To see all six postcards just go to my Oodles of Doodles blog.
And to find out the names of the artists behind any of this year's artwork you can still view this year's cards online.
Showing posts with label rca secret. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rca secret. Show all posts
2011 RCA Secret Postcards Revealed
Now that this year's RCA Secret has come to an end I can reveal my entries. This year I entered three drawings under my given name, Wayne Chisnall, and three painted and drawn-over Swirly Skull prints under my nickname, Chig.
To see all six postcards just go to my Oodles of Doodles blog.
And to find out the names of the artists behind any of this year's artwork you can still view this year's cards online.
To see all six postcards just go to my Oodles of Doodles blog.
And to find out the names of the artists behind any of this year's artwork you can still view this year's cards online.
RCA Secret Artists' Party 2011
Last night saw the RCA Secret's eighteenth birthday launched with a party and Champagne reception, as a thank you to all the artists that have supported the project.
As usual the show is held in the Royal College of Art's Gulbenkian Galleries in Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU and the same rules apply. The original postcard-sized artworks produced by internationally acclaimed artists and up-and-coming graduates from the RCA will be on display for a week before going on sale to the public.
The 'secret' part of the show is that the cards are only signed on the reverse, keeping the artwork's author a mystery (although I know a few dedicated RCA Secret fans who usually work out pretty much who's produced what) up until the point that the card is purchased. Each card is priced at £45 and a maximum of for cards may be purchased per person but if you fancy joining the queue I suggest you get there early as I already saw one person camped out last night (a week ahead of the opening). Oh yes – and you'll have to register first.
If you can't make it to the show before the opening fear not as you can view this year's cards online.
As per usual, I've submitted three separate cards under both of my names,' Wayne Chisnall' and 'Chig'. Is that wrong? - I think not. There are no prizes this year for guessing which ones are mine as I think that most of them are pretty obvious. But do feel free to drop me a line if think you've worked them out and want to assess you powers of deduction.
Here's a photo of me at the party with the photographer, Rosie Mayell, obviously enjoying the Champagne a bit too much.
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the opening of this year's show on Saturday 26th of this month as I'll be jetting off to Miami for the opening of Art Basel. I'm looking forward to a few days of driving round the Florida Keys in a convertible (and possibly doing a spot of alligator wrestling) before hitting the fair for arty brunches, parties and exhibitions. I've already packed my best Don Johnson/Miami Vice outfit (circa 1984).
As usual the show is held in the Royal College of Art's Gulbenkian Galleries in Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU and the same rules apply. The original postcard-sized artworks produced by internationally acclaimed artists and up-and-coming graduates from the RCA will be on display for a week before going on sale to the public.
The 'secret' part of the show is that the cards are only signed on the reverse, keeping the artwork's author a mystery (although I know a few dedicated RCA Secret fans who usually work out pretty much who's produced what) up until the point that the card is purchased. Each card is priced at £45 and a maximum of for cards may be purchased per person but if you fancy joining the queue I suggest you get there early as I already saw one person camped out last night (a week ahead of the opening). Oh yes – and you'll have to register first.
If you can't make it to the show before the opening fear not as you can view this year's cards online.
As per usual, I've submitted three separate cards under both of my names,' Wayne Chisnall' and 'Chig'. Is that wrong? - I think not. There are no prizes this year for guessing which ones are mine as I think that most of them are pretty obvious. But do feel free to drop me a line if think you've worked them out and want to assess you powers of deduction.
Here's a photo of me at the party with the photographer, Rosie Mayell, obviously enjoying the Champagne a bit too much.
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the opening of this year's show on Saturday 26th of this month as I'll be jetting off to Miami for the opening of Art Basel. I'm looking forward to a few days of driving round the Florida Keys in a convertible (and possibly doing a spot of alligator wrestling) before hitting the fair for arty brunches, parties and exhibitions. I've already packed my best Don Johnson/Miami Vice outfit (circa 1984).
