make time to design. if only it were that simple.

As you have probably seen on the recent TV adds, Becks is backing the RCA this year giving 4 emerging artists the opportunity to exhibit their artwork on Beck’s Canvas.

For more information on the artists and the programme click here>>

I’m still on a bit of high after seeing these films yesterday.  Some of the best films I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in a long, long time.

First up we have Inside Outside (Andreas Johnsen and Nis Boye Møller Rasmussen , Denmark 2005,
60 min).  Following various artists from all over the world.  I really liked this film and its intro sequence was great.  The intro is nice and gritty with some great filming which makes it flow really nice.
ZEVS is heavily included in this film and for good reason.  He is really pushing the boundaries and coming up with some new and innovative ways to graf sh*t up.  Apart from spraying red dots on the heads of models on billboards all over Paris, he is also sticking up his own fluorescent tubes with his Z tagged all over them.
There’s some nice footage with swoon and she explains her reasons behind her work well!

Next: A Primer On Urban Painting (Pablo Aravena, Canada/France, 2005, 95 min)
This was introduced by Pablo himself, he gave a nice introduction to the film and the how he came to film it.  The first thing that hit me about this film was the soundtrack which was heavily influenced by hip hop.  I personally think hip hop is a great soundtrack to any film, especially one based around street art. 
Pablo’s filming is awesome and there is a great story going on.  We get a real history of graffiti and not just how it started but also why.
After the film Pablo stayed around for a Q&A session.  It became quite apparent just how passionate and dedicated he really is to this whole scene.  I think his passion for street art is really shown through his filming.

Bomb It (Jon Reiss, USA 2007, 93 min)
If this was a gig, then quite deservedly Bomb It was the headliner. 
This film is f**king awesome and probably the best film I’ve seen for years!  I enjoyed every second of it and would recommend this to anyone.
This film is truly world wide, we go from LA to South Africa to some random stinking tunell in Sao Paulo.  There is a great deal of history and some great artists included in this film.
I’m not going to waffle on about this film, all I can say is make sure you see it!

I’m gonna post a bit more on this in the next few days!

As I’ve posted before, this Saturday and Sunday the Tate be playing the latest films all based on Street Art.

It starts this Saturday 16th at 2pm, I would get there early as it’s seated on a first come basis.

Itinerary for the weekend:

* Street Art Films: Andreas Johnsen and Nis Boye Møller Rasmussen : Inside Outside
Saturday 16 August 2008 free **Starts at 2pm**
* Street Art Films: Pablo Aravena : Next: A Primer On Urban Painting
Saturday 16 August 2008 free **Starts at 4pm**
* Street Art Films: Jon Reiss: Bomb It
Saturday 16 August 2008 free **Starts at 7pm**
* Street Art Films: Marc-Aurèle Vecchione: Writers
Sunday 17 August 2008 free **Starts at 12pm**
* Street Art Films: Nicholas Hansen: Rash
Sunday 17 August 2008 free **Starts at 2pm**
* Street Art Films: Stunnedfilm: Kroonjuwelen
Sunday 17 August 2008 free **Starts at 4pm**

Can’t wait!!

See you on Saturday…

Hello People,

We’ve been away for a bit on holiday but are back now in full force!

Hope to see you this Saturday at the Tate…

A quick follow up from keith’s post about the OBAMA “HOPE” Poster auction, the auction ends today and the current bid is @ $108,000 which has far surpassed the estimated $30,000 value of the print. I hope this goes along way to helping all that Art for Life do.

This years photo edition just dropped in the post this morning, some stunning photos with some great interviews. Notably an in interview with Harry Benson who has taken some of the most recognisable portrait photographs of the 20th century. He’s photographed everyone from the Beatles to Muhammad Ali to Martin Luther King Jr. to, famously, Robert F. Kennedy moments after being killed.

You can read more @ viceland.com or grab a copy from your local stockist.

The team at Blik have done it again with an array of striking life sized furniture silhouettes to decorate your walls. Designed by Studio Jan Habraken and with 10 decals in each package and a choice of colours whats not to like?!

As I’ve said before, I absolutely love the ColourLovers blog.

Their latest post is the best yet.
Basically they have hand picked some of the greatest pieces of art and then compiled the colour palette used by the artist.
Here’s an example:

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
		Painted between 1503 and 1506 in Florence, Italy. It is painted using the sfumato method, a term coined by Leonardo referring to a painting technique in which translucent layers of paint are applied so subtly that there is no perceptible transition. Her enigmatic smile has been both evocative and cause of speculation as to whom she might be.

This is a post you can’t afford to sleep on.

Go check the colour lovers blog out now>>

DayDream Network have just released the fourth edition of their lovely publication.

There are far too many artist in this edition for me to mention so you’re just gonna have to buy a copy and see for yourself!

You can pick up a copy here>>

That’s right folks, Secret Wars is back for Series 3!
New Artists will be battling it out against the defending champion Wen for 1000 pounds!

JULY 26TH @ JUNO (SHOREDITCH HIGH ST) - DOORS OPEN @ 6PM / BATTLE STARTS @ 9PM

JIMI CRAYON vs. STIKA

FREE ENTRY – GET THERE EARLY

RULES:
1 LARGE WHITE WALL (SPLIT IN HALF)
90 MINS
BLACK PAINT ONLY (MARKERS AND BRUSHES)
NO SKETCHES / NO PENCILS – FREESTYLE ONLY
2 JUDGES AND CROWD VOTE TO DECIDE WINNER (3 POINT SYSTEM)

For more info check out; WWW.SECRETWARS.CO.UK