Thursday 16 June 2011

A Very Bury Weekend

For those of you who've already recieved my newsletter, you'll be aware of this. But for those of you that don't know, the last weekend of this month will feature A Very Bury Weekend, a fun filled art extravanganva presented by the Irwell Sculpture Trail.


The weekend has been organised by the Bury Collective and I will be involved on both days. The Saturday will see my burlesqye act The Chantilly Belles posing for a special Dr Sketchy alternative drawing class at The Met in Bury.

While, on the Sunday I will be part of an extra unusual drawing class on board the East Lancashire Railways stream train dressed in Victorian inspired costume! 

There's even more art events taking place across the weekend and you can come along and join in with any of them for FREE!

So if you live in the area, enjoy art and want a good family friendly free day out come along!
For more information about the weekend contact: dianerickerby@gmail.com

Friday 3 June 2011

Marilyn?

Something I've been wanting to share for weeks now has been an article I found in Stylist Magazine last month about the launch of Diesel's new Denim Collection Fragrance. 

To celebrate the fragrance the brand has launched three exclusive illustrations of iconic denim wearers including James Dean, Kate Moss and that epitomy of glamour, Marilyn Monroe! But try as I might I have had the worst luck finding examples of these illustrations. (If anyone has info please forward it to me!)

There is absolutely nothing I can find on the internet about this new art work, and I am really intrigued to find out the story behind the reimagining of one of the worlds most recognised women; a master of creating herself into an idol, how would you, or could you attempt to update Marilyn?


Well the answer is if it's not broke, don't fix it. As you can see in the picture (the one and only availabe to me) Marilyn stays sexy and oozing glamour. It's a captivating image of her as we've never seen her before, laid back, grungey almost. Modern yet timeless.

The mixture of her signiture hair and makeup mixed with the 'not really trying' t.shirt and jeans gives a look of high fashion. Plus I can't help feeling that seeing her in modern garb, as it were, helps to cement the idea that Marilyn was a real woman and a young person in her own right, more than just the vintage ideal we are used to. In all I think this is a very clever way of selling a brand but also a sucessful portrait. If you care to look beyond the consumerism there is a whole new facet to Marilyn exposed here. It proves just how influential appearances are in a simple and provoking image. I wish I'd thought of it!