RCA Secret Blog Interview
Well it’s that time of year again and the RCA Secret postcard show is almost upon us. It seems to come round faster every year and as usual I only just made the deadline for getting my cards into the show. This year, because of other mounting arty-farty commitments, I left things a bit late and was working on my six entries (three cards as Wayne Chisnall and three as Chig, the name I used to illustrate under and the one I'm more commonly known by back home) up until 3AM the night before the last handing-in day.
For anyone that fancies finding out what I and a few of the other regular contributors the RCA Secret think about the show please feel free to check out our interviews on the RCA Secret blog.
Here are a couple of my entries from last year’s RCA Secret show.
This one, Werecrow, under the name Chig…
And this one as Wayne Chisnall.
For anyone that fancies finding out what I and a few of the other regular contributors the RCA Secret think about the show please feel free to check out our interviews on the RCA Secret blog.
Here are a couple of my entries from last year’s RCA Secret show.
This one, Werecrow, under the name Chig…
And this one as Wayne Chisnall.
Calling All Artists
If there are any artists out there who would like to put their talents to good use and help out the Oli Bennett Charitable Trust by creating one or more postcard sized pieces of artwork then please check out the details below.
I’ve just started working on my cards and here’s my first one. As you can see this pencil sketch bares a startling resemblance to one of my Orifice Box sculptures – although this one seems to be spawning or something (don’t ask me what it means – I only drew it). I’ll wait until after the sale before I post images of the rest – it supposed to be anonymous after all.
The Oli Bennett Charitable Trust (Registered Charity number: 1090861) is asking for donations of artwork for an anonymous postcard art show which will be held on 20 June 2011.
Oli Bennett was a young man killed in the 9/11 world trade centre attack. The charity is set up in his name to provide funding and grants for young people with business ideas, many of who are from an underprivileged background. It operates in a similar way to the Prince’s Trust. The fund has helped a wide variety of young people in the past set up businesses as wide ranging as wood recycling, sports coaching, fashion designing, jewellery making, ceramics, Car valeting, cake making etc.
The sale will be along very similar lines to the Royal College of Art secret postcard show RCA Secret.
Artists are asked to create postcard sized works of art in any media. They will be exhibited online for a week and then sold on the evening of the event for the sum of £20 each. The twist is that the artist signs the postcard on the back so the buyer doesn't know whose artwork they have got until they buy the card and then turn it over. All proceeds from the sale will go directly to the charity.
Any artists who would like to help by designing one or more postcards for the sale would be much appreciated. Please email your postal address to: olipostcards@btinternet.com
We will then get some cards sent off to you. The deadline for returning the cards is 1 June 2011.
If you would like to come to sale you would be very welcome, it will be on 20 June 2011 at Westminster School in central London. If you’d like to come let us know and we will send you more details. Thank you so much for your help.
I’ve just started working on my cards and here’s my first one. As you can see this pencil sketch bares a startling resemblance to one of my Orifice Box sculptures – although this one seems to be spawning or something (don’t ask me what it means – I only drew it). I’ll wait until after the sale before I post images of the rest – it supposed to be anonymous after all.
The Oli Bennett Charitable Trust (Registered Charity number: 1090861) is asking for donations of artwork for an anonymous postcard art show which will be held on 20 June 2011.
Oli Bennett was a young man killed in the 9/11 world trade centre attack. The charity is set up in his name to provide funding and grants for young people with business ideas, many of who are from an underprivileged background. It operates in a similar way to the Prince’s Trust. The fund has helped a wide variety of young people in the past set up businesses as wide ranging as wood recycling, sports coaching, fashion designing, jewellery making, ceramics, Car valeting, cake making etc.
The sale will be along very similar lines to the Royal College of Art secret postcard show RCA Secret.
Artists are asked to create postcard sized works of art in any media. They will be exhibited online for a week and then sold on the evening of the event for the sum of £20 each. The twist is that the artist signs the postcard on the back so the buyer doesn't know whose artwork they have got until they buy the card and then turn it over. All proceeds from the sale will go directly to the charity.
