Cloth of Gold and their Winter Carnival Float!

Would you or someone else you know like to help build a Winter Carnival Float?

Cloth of Gold has been commissioned to design and build a brilliant Winter themed float which will be the centre piece of festive celebrations at 6 different locations in Camden this year. They are in the process of creating some large-scale carnivalesqe light sculptures which they would love to share with other arty people. If you are any good at making, painting, sticking and generally enjoy being creative, then please get in touch with them to help. It is a great opportunity to get some extra experience of making artwork for events and to work alongside practicing professional artists.

Cloth of Gold are looking for up to 2 volunteers. There are 2 key making days available at their studio on: Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th November from 10am - 3pm. With an additional production day on Thursday 26th November.

For more info; call Sarah on 020 7372 0628, or email cog (at) btconnect.com

CreateKX Networking @ Sartorial Contemporary Art

Doesn't the time just fly... The nights are drawing in and Summer is but a distant, damp memory. Last week CreateKX celebrated this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness with its Autumn Networking event, with wine and a healthy gathering of friends at the Sartorial Gallery.

Founded in 2004 by Gretta Sarfaty Marchant, Sartorial moved to King’s Cross in 2008 - becoming one of the largest new contemporary art galleries in London. The gallery is located through a non-descript, small door just off Argyle Square - walking into its hidden space is like unlocking a fabulous secret.

The current exhibition celebrates five years of success, showcasing works of 20 of the gallery's artists. Although this exhibition ends today - apologies for the bad timing! - the next opens in a mere week. Lust for life is a solo exhibition featuring the work of Swedish painter Ann-Caroline Breig. So go down, find the hidden door, and explore!

The gallery is open Tues-Sat, 12.30-6pm.

Finnegan's Teeth

Eagle eyed wanderers around the Railway lands and York Way may have noticed enigmatic additions to the landscape. If you take a look at the Fish and Coal Building from Goods Way or from the canal or have a wander down to the York Way Canal bridge or along Goods Way then you will witness some of the art work for Finnegan's teeth. These are large scale poster extracts from an artist's book by local artist Judith Cowan. The shaggy dog story of a canine wandering the mean streets of King's Cross, taking his owner along for the ride, Finnegan's teeth is a disconcerting, funny and strangely moving dogs eye view of the world.
Check www.finnegansteeth.info for more details

'Exquisite Bodies' at the Wellcome Collection

Anyone squeamish is advised to steer clear of the 'Exquisite Bodies' exhibition, subtitled ‘The Curious And Grotesque Story Of The Anatomical Model’ at the Wellcome Collection. The wax-work models on show here are anatomical replicas formerly used as teaching aids for surgeons and midwives and Madame Tussaud's this is not!

Featuring graphic deconstructions of the human anatomy in states ranging from fascinating to festering. These models often took the form of alluring female figures that could be stripped and split into different sections. The exhibit includes toy like models built up from several layers and
plastic body parts, one being that of a pregnant subject dissected to reveal her unborn foetus . It could be a very dark (and detailed) version of the game 'Operation'. Further teaching models include a life size wood and leather torso complete with cloth baby which was used to demonstrate
various birthing methods.

Other models were more macabre, showing the body ravaged by syphilis, tuberculosis or drug addiction. With their capacity to titillate as well as educate, anatomical models became sought-after curiosities in 19th century. They became a weapon of propaganda, combining entertainment with a public health service; providing a warning to society about living in an 'ungodly' way.

The display of models, all with their own indivdual varieties of venereal disease is worthy of note for the impressive level of detail. As is the gruesome model of a man cleanly severed through his torso, revealing a fascinting cross section for us to examine but a very bad day at the office for the poor man who was the inspiration for this piece if his modelled face is anything to go by!

However the area cordoned off with a tempting red velvet curtain complete with warning sign for those of a sensetive disposition is probably the most controversial. However, the cabinet of infected groins and potentially racially offensive pieces isn't even lit, meaning that patrons can't really examine it without pulling the curtain open revealing the oh-so horrific contents of the hidden section, concious that they might be offending somebody else in the room. I doubt very much that the curtain or the warning have really put anybody off taking a peek and wonder if it should have been curtained at all. That said, my stomach may be made of stronger stuff than some.

