Outsider Art at Kings Place, London

Exhibition at Kings Place (new Guardian building) - 22nd March–1st April

A dazzling collection of works by contemporary outsider artists will be shown at the new Guardian offices and galleries at Kings Place.

Curated by The Bethlem Gallery, artworks have been provided by Creative Future, The Otherside Gallery, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Bethlem Gallery itself. The exhibition will be a taster for the forthcoming IMPACT ART FAIR and launch the Fringe Arts Programme, a London-based initiative established to showcase artists marginalised through reasons of mental ill health.

Venue: Guardian Gallery, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU
Dates: 22nd March–1st April
Times: Open every day - 10am–6pm
Preview: There is an open invitation to attend on Wednesday, March 30th 6.30-8.30pm

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Maker of the Week - Snowden Flood

Snowden Flood is an interior accessories designer based in London. Her work celebrates urban and rural landscapes through an ongoing exploration of the theme of souvenirs and keepsakes.

One favourite living craft maker.
I like Pieke Bergmans, wonderful inventive, imaginative and slightly anarchic use of materials

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? What one product/item do you really covet?
I buy things constantly from Etsy and ebay! Last thing I bought was a gorgeous 1950's Scandinavian cheeseboard for my boyfriend for Xmas, hope he doesn't read this! I have always coveted Paul Frankls Skyscraper chest. It's from the 20's. I think I might need another mortgage though!

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At 18 I was working on the London markets making and selling my own clothes and earrings. I'd done a work experience scheme at Winchester School of Art and was inspired by the students I made friends with. I would never have gone to art school otherwise as my art teacher at school told me I'd "never be good at art"!

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
I listen to music nonstop so a wide variety. But here's some things I've listened to today; The National, Everything Everything, The Coral, Wild Beasts, Bombay Bicycle Club, Gil Scott Heron, Elliot Smith, Doves, Joan as Policewoman, Jolie Holland, Arvo Part. Oh and of course - my brothers new album - Hedonism by Bellowhead!


Where and what is your studio?
Brixton Hill, in my house. I need to move because I need more space!

What is your favourite (art) website?
The American Folk Art Museum! I LOVE it and used to go there lots when I lived in NY, it's not far from where I used to work, beautiful building and wonderful collections. Right next door to MOMA. I've been very inspired by the works in that museum over the years.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Triathlon and accordion playing.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
No it's rubbish. I work all the time, I think that moving to a separate studio will help me alot! But I think about my work all the time and wake up in the night to make notes and sketches of things.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Possessed!

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Absolutely! I think it's very important indeed which is why humans have been making marks since we lived in caves!

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Invariably the things produced to make a quick buck, a cynical short-cut, cheap copies of the things that someone put love and care into (B&Q Tom Dixon lights for example).

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Maker of the Week - John Plater

J0hn Plater is a woodturner who works from his home in Brighton producing beautiful vessels.

One favourite living craft maker.
Apart from me, Bert Buri, Sussex Guild Cabinet Maker, nice bloke and lovely work.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? What one product/item do you really covet?
A pencil drawing from John Amos, local artist. Possibly a bigger lathe and somewhere to put it, so that I can be incompetent on a grander scale !


At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At 18 I was in Teacher Education, the woodturning came later and self taught. Influences are varied but all reflect honesty of design and construction and truth to materials.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Muse, Katie Melua and Bryan Adams.

Where and what is your studio?
A shed in the garden at home.



What is your favourite (art) website?
http://www.societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk/. A quality site, full of interest.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Landrovers.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Yes, coming late to design/craft as a “second career” has helped to keep a perspective.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Joy.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
For me yes, for others – “…in the eyes of the beholder”. They are a significant part of life’s rich tapestry, offering spiritual and cerebral solace.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I find conceptual stuff difficult to cope with and dislike elitism.

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Call for Entries - BAF, PAF, MADE11

Applications are open for
Brighton Art Fair
Palace Art Fair and
MADE11 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair

Application forms can be downloaded from our websites and applications can be made online until 31 March 2011.

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Maker of the Week - Maria de Haan / Noa Ceramics

Maria De Haan makes functional tableware with Eastern influences.