Any artists who would like to help by designing one or more postcards for the sale would be much appreciated. Please email your postal address to: olipostcards@btinternet.com
We will then get some cards sent off to you. The deadline for returning the cards is 1 June 2011.
If you would like to come to sale you would be very welcome, it will be on 20 June 2011 at Westminster School in central London. If you’d like to come let us know and we will send you more details. Thank you so much for your help.
New Screen Prints - Swirly Skulls
Christmas is just around the corner and you still can’t think what to get Great Aunty Flow. Well fear not – I have just the solution. How about one of my brand new Swirly Skull prints? Guaranteed to cheer up any stuffy old living room and compliment the bewilderingly pervasive ceramic cat collection.
If the image looks strangely familiar then you might remember the postcard-sized single skull versions that I made and handed out free to the folks queuing for last year’s RCA Secret show. I have been promising to bring out this larger, 9 skull version for over a year now but due to a prolonged bought of slackness, I’ve only just got round to it – just in time for Christmas. What a coincidence!
These new hand-pulled, screen prints are in a limited edition of 50 - a much smaller edition than my Spidey Pods prints (scroll down the page for details), and each print is signed, titled, dated and editioned. I’m currently in the process of cropping the prints down from the 70 x 50 cm paper, on which they were printed, to 60 x 45 cm as this size works best with the image. However, I may keep a couple back, un-cropped, just in case anyone would like to frame them in a larger frame with a wide mount. I know that Ikea do a nice 70 x 50 cm plain black or white wood frame, with a mount, for about £20 but I’ve not tried a print in one of these frames yet so can’t comment on how they look.
As they’ve only just been printed, they don’t yet appear for sale in any galleries, shops or other sites. And as is the case with my Spidey Pods prints, I am offering these prints on my blog first, at a commission-free price. They are £60 each (30-50% less than in shops and galleries). So if you fancy buying one just drop me a line at waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk and we can work out how to get one to you.
However, if you like your screen prints with a bit more colour then hang on till the end of the week when I will be bringing out a two colour, limited edition (probably in an edition of 45 to 50 prints) version. This set will also feature the 9 black Swirly Skulls but printed on a dripping block of baby pink. As the block of pink colour extends beyond the boarder of the skulls, the image holds it own on a larger sheet of paper so will be printed on 70 x 50 cm sheets.
So, as they said on something probably quite corny – ‘Watch this space’.
If the image looks strangely familiar then you might remember the postcard-sized single skull versions that I made and handed out free to the folks queuing for last year’s RCA Secret show. I have been promising to bring out this larger, 9 skull version for over a year now but due to a prolonged bought of slackness, I’ve only just got round to it – just in time for Christmas. What a coincidence!
These new hand-pulled, screen prints are in a limited edition of 50 - a much smaller edition than my Spidey Pods prints (scroll down the page for details), and each print is signed, titled, dated and editioned. I’m currently in the process of cropping the prints down from the 70 x 50 cm paper, on which they were printed, to 60 x 45 cm as this size works best with the image. However, I may keep a couple back, un-cropped, just in case anyone would like to frame them in a larger frame with a wide mount. I know that Ikea do a nice 70 x 50 cm plain black or white wood frame, with a mount, for about £20 but I’ve not tried a print in one of these frames yet so can’t comment on how they look.
As they’ve only just been printed, they don’t yet appear for sale in any galleries, shops or other sites. And as is the case with my Spidey Pods prints, I am offering these prints on my blog first, at a commission-free price. They are £60 each (30-50% less than in shops and galleries). So if you fancy buying one just drop me a line at waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk and we can work out how to get one to you.
However, if you like your screen prints with a bit more colour then hang on till the end of the week when I will be bringing out a two colour, limited edition (probably in an edition of 45 to 50 prints) version. This set will also feature the 9 black Swirly Skulls but printed on a dripping block of baby pink. As the block of pink colour extends beyond the boarder of the skulls, the image holds it own on a larger sheet of paper so will be printed on 70 x 50 cm sheets.
