga camp, home to 17,000 people displaced by Congo’s harrowing violence."

Further Info:
Full Press Release / National Theatre

Kounter Kulture, -19th Oct08, London

Wednesday 15th - Sunday 19th October 11am - 6pm
Truman Brewery - T3 and T4, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 (Wilkes St) Map
Liverpool Street Station or Bethnal Green / Old Street tube
www.opus-art.com / www.opusunderground.com
0191 213 0295

"A refreshingly edgy and exciting art fair bursts onto London’s arts scene this October. Kounter Kulture, an Opus Art production, offers a launch pad for new and established international talent. Kounter Kulture is all about the art, the artists and a sense of discovery - bringing the essence of London’s arts week back to its roots.

For those reaching stalemate with the usual suspects at Frieze, the artistic offering at Kounter Kulture provides a welcome relief. The free art fair, spread across 11,500 square feet of the Truman Brewery offers a variety of artists to fit all tastes, with areas dedicated to Urban Art, Contemporary, Recent Graduates, Chinese Contemporary and the very best from the print world. Artists include Stuart Semple, Ju$t Another Rich Kid, Miss Bugs, Pure Evil, Hush, Wang Jie, Rob Carter, Josie McCoy, Justine Smith, Will Tuck and Dave White."

Blog Action Day - Poverty & Human Rights

Today is Blog Action Day and the topic is poverty. Poverty is a result of inequality between people. It is a result of those with power allowing themselves more substantial rights than those without. Poverty comes about when we - the human race - forget that we are all part of the same being. It thrives when we strive only to satisfy our own needs and desires regardless of the negative consequences these desires heap upon others.
Without human rights there can be no end to poverty. We have the chance to make a difference to this status quo. There is no better time than now to start acting as responsible citizens of this planet and instead of continuing to squander it's resources and take advantage of our fellow inhabitants we can make a change.

We can insist that our governments act now to limit the negative effects of climate change. We can insist on equal rights for all regardless of differences. We can stop consuming more than we need and we can make valid efforts to support systems such as fair trade. Let's do it - today!

The video below is cool. It is well designed, attractive and inspiring. Watch it and then act to make it's message a reality. Let's put these cool thoughts and ideals into practice, everywhere, for everyone...


The Universal Declaration of Human Rights from Seth Brau on Vimeo.

Video Source: An Unreliable Witness

Creative Culture and Telephone Sheep

A few months ago, over at greenUPGRADER Doug was promoting discussion around the function of art and creativity in relation to the 'green' movement and perhaps questioning how important art and design are in our current culture. The wonderful example of Jean Luc Cornec’s Telephone Sheep (pictured left) exhibited at Frankfurt's Museum für Kommunikation, 2006 was used to examine the issues.

Of course, in our view, art, design & creativity are vital components of green and eco movements both current, past and undoubtedly in the future. An appreciation of art, particularly in nature, inspires the desire to protect and support one's environment whether that environment is viewed as immediate, nationally or global. The ability to design and create also emanates from this need to protect and support as well as incorporating the desire to improve one's surroundings or situation, to solve problems and, as in all the most pertinent art, to achieve an ideal.

Even art and design which may seem superfluous or purely aesthetic on many levels rather than coming from a positive functional or progressive angle; if it captures a sense of beauty, inspires an idea, or simply makes us think about bigger questions than what we will eat for dinner, it is serving an important and necessary purpose. It almost goes without saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that 'good' art is not defined by being framed ornately and hung in a large white room; 'good' design is not only that which is proudly displayed in a museum or shop window. Positive art, design and creativity is all around and within us all the time. We only need to open our eyes.

I heartily agree with Doug's assertion in his post: "Work like the Telephone Sheep force us to see new uses and value to otherwise expired products. The importance of art can stretch far beyond entertaining some web surfers or museum patrons. It can spawn in any of us the ability to think with a more malleable mind. Perhaps in even a simple way on a daily basis we can look at common refuse and see further life, another form, continuing function…less waste."

By placing the objects in a totally new environment, what once were out of date communication devices, deemed unusable and deficient, are in this exhibition cleverly revived by the artist. This act or reusing, replacing and re-seeing gives the subjects an entirely new life for us, the viewer, as our view of them shifts entirely.

"The ability to see materials outside of their traditional roles is key to reducing the mass of products our society currently consumes and reusing that which surrounds us everyday to its maximum potential."

