Did you get your name on a brick?

In a little diversion from my Tattooed Lady project #TheTattooedLady, I have also recently been setting up some work for the final ever Cornerhouse Projects.

Photo by Ben Page

Most people will know by now that Manchester's beloved Cornerhouse will soon be closing its doors for the last time in March. However that's not the end of the story... In the Spring HOME will be opening as a new hub of art and culture in the city. HOME is the merger of both Cornerhouse and The Library Theatre Company, so rather than Cornerhouse ceasing to exist, it's easier to say it will live on in a different form.

As a farewell to the building we have all come to know and love the gallery staff at Cornerhouse have been given the opportunity to put on the last Cornerhouse Projects exhibition. As we are all artists, performers and actors this was a great chance to do something where we could combine our talents. So, using our unique knowledge of the building we decided to explore behind the scenes, delve into Cornerhouse history as well as some urban legends surrounding the place and Full Stop, the final Cornerhouse Projects will be the result.

For my piece I wanted to say my own farewell to the building and leave a lasting mark. In a 'backstage' mini tour where we took a camera around to expose the unseen Cornerhouse, I was struck by how much I liked the exposed bricks on the back stairs. What kind of secret conversations, blistering arguments and friendly banter had those bricks witnessed over the past 30 years? (For a secret peek of what else we found on our tour read to the end)

 

Cornerhouse would be nothing without the staff and punters who make it what it is, and this made me want to extend the opportunity to say goodbye to all those with memories of the Cornerhouse. Doing a call out on Facebook, Twitter and an inhouse call out to staff, I collected over 200 names of people to be written onto those exposed bricks as a lasting tribute so that when we leave and the Cornerhouse is no more, our names will remain a part of the building's fabric.

Lots of people left messages about their love for Cornerhouse and I recognised and know so many of you! It was quite a memory filled day as I wrote out all the names onto the bricks...

It took me five hours and 10 paint pens to achieve as the fabulous Chris Payne documented the process in photographs. Some of the photos will be on display as part of the show, while the full set will be available to view during the exhibition on Flickr. Throughout the run anyone interested will be able to go into the 'Staff only' area at set times to find their name and maybe find a few other familiar ones too!

Full Stop: informal launch in the Cafe-bar Thursday 19th Feb 5.30-7pm

Exhibition runs until Thursday 2nd April

...and for those of you nosey people who want to know, here's the Cornerhouse the public don't usually get to see photographed as research for the Full Stop exhibition...

Pretty grotty huh? Check out Full Stop for more Cornerhouse inspired art works by talented artists ;)

My current work up at Cornerhouse

Grace poses in front of her finished portrait

It's been just over two weeks since my work celebrating transgender femininty inspired by the Pre Raphaelites has been on show at Cornerhouse as part of Cornerhouse Projects.

 

The private view went really well with a great turn out including friends family and members of the transgender and gay community. Grace arrived with her mum in tow and I'm proud to say got a little emotional as I took her round all the pieces. 

One of the main things I wanted to do in this project was focus on Grace as a person and show her in a way that would highlight her strengths and uniqueness. I wanted to show Grace as an individual, not as a transgender character. Even though this project involved the use of drag, as I have learned, it is just another way of exploring who you are, and I think certainly in this case it helped to emphasise the softer side of Grace, a side she doesn't often see in herself.

Some of the chalk studies of Grace in Pre Raphaelite drag and with no make up at all. In both cases her unique femininity shine through

 The show runs alongside the work of Layla Sailor whose beautiful work also explores female iconography

People have responded really well telling me it's great to see art that has a positive message and I'm really glad to have had the opportunity to explore a subject I knew so little about with such an interesting and lovely muse. I feel that if this has helped to melt away just a little of the stigma or preconceptions society holds about being transgender then that would be a great acheivement. 

Grace in her gilded frame with butterfly details. I named the portrait 'La Donna Della Grazia' meaning The Woman Of Grace as a tribute to Dante Gabriel Rossetti who was and is a constant inspiration

The exhibition is up until 9th Sept at the Cornerhouse cafe/bar Manchester

Grace in the frame!

Yesterday I explained how I was getting the frame I'd designed for Grace's Pre Raphaelite portrait delivered to the studio and it arrived courtesy of Tom the carpenter this afternoon. I absolutely love it! Here it is with the portrait in situ.