So, as they said on something probably quite corny – ‘Watch this space’.
RCA No-longer Secret 2010
Well, the RCA Secret is over for another year so now I can reveal which were my six postcard-sized artworks.
Number 411 (Jellyscuttle). Quite a few people worked this one out because it’s a copy of one of my quick-fire drawings.
This tentacle orifice box pencil sketch which was bought by Mr Adam Stone (one of the many dedicated front line RCA enthusiasts who braved the cold weather and camped out for the opening) was number 701 in the show.
Like the previous drawing, this orifice box sketch (number 2002) was probably quite easy to work out as being one of mine, especially if you’ve look at my new series of sculptures.
Number 2441 is a follow up piece to last year’s Love Is card – and features one of the same creatures. A friend told me that they thought the Love Is drawing seemed cynical so I thought I’d up the ante a little with this one.
I entered these last two biro drawings under my nickname, Chig (I thought it needed an outing). They proved to be the hardest ones for people to work out as being mine. This one, number 2210, is of a crow (my favourite bird) with human-like hands instead of feet. Actually there seemed to be a few crow pictures in the show this year. I've just found out that my Werecrow card is now in the possession of Sandy Lyell, up in Edinburgh - thanks for the lovely email Sandy.
I drew this winged torpedo one, number 605, after I got back from viewing an exhibition by a Russia artist in Shoreditch. In the show the artist (whose name I shamefully can’t remember) had made a model submarine that travelled up and down a massive water-filled Perspex tube that ran the length of the gallery.
Number 411 (Jellyscuttle). Quite a few people worked this one out because it’s a copy of one of my quick-fire drawings.
This tentacle orifice box pencil sketch which was bought by Mr Adam Stone (one of the many dedicated front line RCA enthusiasts who braved the cold weather and camped out for the opening) was number 701 in the show.
Like the previous drawing, this orifice box sketch (number 2002) was probably quite easy to work out as being one of mine, especially if you’ve look at my new series of sculptures.
Number 2441 is a follow up piece to last year’s Love Is card – and features one of the same creatures. A friend told me that they thought the Love Is drawing seemed cynical so I thought I’d up the ante a little with this one.
I drew this winged torpedo one, number 605, after I got back from viewing an exhibition by a Russia artist in Shoreditch. In the show the artist (whose name I shamefully can’t remember) had made a model submarine that travelled up and down a massive water-filled Perspex tube that ran the length of the gallery.
New Member of the Family
Here’s my latest Orifice Box sculpture. The pictures are courtesy of fellow RCA Secret contributor and photographer, Phil Sofer.
This one took quite a long time to construct as I wanted to cobble it together from multiple bits and pieces – to give it a bit of a Frankenstein’s Monster look. As with most of my box structures, I’m interested in the play between the organic and the geometric. Hopefully this can be seen in the interaction between the carved orifice and the angular interlocking wooden sections.
I’ve only just got round to putting the wheels on it – which is the part that I really look forward to as it gives a piece a sense of completion. However, this one isn’t totally finished yet. I’m working on a smaller cubic box (with an exploded front and back so that you can see straight through it) on stilts, that will sit inside this the sculpture. I’ve already completed the main structure of the inner box (which has now inspired me to make a series of them as sculptural pieces in their own right. This is one of the problems with sculpture – each piece can inspire multiple spin-offs) but before it is ready to install I intend to cover it in a thick coat of rusty nails, similar to my Nail Box sculpture.
This is me conducting rigorous structural integrity tests (don’t try this at home kids).
This one took quite a long time to construct as I wanted to cobble it together from multiple bits and pieces – to give it a bit of a Frankenstein’s Monster look. As with most of my box structures, I’m interested in the play between the organic and the geometric. Hopefully this can be seen in the interaction between the carved orifice and the angular interlocking wooden sections.
