Life's a Drag (a celebration)

Jeffrey Hinton is mainly known as a dj, in fact I credit him fully as inspiring me to take to the decks in the 80's. What you may not realize is that over the years Jeffrey has been an avid archivist amassing a collection of photographs and film as he goes about his life filled with interests around music, dance the arts and fashion. His life like mine (we were flat mates throughout the 80's btw along with milliner Stephen Jones) is a journey of curiosity across many creative disciplines. He does this with an open spirit, great humor and wonderful sense of community. Now then it has come to my attention of late that Jeffrey Hinton has been collating his archive, last year he unearthed and edited some of his film work at the ICA OFF-SITE exhibition at the Old Selfridges Hotel and V&A 'Club to Catwalk' fashion installation along with installation work and talks at the National Portrait Gallery. This year he is part of the BFI Flare: London LGBT film festival with 'Life's a Drag (a celebration) his most recent work which travels across previous decades to the present day.

Film clips...  from Life's a Drag, left Gay Bingo, right rare footage of drag artiste Rose Marie

Talk and screening on March 25th, 6.10pm... it's sold out already! 

Top Tips for 2014?

When I posed this question this is what I got back... My favourite tips for 2014!

Finish all old projects ASAP. Then new scenery for fresh inspiration - Twinkle Bunty

Shoes too tight? Put a potato in them over night - Jody Furlong

Edwardian Dallas - Slim Barrett

Lots of beards - Richard Heslop

No beards - Mark Charles

Vout-O-Reenes. My New members arts club opens in April - Sophie Parkin

Hamburger Queen in April - Scottee

Corduroy - Richard Scanlan

If it feels good keep on doing it - Barrie Sharpe

Carnaby - Alex Noble


There's more to come...

PLAY LIST Blitz Club (REVOLUTIONS IN SOUND)

The other week I had the great pleasure of djaying up in the clouds at the London Eye for Red Bull Revolutions in Sound representing the Blitz club. We went round twice, nobody left and had quite a few vodkas on the way. Here's a bit of a play list for you interested in electronica from a by gone era!

'NO GDM' - Gina X 4.12

'Moskow Disko' - Telex 6.43

'Computer Game' - Yellow Magic Orchestra 1.48

'Fire Cracker' - Yellow Magic Orchestra 4.52

'Fade To Gray' - Visage 5.42

'Love Action' - Human League 3.12

'Chant N0 1(I Don't Need  This Pressure On)' - Spandau Ballet 4.13

'Cars' - Gary Numan 5.23

'People Are People' - Depeche Mode 3.24

'Fashion' - David Bowie 3.24

'Rebel Rebel' - David Bowie 4.23

'Warm Leatherette', 'TVOD' - The Normal 4.25/ 2.51

'Chase' - Giorgio Moroder 8.31

'The Model' - Kraftwerk 3.39

'Blue Monday' - New Order 4.31

'Vienna' - Ultravox 4.56

'Life In Tokyo' - Japan 3.31

'Temptation' - Heaven 17 3.14

'Bedsitter' - Soft Cell 3.37

'Totally Wired' - The Fall 3.25

'Being Boiled' - The Human League 4.35

'Sex Dwarf' - Soft Cell 5.10

80s Artist Film Restorations from the UK

I'm fascinated by William Fowler's task of remastering a lost archive of 80's film work which in part was revealed the other week at the BFI. I went out of curiosity mainly because of the Steven Chivers film made in 1984, 'Catherine De Medicis Part 2' featuring artist Holly Warburton, (who I regularly  worked with at the time) and myself in gothic mode. I confess, I hadn't actually watched in it's entirety so I expected to be embarrassed, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes it is melodramatic, camp and theatrical, it's also beautifully filmed in a stylish and atmospheric fashion. I seem to remember a penchant at the time for these type of themes, I also recall an overlap of social themes of consciousness within our group of friends work which were realized with the basic techniques of super 8 and VHS film with touches chroma key, looking at them today the results are really quite inspiring.