As you can see it has a wide flat surface and little roundals in each corner. The roundals are going to have small wooden butterflies placed inside. The butterflies are there to continue the theme of the painting. This being a celebration of transgender femininty, the butterfly is a symbol of transformation and beauty which I think is very fitting.

I based my design on frames that had been designed by Pre Raphaelite artists to enhance their art work and show it off it it's best advantage. Nature; flowers, animals and insects were a usual sorce of inspiration in the symbolism they used.

A detail of the frame for Holman Hunt's The Scapegoat showing Heartsease and Egyptian Palms to reflect the story of the Scapegoat

 

This weekend I will cover the frame in gold metal leaf so it will look something like the frames you can see above. Sumptuous, yet simple and stylised. I think it will look gorgeous! Once again thanks to Tom for making such a wonderful job of my frame. 

 

This work along with several chalk studies of Grace will be exhibited at the Cornerhouse from 31st July next week until 9th Sept. There will be drinks in the bar 6-7pm  on Thursday so come along and say hi and see the finished thing!

Gemma ***

Girl with a curl, or two

So this week the end finally looks in sight, and I have to say I am loving working on this portriat of Grace Oni Smith my beautiful transgender muse! I really really love this picture! This week I have been finishing off her hands and tattoos and filling in her masses of hair. Nothing says Pre Raphaelite goddess like a head full of glorious tresses.

I enjoy painting hair very much and this was no exception. There's are still a few little highlights and definitons to be added but this crown of curls is the definative statement of the painting. Next to add is the rose in her hair and just a suggestion of clothes (if you know Grace you'll know that's about usual for her. See her perform live if you don't know what I mean!)

I cannot wait for my specially designed frame to be made to finish this piece off once she is fully painted! Now I still have a few drawings to tackle and a trip to the framers for those. So keep posted and remember to put 31st of July in your diaries as this is the opening night for this work Cornerhouse.

More soon...

Gemma***

Tips on how to write a press release

 
Hello hello! It's a lovely sunny day and the bright skies are making me feel all inspired!

Today I am writing the press release for my upcoming work to be shown at the Cornerhouse next month. Anyone who has ever written one of these will know it's not as straight forward as you may think. 

So here are my top five tips that you won't always find on 'how to' websites. I hope these help you if you ever want to promote an upcoming event or exhibition. (this applies to all subjects not just art)

1. Check the newsworthiness of your story.

You may be sending your press release out to blogs, newspapers or mailing lists, but in all instances a subject matter that has interest and will catch the imagination of the public will always be preferable. So think about your target audience and try to keep the 'golden thread' pulled tight throughout your press release.

2. Make it as CLEAR AS POSSIBLE. 
Imagine you're a busy journalist, and you have hundreds of press releases to go through every week. You are going to use the ones that are easy to read, concise, detailed and basically ready for print. Make the journalists job easier:

• Always write from their perspective (unless you are quoting someone).
• Use a clear font
• Keep it short (no more than two pages).

3. Proof read, then get someone else to proof read, then proof read again!

Sometimes simple errors in grammar can let a whole piece down and ruin your chances of it being used.

4. Good photos mean a better chance of being printed.

So spend time to get a good high resolution image that doesn't need any adjustments and relates exactly to your written material.

5. Research who to send your press release to. 

Don't send it to everyone at a publication send it to the most relevant person. If in doubt, contact the publicatiopn and ask. Also:

• Send your press release in the morning
• Never send at the weekend

 Writing this has reminded me of so many things I need to do in my own press release, so I better get on! Updates of my work to come soon :)

 Gemma***

Affordable art for all! Well, until 13th Nov!

'Top Bunk! has now become the best-selling Cornerhouse Projects exhibition in recent memory'

This was the news on Facebook this week! The show co-curated by Bren O Callaghan and myself which launched earlier this month has already sold more work than any other Cornerhouse Projects exhibition and it's not even done yet!

With just under two weeks left you can still see work by The Hammo, John Powell-Jones, Simon Misra, David Bailey, Tasha Whittle, Adam Cadwell and Bryony Jackson and myself in the Cornerhouse cafe-bar.

