What a fun and fabulous night.
June first, 2017.
Not many photos were taken as there were no phones out. All the beautiful people were just digging art, talking laughing and having a good proper time. Like the good ole days, with good ole folk. Nothing is going viral here.
Gilded Pleasures was launched a week before the UK went to the polls, Katherine Griffin/Slade Alumni, Eleanor Kelly and I put on a great show of fine art, pop art and solidarity. June 1st the first Thursday of the month at Flaxton Ptooch. Such a hidden gem of a venue, right next to Rio health’s SPA! a tardis of delights.
Sexy, detailed skulls, larger than life sinister red cats and Frida Kahlo were all present. Katherine’s detailed fine art paintings are a beautiful wonder to be enjoyed.
Of all the wonderful things, the best for me was, Bubs. SuperBubs. My little lovely. As much as i had the superficial yearning of the art crowd and my bubble world to see my show, having my little bubba chubba walking around, seeing all the new 26 pieces on the wall and seeing all the people there to see it, made my heart sing. Mummy, did you make all this?? he was dead proud. From the confines of painting in the recycling hallway, to having stuff on a wall.
As it was half term, he could stay up a little bit later. Katherine put up a beautiful oil painting in tribute to Frida Kahlo, so i brought my Sinister Saint icon print. The one that has bubs as a 4 year old, mirrored repeatedly as my heart. Katherine’s and my work echoed and complemented each others in a really wonderful way. Big shout out of creativity and commitment to Elle Kelly, what a fabulous curator she is.
(Side note) I took that photo of him on my 39th? birthday, we’d been in the hospital all week and finally we were home, I was painting thru my Juarez period, about all the women that had been murdered on the border town of Texas and Mexico. When I initially did the pieces the number of women killed was at 279, when Amnesty International picked it up a few years ago the body count was at 408. So I was into Día de Muertos
So I said, let’s paint ourselves as day of the dead, or celebration of life I like to think. I set up a mirror in the front room, and a camera. He covered his whole face in black. He loved it.
and we took pictures of us. I had my saturday class at the slade. I turned it into something beautiful.
It was my first proper show since 2012 solo show (Vibe Bar, Protesters & Pussies). Nerve wracking as hell. I’d started just started teaching full time with young people excluded from school, like a PRU but more creatively and structurally aligned. So, i didn’t know if I could pull it off.
In an abstract way I wondered why? beyond the art therapy dynamic and painting out my nightmares of why the fuck I do it. Why bother? Whose demons are these? Besides the fact that drawing and painting are the things in life that bring me such joy and connectivity. 2.(The constant attraction to brains and the mind in art. ) But just before it was all hung, I couldn’t help but think, why put it out there? Why try to sell it or make a name for yourself? Why even try to sell it? What narrative are you trying to play at? (then the usual insecurities of, your not that good, what the hell are you doing?). -another time.
Gary came out to see his brilliant brain on display. Good times. I am thankful I have an amazing life long friend that can send me MRI’s of their brains at short notice.
The show runs until July 1st. Prints and more prints are available. If it suits your budget, cheaply framed white on white Ikea framed originals are available for a song. Will look great in any living room…
It was a lot of work and an interesting exercise. Has got me thinking about the next steps in my journey. Installations, stuff that can’t be bought, just experienced. The Art world is a weird beast. I’m still a total outsider, but i find it a tad fascinating.
Thank you all for coming out to the opening night. Was great to see you. Big thanks to Conrad and Michael. Especially Conrad such a wonderful individual. and all my friends. Having friends there was the best. My BFF was so comfortable and included. That’s what matters. My BFF sat and chilled. I left before the night was over. Fight the Power and much love to all.
x x x