One favourite living craft maker
I really respect the work of Akiko Hirai, simple forms but very organic and earthy. I am not really into over complicated or highly decorated work, as in my own work I like ceramics to have a calming effect on its audience, for me less is definitely more.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?
I bought an Antique cabinet from Afghanistan about 7 years from a friends furniture shop in London. I love it. It is incredible it has two carved wooden swing doors that open outward with three very simple wooden planks of wood. Its very rustic and absolutely gorgeous. Its lives in my kitchen but I use it for exhibitions sometimes to display my work.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Aged 18!? Well trying to think back,... possibly my Mum, she is Spanish and had a bit of a bohemian chic thing going on.



What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Bombay Bicycle Club, and Ray Lamontagne.

Where and what is your studio?
NW10 Studios, Near Kensal rise in North West London. The area is not that pretty, train spotters would love my studio! the view is industrial, but my studio is on the 2nd floor and the natural light is amazing. There are a real mix of people in the building from painters, furniture restorers and music producers and other ceramicists, they all have studios there. We all work with our doors open so its a very friendly and creative place.

What is your favourite (art) website?
I don't have one, but I get regular updates from the Craft Council in London.

Surprising activity/hobby?
I am into antiques, something with a history or a story behind it. I also like to play chess.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
NO if I have a deadline on then my life gets put on hold!!! Ceramics always take longer than you think, so you can never make plans for an evening as you will always have to cancel.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?

Physical.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?

Yes most definitely, if we didn't have art and couldn't express ourselves creatively the world would be a very grey and soulless place.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?

Not really, each to their own, although I do have a strong aversion to plastic as a material !

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Maker of the Week - Michaela Gall

Michalea Gall is a ceramicist producing domestic ware in majolica, painted with oxides and mostly thrown. Folk and Islamic influences feature in her work.

One favourite living craft maker.

Christiane Fischer is a Brazilian jeweller, she uses raw chunks of stone like unpolished ruby- sliced it looks like a piece of pastrami- wonderful!

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?

I bought a cup from Kaori Tatebayashi, it's ink black glazed stoneware, I almost bow to it.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
I was influenced by anything early and religious, icons, trecento painting, partly from the nun who taught us history of art at school then I went to live in Florence so it was all classical for a while.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
n/a or broken, but Radio 3 and if the kids interfere 1.

Where and what is your studio?
In a stable.

What is your favourite (art) website ?
No favourite just random trawls.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Singing with the hoover as my orchestra?

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
I probably do more thinking about my work than transferring ideas. Everything is food for my work it's just a question of nailing it down.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Tantalising

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Well if stone age (wo)man hadn't made rock gongs and adzes then I wouldn't be on a computer now.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
The benches at Charing Cross Station must rank pretty high, metal, slatted, like shards of ice in winter.

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Maker of the Week - Gemma Wheeler

Gemma Wheeler is a silversmith and jeweller who enjoys the challenges of the design process from paper to three-dimensional form.

One favourite living craft maker.
As a maker we all get to go to the fairs, even if it is work. The advantages of this is we also get to see other makers work. I really like the work of Gwen Bainbridge, it is very delicate, I like the contrast of the floral pattern against the bright white of the china.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?

The last thing I bought surrounding art was a book on Iron jewellery, I love looking through books on anything and everything, I get really inspired.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
At 18 I would say I was influenced by a style rather than an individual, but if I did have to choose one I would say Clarice Cliff. I liked the geometric style she created in her ceramic forms.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
Johnny Cash is on the i-pod and cd player, I love to listen to him in the workshop.

Where and what is your studio?
My workshop is in Cropredy, Oxfordshire, I converted the space which is above my Dad's business. Its five minutes from my house, so I get to walk to work everyday.


What is your favourite (art) website?
Most art websites I visit are to purchase materials from, I couldn’t say they are my favourite sites though! Although the site I have chosen isn’t an art site it is some where I visit to purchase books for my inspiration, this of course is Amazon!

Surprising activity/hobby?
I can't say that I have any surprising hobbies. I’m very much a maker, I love ceramics and have just bought a new camera which I’m looking forward to experimenting with after the Christmas rush.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
I do find it hard to completely switch off, I find myself always looking around for inspiration and new ideas. I would say I have a good work/life balance even though I only get Sundays off I make the most of them and the evenings.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Enthralling

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
I think that you only have to look back over the years to see the positive impact art/design has had on the world, there have been some really interesting concepts.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I think every one has their own tastes and what one person loves another will hate, this applies in two ways the original designing of a piece and then the individual who is viewing the piece. I find that at the same time that I may not love the look of something I can appreciate the skill that has gone into making it. I would never openly point out individual designs or designers for examples as someone has spent time creating this and must think it is worth the viewing.

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