I’ve only just got round to putting the wheels on it – which is the part that I really look forward to as it gives a piece a sense of completion. However, this one isn’t totally finished yet. I’m working on a smaller cubic box (with an exploded front and back so that you can see straight through it) on stilts, that will sit inside this the sculpture. I’ve already completed the main structure of the inner box (which has now inspired me to make a series of them as sculptural pieces in their own right. This is one of the problems with sculpture – each piece can inspire multiple spin-offs) but before it is ready to install I intend to cover it in a thick coat of rusty nails, similar to my Nail Box sculpture.
This is me conducting rigorous structural integrity tests (don’t try this at home kids).
RCA Secret Artists Party
Yesterday saw the public opening of RCA Secret 2010, the Royal College of Art’s annual exhibition of thousands of original postcard-sized artworks – the sale of which go to help the college’s students. Every year, as a thank you to all the artists who contribute, the RCA throws an opening party. Here are a few photos from that party.
This fantastic character, Peter, has been exhibiting at RCA Secret since it began.
Ooh - I can see one of my cards here.
RCA Secret Time Again
Well it’s that time of year again – the RCA Secret 2010 show is almost upon us. This year I have entered four pieces as Wayne Chisnall and two pieces as Chig (the name that most friends have known me by since I was ten or eleven). To give you a clue as to which ones in the exhibition are mine, I can tell you that four are pencil drawings and two are black biro drawings. What do you mean ‘those are crap clues’? OK then – here’s a big clue. Two of them relate to the latest set of sculptures that I’ve been working on (see earlier posts). And here’s an even bigger clue – one of the drawings relates to last year’s ‘Love Is’ card.
To anyone that doesn’t know about The Royal College of Art’s annual RCA Secret postcard show, here’s the info (lifted direct from their website – cos I’m too slack to type it out myself) –
RCA Secret is a unique annual exhibition and sale of original postcard-sized art, made by professional artists, designers and illustrators, plus current postgraduate students at the Royal College of Art.
THE SECRET
The postcards are displayed anonymously and are signed on the reverse, so that the artist remains a secret until after the cards are purchased and their signature is revealed on the back.
THE ARTISTS
Over 1,000 artists have donated work to RCA Secret this year, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, Yoko Ono, Jake Chapman, Olafur Eliasson, Yinka Shonibare, Sir Peter Blake, John Baldessari, fashion designers Manolo Blahnik, Mary Quant and Sir Paul Smith, animator Nick Park, photographer David Bailey, film maker Mike Leigh and designers Ron Arad and James Dyson, as well as up-and-coming students and graduates from the Royal College of Art.
THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition opens on Friday 12 November, then from Sunday 14 November until Friday 19 November, 11am-6pm, with a late opening on Thursday 18 November until 9pm. Please note we are CLOSED on Saturday 13 November due to Government security restrictions for the Festival of Remembrance. Free Admission. The postcards will also be available for viewing on this website from Friday 12 November.
THE SALE
The cards are sold to the public at a one-day sale on Saturday 20 November, from 8am-6pm. Each postcard costs £45 and a maximum of four cards may be purchased per person. Postcards will only be available to purchase in person at the sale. It is recommended that you prepare a list of cards in advance, as the exhibition will not be open for viewing on the day of the sale.
You must have a Collector's Number to purchase a card. Click here to register.
THE RAFFLE
There is a raffle for a chance to win a place in the first fifty people at the front of the sale queue. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the exhibition (with a maximum of 10 tickets per person) until an hour before closing on each day.
WHERE WE ARE
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
Tube: South Kensington/High Street Kensington
Buses: 9, 10, 52, 452
To anyone that doesn’t know about The Royal College of Art’s annual RCA Secret postcard show, here’s the info (lifted direct from their website – cos I’m too slack to type it out myself) –
RCA Secret is a unique annual exhibition and sale of original postcard-sized art, made by professional artists, designers and illustrators, plus current postgraduate students at the Royal College of Art.
THE SECRET
The postcards are displayed anonymously and are signed on the reverse, so that the artist remains a secret until after the cards are purchased and their signature is revealed on the back.
