If The Sex Pistols were still around, raising heck, if they hadn’t gone astray, started stealing farmers crumpets and ensuring us that they actually really like butter, as if we’d suspected them all along as margarine fans. If those mad cap chaps instead, aspired to fulfil their potential as anarchistic pottery makers then maybe they could have been up there with Faye Power.
Faye’s work is a tongue in cheek take on the commemorative plate, a staple of many a dusty and cluttered home… and probably a home with many cat’s. She is not anti-monarchy, instead she states her work is a celebration of the royal’s as real people, warts and all.
These plates could easily appeal to folks with an ironic outlook, or even genuine royalists. Equally die hard Diana fans would see Camilla’s ‘Homewrecker Housewife’ plate, as the perfect addition to any collection.
Faye is a Manchester based Artist, having featured in 10 (and counting) exhibitions, including ones in New York and London, she certainly seems to be making ripples.
If you like Faye’s work, where should you turn to now? Here!!!!
Tim Walker is a highly talented photographer, based in London he has worked for the swanky likes of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. Tim manages to combine beauty, humour and a touch of devastation in his photos. His work is enchanting. Enchanting but with just enough depth.
His pictures look like a little girl’s Fairytale, beautifully constructed, with elegant touches of colour and chintzy accessories. Yet, he also brings a flavour which implies Stephen King happened to walk in front of his lense moments before he went ahead with the snap, leaving behind an air of darknes. Other images are playful, and some pure fantasy. But one feature common in all, is beauty.
For more information visit
A snip of Don Herd’s snaps!
An old school chair, lost on some urban playing field, a long, lonely and intimidating tunnel, and finally an image which implies a sneaking glance at a dilapidated town. These images are sleak, sleak with a definate ‘28 Days Later’ feel to them, that feel being “Where has everyone gone?!”
Yet there is a substance behind the initial aesthetic appeal. Take the image of the classic school chair, an object synonymous with restrictions. Memories of asking a teacher for permission to go to the loo, being met with “It was lunchtime 25 minutes ago, if you didn’t need to go then on your own time, you don’t need to go now”. The kind of logic that resulted in many a school child at some point in their educational career going home with their own undies in a plastic bag, whilst sporting a nice pair of Lost & Found Y-fronts. Yet in this image, the chair is in a new world. It is saved from previous restrictions and placed in the realm of possibility.
The images seem to invite the spectator to tackle them. To take the spaces, the objects, the misconceptions and make of them what they will, to make their own new chances. This transformation of space and objects is a strong theme within the photographer’s work. Don Herd, a designer and photographer who devised the concept behind the ‘Create A Memory’ chair, as depicted in the image. An innovative an interactive piece which can be viewed in greater detail, along with his other work at http://www.oistudio.co.uk/donphotography.html
A Cosy Trendy Jumper Comfy Chair Hug.
Is how I think this chair / design feat is best described. It’s the work of Melanie Porter, who after 10 years of working as a knitwear designer has transfered her skills into the realm of furniture making.
Her post-modern pieces, have the edge on many a post-modern piece. As they have a definitive use, you can sit on them! If her patterns, colour combinations or chair types are not to your taste, that is not a problem as she will custom make a form of seating to your brief.
And there lies my favourite aspect of the pieces. They reinvent and rejuvinate not only otherwise ‘had it’ chairs, but they have given a new dimension to the art of knitting. A skill which was at risk of becoming dated. Some might say the latest trend of putting a poodle in a pullover had given knitting back the edge, but cynics of that theory now must truly be converted.
Old pieces of furniture, and a technique predominantly reserved for the elderly lady, have been merged together to great effect. Instead of throwing the past aside, it has been pushed forward to create contempory art.
Each piece is unique, and can be equally as personal. An old armchair which is past its prime, yet has sentimental value, can be restored and given extra meaning through the design choice of its cover. Possibly adding a personal piece of material to the cover’s patchwork which has may have meaning to your family.
The most inspiring part of Melanie’s work, is it provokes the viewer to become an active participant. To conjur up thoughts of their perfect bespoke chair, encourging you to be creative and have a piece in your home, which is personal and above all, really rather cool!
Take a look at Melanie’s work - http://www.melanieporter.co.uk/index.asp
The Creative News
A new blog, looking into all things creative. I’ll be exploring the net, attending exhibitions, live shows and anything else along the way to bring news of some of the best in artiness!
If you would like any of your work to be a part of The Creative News, then please get in touch at thecreativenews@googlemail.com
