Matilda Tristram

Omo - Oversized from LOAF on Vimeo.

Refreshing on so many levels. Love the meatball at the end.

More on www.mmaattiillddaa.com

Stokes Croft - PRSC

I watch the PRSC with a quiet admiration - trying to reclaim the area of Stokes Croft and keep it from being forgotten and unloved, the PRSC have set up 'graffiti areas', keep the council on their toes, care for the local wandering residents, and give local artists a lot of encouragement and love.

Posted originally here.

Tim Lane - The innocents? - Knifesmith Gallery

A pleasant surprise awaited me at the top of Christmas Steps on Saturday - a reasonably new gallery called Knifesmith Gallery, and their current feature Tim Lane, whose work appeals to my dark heart. These flat screen grabs don't do the work justice, especially the drawing.

According to a conversation I had recently, this style of work is called 'New Brow' (the bastard son of 'Low Brow' I suppose).

The exhibition is on until August 28th, and I look forward to seeing more from this Bristol-based artist.

There's a good review of his exhibition on 'boys who draw blog'.

Friend and Co - New group show

I hear the smallest gallery in the world is moving to bigger premises very soon, and this is going to be their first show - stellar line-up - looking forward to it.

Paris on the Hillgrove

This empty shop on Hillgrove Street has inadvertently caused a couple of problems to the PRSC in the Croft, as it has been 'officially' sprayed and then the Council will come and black it out the next day. This has happened a couple of times, with interesting comments sprayed back onto the shop, including the email address of a councillor for whom to complain to.

So this is the latest update...

Coeur de Pirate

The styling on this is too lovely...

(a little bit Mad Men, a lot francoise hardy, a touch new Dior balloon advert - Tim Walker I think)

Deaner

The annual Dean Lane Skate fun day.

And a beautiful gold, pink and scarlet new number on the main wall at the skate park. I've always hoped someone would incorporate gold in a great way - so finally my wish has come true.

(Incidentally for Skins fans, this is the park that Freddie uses)

Jody - Weapon of Choice

Bristol native Jody began painting at the now infamous Barton Hill Youth Club under the wing of the legendary John Nation in the late 1980’s. After a long break from the graffiti scene he has resurfaced following the success of Felix Braun’s Children of the Can book launched last year.

Returning to the Bristol scene refreshed and reinvented, Jody’s first solo show draws inspiration from the barrage of slick and cynical imagery portrayed through fashion and advertising. No picture can be truly trusted - we are subjected daily to hyper retouched, overly sexualised and false imagery, making us feel aspirational, but at the same time, insecure about own selves. Jody digs just below the polished surface of magazine spreads, movie posters and advertising to uncover a sinister world of false idols and hopes.

Blank and hollow eyes stare back where once perfectly made up faces once did – imagery that was meant to be flawless is subverted, changing the intended meaning into something darker, disturbing and more powerful.

The show opens at the Weapon of Choice Gallery on the 14th August and runs until 13th Sept 2009.

(text ripped from WOC site)
(and how much do I love love this flyer)

Grayson Perry

Liberty are currently holding the exhibition 'Prints Charming' on the 4th floor - as you can see from the below picture they covered this wall in their classic 'Betsy' print, (which also appears on their staircases too). They commissioned six artists - Grayson Perry, Paul Morrison, Mike McInnerney, Michael Angove, Anj Smith and Simon Hart to design some Liberty inspired patterned fabric - which they're selling in their wonderful fabric and haberdashery department.

Grayson Perry (as 'Claire') opened the exhibition by drawing some sketches in the window (which included one saying 'help me - if you buy my fabric they'll let me out'). While a few fans, bemused passers by and his wife, and daughter watched on.

I had heard he wasn't very well the day before, so I was extremely pleased he appeared. After the window display, he made his way up to the exhibition, checked out his fabric and posed for some official photo-taking (see pix below).

Chanel Paper Flowers

Just lovely