THE ARTISTS
Over 1,000 artists have donated work to RCA Secret this year, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, Yoko Ono, Jake Chapman, Olafur Eliasson, Yinka Shonibare, Sir Peter Blake, John Baldessari, fashion designers Manolo Blahnik, Mary Quant and Sir Paul Smith, animator Nick Park, photographer David Bailey, film maker Mike Leigh and designers Ron Arad and James Dyson, as well as up-and-coming students and graduates from the Royal College of Art.
THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition opens on Friday 12 November, then from Sunday 14 November until Friday 19 November, 11am-6pm, with a late opening on Thursday 18 November until 9pm. Please note we are CLOSED on Saturday 13 November due to Government security restrictions for the Festival of Remembrance. Free Admission. The postcards will also be available for viewing on this website from Friday 12 November.
THE SALE
The cards are sold to the public at a one-day sale on Saturday 20 November, from 8am-6pm. Each postcard costs £45 and a maximum of four cards may be purchased per person. Postcards will only be available to purchase in person at the sale. It is recommended that you prepare a list of cards in advance, as the exhibition will not be open for viewing on the day of the sale.
You must have a Collector's Number to purchase a card. Click here to register.
THE RAFFLE
There is a raffle for a chance to win a place in the first fifty people at the front of the sale queue. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the exhibition (with a maximum of 10 tickets per person) until an hour before closing on each day.
WHERE WE ARE
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU
Tube: South Kensington/High Street Kensington
Buses: 9, 10, 52, 452
RCA Secret Postcard Prize
I've already said congratulations to Cade Newman who correctly guessed which were my postcard entries in this year's RCA Secret Show (ahead of the sale opening) but I'd forgotten to mention what his prise was. So here it is, Doll Torso, from my series of small Doll Parts paintings. Maybe I'll do another competition for next year's show.
RCA Secet Postcards Revealed
Congratulations to Cade Newman who correctly guessed which were my three postcards in this year’s RCA Secret show. A prize (probably a drawing or a small painting) will be winging its way to you shortly. The exhibition numbers were 821, 1007 and 1713.
Although, I would have awarded an extra special prize to anyone who had got number 1700 (bottom left) which was entered under my alias - Chig.
I’ve already had some fantastic feed back from people that I met in the crowd at the RCA Secret and who I gave free prints to (see my earlier post ‘Free Art’). One person was pleased to receive a print, especially since one of my postcards (which she managed to buy) was first on her list. And considering the quality of the art on show this year, I’m very flattered that one of my pieces was on anyone first choice list.
.
Free Art
I've finally managed to catch up on all the sleep that I missed from working through the night, last night, to get all the Swirly Skull mini screen prints done in time so that I could hand them out free to all those dedicated art lovers queueing up for this years RCA Secret sale at The Royal College of Art, London (damn, that was a long sentence). I plan to do a very limited edition, larger version of the Swirly Skull at some point in the future, as well as a limited run featuring a block of 9 skulls (each skull being the same size as the ones I gave out today) but I'll keep you posted on that - I need to find a new studio first.
Last year I handed out stickers to so this year I thought I'd do something special and I created 400, signed and editioned, postcard-sized screen prints - just for the RCA Secret punters.
It had been a long time since I last hand printed a set of screen prints myself and I had forgotten how much fun it was. I must also say a big thank you to screen printer and clothes designer, Chris Hall (check out his new range of street wear at the Sunday 'Up Market', off Brick Lane, London) for preparing the screen for me, for all his technical advise and for use of his screen printing equipment. Much appreciated.
Sorry to all those in the crowd that I wasn't able to get to. Unfortunately I arrived a few minutes too late to reach people at the very front of the queue, as the doors had just opened and everyone was understandably eager to get inside.
As usual at the RCA Secret event, everyone was feeling excited and chatty - and it was great to see a few familiar faces from last year. Because I got there a little late I missed out on catching up with some of the regulars camped out at the front but it would be good to catch up with some of you and find out how you did.