Just as educational, and just as stimulating, as when these pieces where first made, this is definately one to see. Macabre and marvellous!



Exquisite Bodies at the Wellcome Collection, ends on 18 October. Entry is free.

See the website for associated events and introductory videos.

Surface / Space/ Time @ The Crypt Gallery

The latest exhibit at the Crypt Gallery (St. Pancras Church, Euston Road) brings together a group of emerging and established artists, to explore the concepts of surface, space and time. The exhibition seeks to explore the hidden pathways and connotations located within the subject title and makes and excellent start with it's choice of location being the dark, eerie and damp maze of passageways at the Crypt Gallery.

The exhibition is diverse and distictive with a range of methods and media being utilised. I particularly enjoyed the Susan Hotchkis series. She uses her colourful embroidered textiles to explore the notion of beauty being created over a long period of time and seeks to find a harmony between man made and natural beauty. She manages to create an almost paint like effect with her embroidery which I thought was clever and beautiful. Richard Jack's sculptural work which explored familial relationships and Rona Smith's breezeblock installation 'High Rise' were also interesting and enjoyable, with the latter being one of the few pieces which I felt was truly site specific despite many of the artist's claims.

The Crypt's next exhibition, looks to be just as interesting. 'Is this Spain?', opening on 12th September, brings together contemporary Spanish artists who question and reject the often held stereotypes of Spanish culture and Spain as a country with a strong emphasis on newer artistic methods and languages such as video installation and net art.

Surface/ Space/Time featured artists: Eve Wheate, JooHee Hwang, Lucy Barfoot, Lucy Fergus, Luke Stones, Mark Houghton, Mary Louise Evans, Richard Jack, Rona Smith, Sam Clift, Simone Wallace & Sue Hotchkis.


http://www.cryptgallery.org.uk/

Taste The Place

Free taster dance sessions available at The Place over this weekend. Become an expert overnight in anything from Egyptian to Cha Cha Cha! Limited places remain so check out the website asap: www.theplace.org.uk/taste

CAMLEY STREET FESTIVAL

Sunday 6th September at Camley Street Natural Park

For those who have the stamina there's the option of 2 festivals in one weekend. CS Natural Park has it all: From pond-dipping to bushcraft workshops, live music and a yurt carnival procession. Get back to nature in style!

Find out more here: www.wildlondon.org.uk/getinvolved

Marchmont Street Festival

5th September - 11-6pm

Don't miss the annual Marchmont Street Festival, taking place on 5th September. There's promise of great food - from cake to curry, live music, fun fair rides, street performers and even punch and judy.

And if you've got the back-to-school-blues, visit the School of Life open day, where their resident experts can help you face September with a spring in your step. They'll be offering free pearls of wisdom on all big stuff: Love, Work, Family, Play and Politics.

If all those experts can't help you... well there's always cake.

See you there!

ARTIST RESIDENCY

A great opportunity to be a part of the evolving fabric of King's Cross has emerged: A new artist residency on the King's Cross Central site.

For all the information on the residency, and how to apply, just visit the King's Cross Central site.

Finding Affordable Workspace

We're soon to host a seminar on sourcing affordable workspace - a key issue for artists in this area. It's free, so come down and hear what our expert has to say.

FINDING SPACE IN REGENERATION AREAS
A lively and informative session that looks into the space conundrum that faces organisations looking for workspace on a budget, led by an arts practitioner who has developed a number of properties in north London.
The topics covered are: • Where to look, how to look: tips, considerations • Making contact with the landlord/agent: speaking the language of property • Getting the most out of your landlord • Once you are in – developing the space

BOOKING DETAILS
DATE: 26th August 2009, 10.30am-12.30pm COST: FREE! HOW TO BOOK: Please email Sian.James@bl.uk with the following details:
Full Name:
Organisation and Position (if relevant):
Postcode: