"Conversation" postcards 1-4

This is a photograph showing examples of the postcards that I've been working on for the last few weeks. There are various sets, this one entitled 'Conversation', as each postcard represents...well, a conversation.

I've got almost thirty postcards drawn up now, and I'm a little unsure of what to do with them. In the past I've done runs of postcards explicitly to send out as freebies to whoever wants them, and I might still do that. But I'd like to do something more with them.

And I'm not going to do much of anything with them until I've got my scanner working again, that's for certain.

Colaboratay

Recently I've started a new blog with my friend Daryl Morris, called Colaboratay. The idea is that one of us starts a picture off, posts it to the blog, the other picks it up and adds to it, posts their new version up, and so on.

We've not been going very long, but it's produced some interesting ideas already, and as each project continues I think the ideas are going to get both more concrete and also more outlandish.

Here's the current stages of the two projects currently underway:
Unknown Stage 2, most recently worked on by me.


Zeal Stage 4, most recently worked on by Daryl.

Mail Art exhibition

A few months ago I submitted three pictures (Number 1, Number 2 and Number 3 -- see below) to the Mail Art exhibition taking place in the Long Gallery at Glasgow's Tron Theatre. The show is taking place between the 12th and 30th January, with a private showing on the 11th (which I'd like to attend, but I doubt I'll be able to).

A limited edition of Mail Art One Zine is being produced by Susan Mortimer as part of the show, which will have at least one of my submissions in, maybe more.

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Corridoring shortlisted for art prize (UPDATED)

UPDATED 8th Dec:
I didn't win. All the best to the person who did.



Corridoring, one of the pictures I'm most proud of, which I included in the Operation Concrete artbook and exhibition, has been nominated for the inaugral SayArt.org art prize, which I am very excited about.

It's been honored with a prize once before, when it was selected for a coveted 'Daily Deviation' at deviantart. Eventually, it will also be seen in the short film it was created for, also called 'Corridoring' (it needs editing, which is hopefully going to be done by James Plumb)

Winners are being announced on 7th December, which is only four days away. I'd say 'Go Vote!' but it's not that sort of competition, and emails including votes for my work would probably just annoy the organisers because they're not accepting votes.

Operation Concrete (Update)

Well, Operation Concrete is done now -- I drove into London to pick up my work yesterday. Although I didn't sell anything, the feedback I got was tremendous, especially from the drunk stragglers at the end of the launch night, because I could be pretty certain they weren't capable of bullshitting me. I've also learnt some pretty important lessons:
1) Framing is expensive, but worth doing right
2) Always have business cards on me
3) Always leave contact details at the gallery
4) If possible, when hanging other people's work, make sure it's the right way up... I think I may have hung one of Holly's watercolours upside down...
5) The sentence 'I was really into giraffes at the time' when used unexpectedly can mark you out as a freak.

Thanks have to go to Tori Treasure, without who I would have probably priced all my work at about a fiver. Also, her coverage of the night is excellent.

Here are some photos from the launch night of Operation Concrete, taken on my trusty N93.


Part of my section, with 'Corridoring' sat on the floor, waiting for the frame to re-set after it fell off the wall.


The 'Anger' section, featuring my picture 'Mist Of Blood And Rage', a sound pod which played 'Germany Germany' by Rue The Day and the exceprt from the novel that both the picture and image were based on.


Benjamin Phillips sat in front of Bill Talbot's work.


Some of Benjamin's work -- unfortunately, someone came in during one night of the exhibit and lifted one of his etchings, which is shocking.


Richard Galbraith, reading from 'Concrete Operational'.


Jack Clothier, of Alcopop Records, reading from 'Concrete Operational'


My friend Kathryn and I, posing infront of 'Corridoring' at the request of a wonderful, if slightly inebriated, stranger. The other works I had up were: 'Mountain, Sea', 'No Cure For The Overkill' and four pages from my comic 'The Intercorstal'.

Operation Concrete

I've recently completed and submitted my most ambitious work ever to Rich Galbraith's project, 'Operation Concrete', which is a way of promoting the publication of his first novel, exploring the possibilities of self-publishing and working a social media project all in one. It's been a real privelege to work with Rich on this, and as I'm a massive fan of the band Akira I'm doubly-excited about the launch night, which is taking place on 26th November at Vibe Bar on Brick Lane.

Here's a link to the event page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197368296527#/event.php?eid=197368296527

During the event, the following pictures will be on display, and for sale (click the link to see them):
Mist Of Blood And Rage (the full picture won't be posted to the internet until the show's been on, so the link is to an early WIP)
Corridoring
The Intercorstal Page 1
The Intercorstal Page 7
The Intercorstal Page 11
The Intercorstal Page 24

Postcards From Dystopia

The facebook event is here: POSTCARDS FROM DYSTOPIA I've got three postcards included in this exhibiton, curated and organised by Tutte Newall. Here's the official description.

POSTCARDS FROM DYSTOPIA

“A futuristic or imagined territory where a universal menace prevails”

An international exhibition of thirty artists presenting visions of a menacing universe with a collection of postcard sized works. This is in conjunction with a showcase of larger paintings of ominous dystopian territories by Tutte Newall and Andrew Hladky.

Our present culture holds a fascination with the concept of our own ordered civilization's collapse into chaos. 'Postcards from dystopia' explores this idea by delving into the realms of the imaginary and issuing visions from a dystopian and desolate environment.

3rd -21st December

Private View: 3rd December 6 - 9 pm

Artists:

Jessamyn Bailey, Nick Barratt, Anna Beam, Maria Colom, Giles Corby, Benjamin de Brousse Ian Gamache, Linda Griffiths, Takayuki Hara, Joseph Hartley, Andrew Hladky, Gareth A Hopkins, HRLCK, Isabel Howlett, Julia Iwasz, Fiona Leighton-Crawford, Kate MacDonald, Ruth Martindale, Nick McLeod, Tutte Newall, Raksha Patel, Federico Penteado, Maria Theresa Santos, Satch, Fred Schimmelschmidt, Angela Smith, Carly Troncale, Lisa Vuerich, David Willis, Esther Yuan.

Curated by Tutte Newall.

Nolias gallery, 60 Great Suffolk street, London SE1 0BL (5mins from Tate modern)

Gallery open: Tues - Sun 11 am - 6 pm and Mon 21st 11 am - 5 pm

Contact: postcardsfromdystopia@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07722563357