RCA Not So Secret?
Here are three details from the three postcards that I have in this year's RCA Secret. Hopefully I've made it hard to guess which ones in the show are mine but if you think that you have worked it out then why not email me their correct exhibition numbers - and the first correct answer received before the sale starts on Saturday 21st November will win a prize. I'll probably send the winner a small drawing or something.
So if you think you know the answers send me an email marked 'RCA Not So Secret' (including your name, address and the 3 correct numbers) to waynechisnall@yahoo.co.uk - before Saturday 21st November 2009.
Good Luck.
To view the entries on-line go to - www.rca.ac.uk/secret
or check out the show in person at -
Royal college of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU
020 7590 4186
RCA Secret Artists Party
Well, it's that time of year again and the Royal College of Art has just thrown its annual 'thank you' party for all the artists who have contributed to this year's RCA Secret - the once yearly exhibition of "original postcard-sized artwork, donated by internationally acclaimed artists plus up-and-coming graduates from the Royal College of Art". Aside from it being a chance to get a preview of the thousands of works on show, the party is always a good opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new artists. And the free drinks and goodie bags don't go unappreciated either.
Every year I try to do my postcards in a different style from the previous year. This time I've gone for pencil drawings but have done them in slightly different styles to each other. Last year I posted images of my entries here on my blog, before the sale opened - a little bit naughty some would say. Although, for anyone who had already seen my blog and my prints, it was pretty obvious which ones were mine. So this year I'll make it a little harder. Just before the show opens I might post a small detail of one or all the cards and see if anyone can work out which ones are mine. Damn - I could even give a prize to the first person who gets them all right.
All the cards on show go on sale (priced £40 each) on Saturday 21th November 2009 - but get there early as some of the hard-core collects have been known to camp out days, if not weeks, in advance. You can purchase up to four cards but you have to register first - either at the exhibition, at their website or by emailing secret@rca.ac.uk.
However, if all goes to plan (fingers crossed, as I might have left things a little too late to have everything ready in time) I should a little surprise for those queueing outside on the opening day.
The show is open to the public from 13th - 20th November 2009, 11Am-6PM (19.11.09 until 8PM). For further info check out www.rca.ac.uk/secret.
Royal college of Art
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2EU
020 7590 4186
RCA Secret (The Hardcore)
I probably should have posted this message last week but you know how things are – busy, busy, busy. Anyway, I’d like to say a big hello to all the fantastic people that I met at the RCA Secret show a couple of Saturdays ago when the Royal College opened their doors for the sale of the postcards. I’d especially like to say hi to the hardcore few I met who chose to camp out days beforehand (you know who you are - you crazy bastards). And I must say that since being sent a link to a particular blog (rcasecret.blogspot.com), I’ve found myself surprisingly engrossed by everyone’s stories, and by strong community element of those who make what seems to be an annually pilgrimage to the event.
When one of the chaps that I spoke to showed me what cards he had bought, I instantly recognised one of them as being by a friend of mine, Josie McCoy. I had not seen it in the show, but in my defence I must say that I only managed to grab a quick look round beforehand.
Although I regularly contribute postcards to the annual RCA Secret event, this is the first time that I’ve actually turned up as a buyer. And to be honest, I only went this time because my raffle ticket (the first time I’d bought one) won and allowed me to be one of the first 50 in the queue. I must say that being one of the first 50 there was a slight temptation to go for work by the famous artists but that some how felt a bit disrespectful to all those who had braved the cold outside for days on end. Plus I thought it best to go for the ones that I liked. In the end I managed to get 1 of my 2 favourite pieces by an artist whose name I didn’t know at the time, but whose work I recognised (as is often the case, I remember the work but not the name) from a group show in Hoxton Square. It turned out to be by Elinor Evans. My other purchases were a couple of quirky drawings that just made me laugh and a fourth one that will be part of my girlfriend’s Christmas present (Holly, if you’re reading this, don’t you dare check out the RCA site and try to work out which one I got you).