All the work is for sale and is made up of limited edition prints and original art work at very affordable prices! So if you're looking for a Christmas present with a difference this year get down there while you can!

For a list of work and prices you can download the exhibition guide HERE

Cornerhouse 70 Oxford St Manchester M1 5NH

Other news:

Sketch-O-Matic which was launched in conjunction with Top Bunk! to promote accessible and affordable art was also a huge hit with well over 1000 visitors in it's 10 day run! This simple idea of an automated photo booth where an artist replaces the camera really captured the public's imagination.

On the opening night I got filmed for a short piece about the booth and you can see me amongst other Manchester artists talking about our experiences with Sketch-O-Matic in this one off video :)

I wanna booth with you!

 Some of last nights portraits while I was in the Sketch-O-Matic booth

This week sees the return of Sketch-O-Matic at the Cornerhouse Manchester. Held in conjunction with Top Bunk! currently exhibiting in the cafe-bar, Sketch-O-Matic is a full size photo booth where the camera is replaced by an miniaturised artist studio and one very cramped artist!

Only on until this coming Sunday come and catch it while you can and get you portrait done by one of over 40 Manchester artists including ME!

My confirmed times are:

Friday 7-9pm

Saturday 7-8pm

Thursday afternoon tbc!

I was in there last night for two hours and had a blast drawing a host of beautiful Mancunians! I love your faces people! See my Facebook page for updates and photos of portraits done so far!...

Tonight!

It's tonight, it's new art and it's Top Bunk!

Affordable limited edition prints from artists both local and from around the UK:

Hammo, John Powell-Jones, Gemma Parker, Simon Misra, Emma Mount, David Bailey, Tasha Whittle, Adam Cadwell and Bryony Jackson
  
6pm Cornerhouse Cafe-bar

Runs until 13th Nov 2012

70 Oxford Rd
Manchester
M1 5NH

Top Bunk!

 

I was always drawing. Give me some paper, give me an old telephone book, hell, let me loose on my bedroom wall and I would draw on it! (which indeed I did, it had a lovely scene I like to call 'Dinosaur Utopia' around it's entirety, my Mum and Dad were very understanding towards the creative soul). Such was the pattern of my childhood when I was an artist before I was an 'artist'. 

I drew cats, mermaids the occasional A Team reference, made up historical scenes and girls, always girls! Girls in big dresses, girls with huge boobs and hair, girls with punk attitude and killer heels. Above all, girls with glamour. Nothing much has changed, it's just now I can officially call it art because I am offcially an artist.

That is one of the reasons I am so excited about Top Bunk! a new show taking place in the Cornerhouse Cafe-Bar next month. As the press release states;

Artists don’t tumble from moulds in institutions, the innate spark is not taught but fanned to life beneath catalogue-bought duvet sets and candlewick throws. Sprawled across the floor or hunched over a hand-me-down desk, doodles become sketches, words become poems, wild imaginings scurry for shelter at the back of the wardrobe; soft, pink and glistening, yet to form a hard shell to deflect the criticism that awaits.

Top Bunk! is a Cornerhouse Projects exhibition that seeks to capture the spark of enthusiasm before it bends to fit the restrictive moulds that await; from academia to peer review and the cost of living. No subject is unsuited, no method discouraged. A range of responses include wistful juvenilia, rampaging robots, melancholia, psychedelic daydreams, teen-fan adulation, the allure of adulthood and beginning of sexual fruition.

I am showing two pieces in this show, which I have also helped to curate alongside Bren O Callaghan Cornerhouse's Visual Arts Programme Manager. The first is the pin up girl for the exhibtion; my portait of Layla as seen in the poster, who encapsulates the quinisential 1950's idealised teen. The second is a new piece inspired by my many hours studying the 1970's Jackie Annuals I was given as a child. They were from a bygone era even when I was a kid but I used to love reading them from cover to cover; taking in the problem pages, and fashion tips, loving the picture stories with their super glam illustrations.

 A photo of 'Jackie' in progress, prints of the finished piece can be seen at Top Bunk!

'Jackie' is a painting I created remembering those 70's style hints and Bay City Rollers posters mixed with the awkward feelings of first love and trying to fit in. Being not quite completely formed as a person but doing your damnedest to stand out while not standing out too much. For me, this painting is a girl waiting to be noticed, standing in a field on a Saturday morning watching the boys play football, while her new heels sink futher and further into the mud. 

