Andrew Logan... In The Glasshouse

At the moment Andrew Logan is in the process of creating a number of new pieces, one of which is bust of my good self. We started two years ago, had a bit of a break but now we're back for a series of regular sittings. Andrew asked me to sit for him some years ago somehow we never quite got around to it until now. I'm insisting I be placed between Fenella Fielding and his other latest bust of Rula Lenska.

Fenella Fielding by Andrew Logan

During our sittings I confess I take full advantage of Andrews hospitality and pick his brains incessantly. Probing into his colourful past and future projects, his wide range of friends, life in London in the early 70's, the art, fashion and music scene, his parties and the thought process behind the things he creates. 

Andrew originally studied architecture, he's completely self taught I was surprised to find out. He emerged in London as part of a collective of creative people, Zandra Rhodes, Ozzie Clark, the Glam rock scene, Brian Eno, Barbara Halanucki the founder of Biba, Mick and Sheila Rock, Keith from Smile hairdressing salon, Derek Jarman, Duggie Fields, Luciana Martinez, Kevin Whitney, Michael and Gerlinde Costiff to name but a few. Some household names, some like him at the time, striking out with new visions in expressive art. Andrew is a rather modest chap in real life, he lives with his long term bf Michael Davis and comes from a rather large family. 

Andrew's work area

When you enter Andrew Logan's world which is his home as well, aptly named The Glasshouse,  you're at once transported into a glistening and prettified space. Through his dinning and kitchen area up a flight of stairs and into a glass roofed room full with his fractured and fractal mirror splintered work. To the left is a cluttered work area, the main space being crammed with larger finished pieces, jewelry and works in progress.

Andrew Logan meticulously pieces together sculptures, artifacts and jewelry, his process is seems to be about creating things of beauty, surfaces decorated with colourful mosaic inspired cracked glass, glitter resulting in a high camp drama. His subject matter combines portraiture, adornment and symbol.

The resulting sculptures are flash and beautiful, striking in their immediacy. The initial impact is full on with glamour. Larger than life. Loaded with pop culture and at the same time ancient symbolism, Andrew makes no pretense about his intensions, to make things that are beautiful and make you happy. 'Art can be discovered anywhere' he says, there's an attractive nievety to the way Andrew presents himself and his work. in actual fact if you try and analyse what kind of messages Andrew is sending out his philosophy becomes apparent. 

Logan's preoccupation with 'camp' is not to be sniffed at. He himself enjoys the revelations people experience through his work as he does when creating them. A bit on the hippyish side Andrew comes across as a gentle soul. he actively practices yoga and crafts his art with peaceful diligence. 

Andrew with a work in progress

Currently Andrew Logan has created a shop next to his studio in Mellior Place near London Bridge. Andrew Logan Shop opened late in 2010 and sells an array of sculpture and jewelry.

Andrew Logan Shop

Other things of interest include The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture located in Wales. Forthcoming film 'The British Guide To Showing Off' 

facebook.com The-British-Guide-To-Showing-Off

www.andrewlogan.com

David Hoyle: Unplugged

The always contraversial David Hoyle performs at the Soho Theatre until the 20th August. I went on last Wednesday to see David reflect upon his own insecurities, current affairs and sing accompanied by Michael Roulston on piano. David Hoyle takes a turn… all singing wit, outspoken but heartfelt.

David Hoyle

David Hoyle has had a checkered career, supporter of  the fringe elements of society he has battled with his own demons and with insight those of others. He is a multi dimensional artist, performing, painting and singing. For Hoyle's unplugged session a stream of consciousness is delivered with a lively line of patter which keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. 

Personal Image - Trials and Tribulations

I recently went to Amber Swallows' 'Boob-A-Thon', a fund raising party for Amber's new transitional bosoms. I had a chat with Amber and she told me that the only funding the NHS would provide for  her was speech therapy, hence a whip round to help Amber attain her curvaceous female form.

Amber Swallows (De Hanika)

It's a so called 'postcode lottery' as to what funding is available and to whom it can be applied. The process is lengthy and complicated and it seems all a bit hit and miss when it comes to personal analysis. I was curious to see how the NHS allots funding and found this...