So far Fowler has resurrected the work of Isaac Julien with film 'Territories', a slice of real life set around Nottinghill Carnival and addressing social interaction. Sophie Muller's film 'In Excelsis Deo (In Adoration of God)' imagery revolving around the context of catholic religion and Jennifer Binnie's film 'Grayson/Flowers/Jewels', a touching moment with Grayson Perry and of course the Steven Chivers 'Catherine De Medicis' film.

Still from Jennifer Binnies film 'Grayson/Flowers/Jewels'

A lot of these films were thought to be lost forever, tucked away at the back of draws and cupboards William Fowler has managed to rediscover films that at the time were shown at London's Film Co-op or the ICA. Plans to restore the early work of John Maybury and Cerith Wynn Evans (amongst others) are afoot and next Spring 2014 the entirety of his discoveries will be presented at the BFI Southbank.

Following Fashion Dolls 'Ever After High'

This week as a new range of dolls from Mattel launched, 'Ever After High' got the London look from Fashion East designers Claire Barrow, Ryan Lo, Bobby Abley and Ashley Williams who have designed custom made handbags and looks for the dolls.  I painted the artwork, a collection of watercolors based on the dolls themselves which have been translated onto t-shirts and carrier bags. The t-shirts are available to buy on the 18th October at Selfridges London Toy Shop, at the launch we gave them away along with some MAC cosmetics.

Princess Julia says: "As a style enthusiast and keen watercolour painter, I was inspired by the unique personalities of each Ever After High doll.  Coupled with the talents of our young designers who have dressed them up and added a further flourish to these miniature Miss's, I feel my portraits capture the idea that they have come to London to party in style."

M U S E at THE LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION

It's a new term and I've been invited to help organize and also become a muse to the 2nd year fashion students at the London College of Fashion. Along with fellow muses...

Mark Moore... Mark Moore is a M U S E who emerged on London's club scene as a dj/producer in the 80's and then went on to form seminal band S'Express who's chart hit's formed the landscape of dance and pop music we know today. Mark continues to dj and produce, catch up with him here http://www.markmoore.com/

Sue Tilley... Sue Tilley has continued a diverse career, life model to Lucien Freud, writer of 'Leigh Bowery The Life and Times of an Icon' whilst continuing her day job as a benefits supervisor she is a firm fixture on London's social scene.

                                                                      Sue Tilley

Scarlett Cannon... Our M U S E  Scarlett Cannon, you can catch up with her on her blog http://heavenlyhealer.blogspot.co.uk/Today she is an avid horticultural tutor (and writer), Scarlett was intergral to the London club scene in the early 80's and appeared as a model in various magazines with her definitive style.

                                   Scarlett Cannon as featured on the cover of Iain R Webbs book

Dusty O... Dusty O has had and continues to have a colourful career running clubs including London's Trannyshack and diversifying with djing, talks and performance, she has a defining self styled look and vibrant personality. Catch up with her on her website... http://www.dustyo.com/bio/

We'll be tutoring students over the next few months to create stylish and individual looks for us which will culminate in a presentation in December.

Working with LCF fashion student and style blogger Kayla Hadlington we've set up the following pages to keep you abreast of our progress and get a first hand view in the creative process we will be pursuing over the projects duration.

Find us on...
Facebook
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ICA OFF-SITE...

You may be wondering what I've been up to lately, well I'm very excited to say I've been involved with a project with the ICA. It's on at the Old Selfridges Hotel from the 13th September 2013 to the 20th October 2013. What a project... I don't think there's ever been anything like this before. As it says in the title 'A Journey Through London Subculture: 1980's to Now'.

For six weeks the amazing space behind Selfridges will become home to a most fascinating archive of over 50 vitrines. Artists, collectors, designers, stars of counterculture and beyond have been invited to reveal the threads of creativity that run through the spine of our fabulous city. A place that people gravitate to and a place that positively encourages an energy that spills over the edges of definition.

As part of this story, those who know me will know that I have spent a life involved in music, art, clubs and style, will understand my great passion concerning this project.

Further more there will be events and talks running throughout it's duration... Charlie Porter and I have one planned for Saturday 28th September at 2pm. If you fancy coming click here Fliers: The Facebook Of The Pre-Internet Age 

ICA OFF-SITE