Top Bunk! runs from 12th Oct to 13th Nov at the Cornerhouse Cafe-Bar featuring limited edition affordable prints and will coincide with this years Sketch-O-Matic...more details to follow!

Cornerhouse: 70 Oxford Street Manchester M1 5NH

Happy New Year 2012!

New year and new beginnings, here's a round up of what's happening so far!

I am currently working on a portrait commission for glamourpuss, and sometime fetish model, Fiona. This is a very striking picture and will ooze sex kitten when it is finished. Here's where I was up to just before Christmas;

The thing I love about this picture is the masses of luxurious red hair. It is only blocked in here but you can get an idea of how shiny and vibrant it will look when the painting is finished. The skin only has it's first layer on in this photo. I build up skin tones in layers in order to capture the many colours that the skin holds which helps to give it depth and the illusion of softness.

I've continued with my experiments in embroidery and I'm working on a shoe design inspired by louboutin at the moment;

I found the original image in a magazine where the shoe was covered in crystals (embellishment is big right now!). I've tried to recreate the lushious surface by covering my shoe in a mixture of beads and french knots in different gold threads. The finished piece will show the shoe suspended from a glossy ribbon tied into a bow...  nearly finished.

To see other embroideires I've worked on visit my facebook page HERE

I'm planning a gallery excursion later this month; For Christmas I recieved a brilliant book called Lizzie Siddal: The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel. It's a super read if you're interested in the PRB and the sexual chemistry shared by a number of it's members. All this Victorian drama and sizzle has got me hankering to see the real deal so I'm hoping to take a trip to some art galleries over January and see some of the Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces. My first thoughts are The Lady Lever Art Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery, both located in Merseyside and both home to a wonderful collection of original work by the likes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Holman Hunt to name but a few. I need to do some further research but I hope to take my trip soon!

Image by Rachel Ortas

Finally some art news from Manchester; Cornerhouse is hosting a new six week course on comtemporary visual art, Beyond the Counterculture. If you like your art a little bit seedy, leftfield, kitsch and kooky then this course is for you! Hosted by the publishers of Nude Magazine the course explores subcultures, youth movements and pop culture. Apparently some of the visuals used may be offensive to some, so what better reason to sign up! Find out more and how to join HERE

Back in the booth!

Last week I spent a good few hours sitting in a small box just big enough to house myself and some art materials. Hunched over a drawing desk with no concept of if it was day or night, I worked non stop to produce art on demand; no it wasn't artist abuse, but Sketch-O-Matic, quite a unique and gratifying experience for all concerned!

The booth appeared in Cornerhouse over a week ago and before the project had properlly begun it attracted curious people eager to find out what was behind the curtained off area and what would happen when you put your money in. But the real fun began on the first night of it's 10 day run as the word spread that Sketch-O-Matic had to be experienced to be believed. In fact so successful was the venture that every time I looked there was someone's legs visible beneath the curtain as they sat patiently for their art work

The basic concept was that of a photo booth but one where an artist replaced the camera. The functions were all the same, the but the mirror inside was one way, meaning I could see you, but you couldn't see me! After paying your suggested £1 you had to wait for around 5 minutes then stand outside to receive your portrait through the slot. 

From my first stint I knew this was going to be lots of fun. The fact the sitter can't see you as you draw them made a huge difference to normal life drawing or quick sketching; It allowed the artist to totally get stuck in with no thought to being observed as they worked. Plus it meant the sitters acted more like they were having a photo taken.

There was no telling who would step inside next, from little boys to stately pensioners, beautiful girls to bearded eccentrics; I loved the challenge of getting features and characters down in the short time I had, and I totally loved the fact there was often a queue of people waiting for their turn to be immortalised in the Sketch-O-Matic booth. It was a very intense situation working so quickly and to high demand but equally satisfying to hear peoples sounds of appreciation they got the portrait in their hands. 

The most surreal but amazing part of the whole thing for me was that, stranger or friend, the sitter had no real contact with me as I drew them (sometimes the sitter wouldn't even know who was behind the mirror looking at them) but the encounter felt very intimate all the same.