Generally, you will be able to obtain funding for specialist psychiatric 

assessment and for hormonal medication. In addition, a few PCTs 

will fund hair removal, especially on skin from a donor site that is 

to be used in later surgery. Speech therapy may also be included in 

the package of care provided by a gender identity clinic (GIC) or a 

private gender specialist, and some PCTs are willing to fund this 

treatment. However, when you are considering surgery, you may find 

that the PCT limits this, in line with the view that there are ‘core 

procedures’ – which would usually be funded – and ‘non-core 

procedures’ that may be deemed ‘cosmetic’ or ‘aesthetic’. In the case 

of trans women, this is likely to mean that facial feminising surgery, 

for instance, will not be covered. Even breast augmentation may be 

deemed aesthetic, and therefore not funded, despite the fact that this 

surgery may be essential to the success of the transition to the new 

gender role. The exclusions of such types of surgery are in line with 

local policies, and apply to anyone, whether or not they are a 

transsexual person. Chest reconstruction for a trans man, however, is 

likely to be regarded as ‘core’ surgery.' 

http://www.transgenderzone.com

It may seem hard to understand why someone would want to alter themselves so drastically but in afore thought it makes me wonder how many people have suffered silently in the past when faced with this dilemma. In todays modern age we have the knowledge and wherewithal to address and alter our outside appearance to align with our innermost sensibilities. In varying degrees perhaps we all feel uncomfortable in our own skins. Certainly from a personal viewpoint I have used various devices (make-up, personal style, botox) to acquire an image I feel comfortable with, but I have never felt truly 'comfortable' in my own skin. It's a strange feeling. 

Some years ago in the early 80's, a friend of mine called to say 'she/he' had something to tell me, would I come over. I happily went to see my dear friend, who, had bravely decided to explain the predicament. ' We discussed this uneasy feeling deciding the only conclusion was to move forward, my friend in essence has always felt a woman inwardly and mentally and has been living outwardly so for over 30 years. One of her eureka moments came after reading April Ashley's book truly fascinating book Odyssey, which tracks April's pioneering life and experiences in a time when the idea of gender reassignment was vertually unheard of. 

April in her modeling days, London, 1961

'Although sex-change operations in 1960 were associated in the public imagination with Dr Frankenstein (and still are very often), they were not brand new. The first report of one was made by a German, F. Z. Abraham, in 1931, but he gives no details. The first popular account was in 1933 in Niels Hoyer's book Man Into Woman. It is the story of a Danish painter, male, who became Lili Elbe after a series of operations only vaguely described.

Lile Elbe

      The term 'transsexualism' was invented in 1949 by Dr D.O. Cauldwell who wished to describe a girl who obsessively wanted to become a boy (the incidence of transsexualism in males however is much higher than in females, about four or five to one). A few years later the word was taken up by Dr Harry Benjamin whose researches led eventually to the first systematic study in 1966, The Transsexual Phenomenon. In 1952 a team of Danish surgeons under Christian Hamburger performed the operations on George (later Christine) Jorgensen which established the general blueprint for transsexual surgery and post-operational treatment. Publicity of the case the following year brought the matter before the whole world for the first time.'

Christine Jorgenson

Excerpt April Ashleys book 'Odyssey' 1982


Personal Choices


In the search for perfection and peace we all make use of what's available to us whether it's off the shelf or something rather longer lasting. In one sense it's big business, ( a thing we're all quite well aware of) on the other hand it's an individual and personal choice of how we choose to present ourselves. I wouldn't go out out of the house without at least lipstick on, part of my own insecurity when dealing with my own image I suppose. Nevertheless I feel a whole lot happier. 


Friend, Pete Burns is truly one who has become a pioneer of perfecting self beautifcation. His knowledge and fascination with surgical procedure means he could probably carry out an operation himself. He takes it very seriously and readily admits there have been some disasters in the past. To me he is somewhat of a work of art. His ideas and concepts are very precise. His honesty is very refreshing when it comes to explaining his ideas of self image. 

Pete Burns with Lynn Burns

Perhaps I come from and have been influenced from an old fashioned style of self preservation. My role models are all people who express themselves in varying extremes of considered beauty and style, presenting themselves with individuality but ultimately having strength of character to live a life with conviction ultimately realizing their full potential

THE DROP FIVE

Now for some music! The Drop Five are a relatively new band forming in 2010. I first saw them at last years Off Set festival 2010. You can get a free download and like them at their FB page The Drop Five  they really have their own look and sound but take reference from early Style Council and Northern Soul combined with their own unique take. 

A chance to see them on Saturday  30th July at The Victoria in Mile End, London  The Drop Five Revue ...