Further info:
greenUPGRADER article / Museum für Kommunikation
Photograph source: Hanneorla via Flickr

Shutting up Shop, Museum of London

From: Museum of London - Foyer exhibitions

Shutting up Shop
2 October - 23 November 2008

"Explore the demise of the traditional local shop with this insightful photographic display of old-style London shops from the 1970s and 1980s taken by John Londei. These beautiful and moving large-scale photographs, taken with a 10'x8' plate camera, will be accompanied by recordings of interviews with some of the former owners for whom these shops were much more than just a business"

Our Eco Shop

Lisa Harland of Organic Furnishings and Sarah Baulch of Revampit are offering eco designers an opportunity to display and sell your wares in their Eco Shop near Portobello Road, West London over Christmas. Apply before Friday 17th October:

"Calling all eco designers and makers..
Would you like to be involved in running an eco friendly shop in central London on Westbourne Grove, just off Portobello Rd for a flat fee/shared rent of £60.00 per week over the Christmas period?

Then look no further, Sarah Baulch and Lisa Harland are setting up Our Eco Shop for the second year running at 303 Westbourne Grove (opposite Paul Smith) over the next two weeks. We are looking for likeminded designer-makers to be involved in opening and manning the shop for 9 weeks leading up to christmas. Rent is shared equally between all involved and all monies on each sale goes to the individual designer."

More info here

We Can Go To Sweden, Okay

This is not strictly an eco piece but it is about the thing that makes us all want to do better, live better, be better - watch:



Thanks to An Unreliable Witness

I Met The Walrus by Josh Raskin

Discovered this gem at LADG - thanks guys!



From: I Met The Walrus, YouTube, Jun08
"In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon's every word in a cascading flood of multipronged animation. Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit, and timeless message."

Further Info:
CTV.ca

If you go down to the V&A...

If you've not figured it out yet but are still intrigued, go down to the South Kensington / Knightsbridge area tomorrow (Wednesday 24th September 2008) area from around 6:30pm and see if you can solve the puzzle.

Clues and further details on the Facebook Group here and Enjoy!

The Charity Shop 18th - 20th Sep08, Gallery5 London

I meant to post this this morning but got distracted by the Dymaxion, apologies...

Opening today for just 3 days (er, 2 now, sorry again!) The Charity Shop is an exhibition of work for children, about children although adults and perpetual children such as us are welcome I'm sure.

Shannon Conley has collaborated with Sardine & Tobleroni (of The Monkey In The Box) for this project aimed at raising awareness of and provoking change around the global issue of children in need. The work incorporates charity shop finds (hence the title) which have been transformed by the artists to reveal new meanings related to the theme, in a very unique style.

20% of sale prices will be divided and donated to both the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust and Green Tara Trust.

Venue: Gallery 5
Address: 5 Blenheim Crescent, London W11 2EE
Open: Today with private view tonight, oh no, we've missed that...
Friday 19th Sep - 11am to 7pm / Saturday 20th Sep - 10am to 7pm
Go see. It's free!

Further Info:
The Charity Shop / West11

It's Getting Hot In Here...

You think you have it all figured out,
and then
something else crops up,
or rather, you notice something that was there all along (or was it?).

TRUST NO-ONE particularly not this one and certainly not a big armadillo... but maybe they are the ones who know everything - assuming there is anything to know?

Questions, ought to be followed by answers. If you think you have any let us know?

There may be some here, here and perhaps here

dim3 ak7ion

...I'm placing my bets with Banksy... or something to do with Nokia... hmmmm

Shame I won't be a Londres to enjoy the spectacle...

UPDATE: Got location - huzzah! Know who it is. But still, can't be there, so check it out for me...

24th September, 18:45, London. In the spirit of mysteriousness, I will post the location nearer the time... said Alice...

Stay connected...

Curiouser and curiouser...

... said Alice as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, crossed two fingers for luck and leapt feet first into the rabbit hole...

...blue air unwrapped it's cool arms and spread itself round about her, supporting and yet pulling Alice down through the slow motion tunnel visioned space...

...she couldn't remember landing on her feet, but somehow Alice found herself standing before a monstrously tall and impossibly narrow teak door with the word '7thsyndikate' scratched heavily into it's gnarled surface...

...glancing down, Alice noticed the bottle of green hued liquid in her hand. Carefully holding the glass stopper in place, she tipped up the bottle to read the label placed confusingly along the bottom edge. 'dim3 ak7ion' was all it said. 'Curiouser and curiouser' said Alice, not for the first time today...

Further Info:
is not available at this time