I had a couple of go's sitting on the other side of the booth to see what it was like and although I sat looking at my own reflection, I caught glimpses of movement and the rustle of paper through the mirror and it was quite thrilling to know that someone was making me the subject of their work. It beat the cold and empty experience of using self automated machines, convenient they may be. As we move further and further away from actual social interaction on a daily basis, there was a simple charm about the Sketch-O-Matic which accounted for it's popularity. I totally understood the appeal! I would have gone in more often if I could. One Cornerhouse employee had 12 portraits by different artists and counting half way through the project...! 

If you missed your chance to be sketched or play muse to an instant poem, lets all keep our fingers crossed that this wont be the last we see of the Sketch-O-Matic, I for one will miss that booth.

Sketch-O-Matic!

I will be one of a host of artists taking part in this on hands interactive project taking place at the Cornerhouse starting this Thrusday as part of Art Night. Sketch-O-Matic is cutting edge drawing technology! Well actually, it's a full size photobooth with an artist crammed into the space the camera should be; Sit in front of the one way mirror, put in your £1 wait 5 minutes or so and your portrait will be posted throught the slot! Wow! 

I will be there waiting to draw you this Friday 25th Nov 8-9pm and Monday 28th Nov 12-1pm 

Who knows what scribbles will be created but one thing is for sure, the art work is original and yours to keep! The Sketch-O-Matic booth will be in situ from 6pm Thurs 24th Nov to Sun 2th Dec and will be manned in hour slots, see the booth for timings.

Cornerhouse: 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH

Interview on Cornerhouse Podcast

It was the night of the private view for The People You're Not  exhibition, it was crammed, noisey and fabulous! You can hear my chat about working on the show at 6:30 mins. There is also lots of juicey info and tidbits about the Cornerhouse films and projects, so well worth a listen!

Cornerhouse Podcast 03Feb2011 by CornerhouseMCR

Don't miss the exhibition!

The People You're Not runs until the 27th Feb

Cornerhouse

70 Oxford St

Manchester

Galleries open:

Tuesday – Saturday : 12:00 - 20:00
Sunday : 12:00 - 18:00

The People You're Not private view!

Standing next to my work 'The Wedding Supper or Till Decree Nisi do we Part'

Last Friday saw the result of weeks of hard work, going slightly crazy and mass sleep deprivation. It was the private view for the exhibition The People You're Not! A chance to see the proposed ideas of three very different artists realised by other artists. My work was part of Harry Hill's proposed idea; To recreate George Cruikshank's The Worship of Bacchus Using Known Alchoholics.

I was extra chuffed that all the artists involved got to take part in a special participant's meal before the VIP launch. So after stuffing our faces and making small talk about chick peas we filed into the gallery to be greeted with our first views of the finished show.

I was so impressed to see all our illustrations made as if by magic (and a bit of manic cutting and gluing by Bren O Callaghan the project producer) into the 3D toy theatres that now stand on their plinths. 

Everyone's work looks absolutley brilliant, there is such a diversity of styles and themes that I couldn't choose a favourite, but was bowled over by each of them. There are zombie literary icons frolicking among the tombstones of sobriety, headless boozers living it up next to their plinthed heads and a toga party full of reprobates not to mention a chinese restaurant I don't think I'll be visiting any time soon!

 

Shane McGowan Bender and Kerry Katona raise a glass to the happy couple

My own work is the pantomine themed Wedding Supper (or Til Decree Nisi do we Part), a romance without any of the romance. My characters stand around getting slaughtered amongst the dirty laundry of Window Twanky's laundrettte, toasting the unpleasant bride and groom while the press happily snap away at them.

 

Tommy Cooper pours gin on his cereal (not made up, he actually did this!) While Dame Elton John looks on the bride and groom with motherly pride 

 

The event was publicised earlier that day in the Manchester Evening News too which was great!

 

 

The exhibition runs until the 27th February at the Cornerhouse and is an accessable fun show that can be enjoyed by anyone with a passing interest in celebrity culture and of course... booze!

 

The People You're Not

 

Cornerhouse

70 Oxford Rd

Manchester

 

Gallery opening times:

Mondays : Closed
Tuesday – Saturday : 12:00 - 20:00
Sunday : 12:00 - 18:00