John Linger- Guitar, Vocals, Bonnie Carr- Vocals, Brandon Jacobs- Keyboards,Eli Saunders-Deutsch- Bass, Paul Linger- Drums

http://www.thedropfive.co.uk
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Drop+Five
http://www.myspace.com/thedropfiveuk

RESTAURANT 88 by THE BISTROTHEQUE

It's a 'pop up' restaurant at Canary Wharf's Restaurants In Residence brought to us from the Bistrotheque team, (didn't they invent the idea of pop ups!?). '88' is only open for a week and I went last Wednesday via the champagne speedboat from Westminster Bridge Pier, David Waddington himself hosting and pouring the Mumm champagne in lavish quantities!

David Waddington - far right

It was a stormy evening, a torrential downpour ensued as we approached said destination and made our way up to the third floor of the Create building. One of the first offices to be built in this area in the 80's the Bistrotheque team managed to create an ambiance that kept tongues wagging with references.

Pink neons, palms and blinds, a newly installed bar for the occasion and black and white checkered flooring gives the space a suitable 80's modernistic feel. The menu itself comes from Bistrotheques Tom Collins and Jeremy Lee.

Rice & Peas

We had a jolly table of friends old and new and managed to scoff every course...

Catherine, Saranne, Anthony.

Mains came in the shape of baby chicken... coquelet dears to you, delicious, although it did remind me of an Eraserhead scene.

The Coquelet!

The Pavlova!

VINTAGE AT SOUTHBANK CENTRE 29TH-31ST JULY

Coming up at the end of the month 'Vintage At Southbank Centre'. After a bit of research I found out I'm djing up at The Penthouse on Saturday 30th at 6pm with a few friends...

BLITZ (Saturday)
On Saturday it’s ‘back to the futurist’ as the New Romantics and Futurists that made The Blitz Club famous around the globe assemble once more. We’ll be joining the dots between the outlandish fashions, performance art and groundbreaking music as we celebrate the cult with no name.
The dj's... Paul Rae, Paul and Ralf Ralf Randell, Martin Degville, Princess Julia, Jeffrey Hinton and Mark Moore

I didn't actually dj at the Blitz itself, infact I did the coatcheck for a while and once Steve Strange actually asked me to do the door, which I was rubbish at! I did a spot of djing at the WAG club in the early 80's for designer Stephen Linard. The night was called Total Fashion Victims. Towards the end of the 80's I had another go at Djing at The Daisy Chain over at The Fridge in Brixton. It was a Tuesday gay night run by Jimmy Fox and djing came from Mark Lawrence and Jeffrey Hinton. I did a warm up spot and really that's how I started djing. I was working at Michael and Gerlinde Costiff's shop World and soon they started a night, Kinky Gerlinky's. I became resident there along with Rachel Auburn and Martin Confusion. 

I found this amusing TV exposé of Kinky Gerlinky!


Eventually I began to travel across the UK and further afield across Europe and beyond, djing at some of the most amazing nights! 


For Vintage at Southbank I think I'll play a mixture of music that has played a part in my dj career! It will range from post punk electronica, disco, retro pop, dance and anything else I find at the bottom of my handbag!

Justin 'Vivian' Bond... Mx Bond Has Got Pazazz!

Mx Bond, has been flying high throughout her/his career, I first met Justin as the delirious Kiki, a deranged and deluded character who with the help of Herb on piano relived a fictional life of theatrical hilarity. Later going solo with perceptive insights on a life well lived and those orbiting, I've kept apace with Justin Bond, who resides in New York and pays us regular visits with shows that with her unique rhetoric and song renditions never fails to tick all the boxes.
This month Justin is back after a two year sojourn (has it really been that long!) as Mx Justin Vivian Bond with a solo album and show 'Dendrophile' at the Soho Theatre . I popped down last week to catch up with the one and only. Her exposé shows somehow always take on a new angle. 'V', our very own Justin Bond is now somewhat of a lady of a certain age nowadays, he/she tells of her introduction into the NYC gay scene. It was hanging out at gay pride, she says, waiting for the float with the people who looked and acted like 'her people'. Every amazing moment of her life, which incidentally leads to apt songs dispersed through the show, is delivered with personal and intimate hysterical flourishes.

Justin Vivian Bond

Personal tales flip back and forth, I was most intriqued by Justin's childhood, which will be published in a forthcoming book. Justin read an excerpt revealing just what a naughty boy he was, sleeping with a neighbour, building a treehouse and then getting caught in the act by the boys mother... I can't wait to get a copy.

Justin Vivian Bond is on at the Soho Theatre till the 9th of July, it's so good I might try and see it again!
Justin Bond.com