So now I have 5 RCA Secret cards (yes, I know I said that this is the first time I’d bought any cards from the show, but a few years ago I won a Marc Quinn card in a Time Out competition – jammy or what?) in my collection. I’m starting to wonder if I’ve caught the bug and will become a regular in the queue. Only next year will tell.
RCA 'Not So' Secret
It's that time of year again - where the Royal College of Art puts on it's annual 'RCA Secret' show - an exhibition of thousands of postcard sized artworks that are exhibited anonymously and sold to raise money to help support it's students. Last year Paula Rego, Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst were among the artists who made original postcard-sized art for this unique exhibition.
This is one of four postcard pieces that I made for this year's RCA Secret. Yes... I know it's meant to be a secret, but for anyone who's seen this blog or my Spidey Pods prints before, it's not going to be too hard to guess which ones are mine.
The Exhibition opened at the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU on Friday 14th November and runs till Friday 21st November 11-6pm, with a late opening on Thursday 20th November until 8pm. Free admission.
The postcards are available for viewing on their website from Friday 14th November.
The Sale will be on Saturday 22nd November from 8am.
To purchase a piece from the show you must Register in advance of the Sale, which you can do by filling out a Registration Form.
First-Fifty Raffle tickets for a chance to win a place at the front of the Sale queue will be on sale at the Exhibition, until one hour before the close of the exhibition on each open day.
Price per postcard: £40. Postcards will only be available to purchase in person at the Sale. If you would like to make a purchase, it is recommended that you prepare a list of cards in advance, as the exhibition will not be open for viewing on the morning of the Sale.
Naked Zombie
Well, it’s been a fun-packed, roughly art related few days.
Getting Naked.
On Thursday I got to take part in Spencer Tunick’s latest photo shoot on the rooftop bar and pool at the private members club, Shoreditch House, in London. For anyone who doesn’t know, Spencer Tunick is famous for his beautiful photos of hundreds, if not thousands, of naked people standing or lying down in various locations around the world.
The shoot that I stripped off for is part of his new ‘parties series’. It was an amazingly liberating – being naked in a large group of naked strangers. Everyone was totally buzzing from the experience, although I’m sure the free alcohol beforehand helped a little. I would advice anyone to take part in one of his shoots if ever the chance comes up. I’ll see if I can get hold of an image from the night (apparently, everyone who takes part in Tunick’s photo-shoots gets a free print of the event) and post it on my blog at a later date. But in the meantime, why not check out some Tunick’s other photos on www.spencertunick.com – they are incredible.
Being a Zombie
This Sunday was third time lucky for me. I finally got to play a zombie in a zombie film, even if I was the one that got shot through the head whilst sitting on the toilet - there’s no dignity in death.
The first time I was supposed to be a zombie was in Andy Edwards’ first zombie flick, ‘Houseparty of the Dead’ (my acting was particularly bad, which I put down to being a bit drunk, being given the script at the last minute and being a bad actor). However, I ended up playing someone who got attacked and eaten by zombies, which strangely enough is exactly what happened to me when I was supposed to play a zombie in Charley Brooker’s new 6 part zombie drama, ‘Dead Set’, showing on channel 4 this coming October – type casting I tells yee.
Anyway – back to Sunday. I allowed Andy and rest of the Paranoid Android Film crew to use my studio to shoot the zombie nest scene for ‘Houseparty of the Dead III: Things To Do In Camden When You're Dead’ – God, I was cleaning the blood off the walls for days.
Paul Thomson, who I met at the Spencer Tunick thing, kindly turned up with his camera to shoot footage for ‘The Making of House Party of the Dead III’ – which should be interesting. Thanks Paul.
I took lots of photos throughout the day and think I managed to get some interesting ones of the outdoor scenes – although, in retrospect, maybe we shouldn’t have been running round Bethnal Green waving guns, hammers and swords in the air.
As soon as ‘Houseparty of the Dead III’ is edited I’ll put up a link on this blog, but in the meantime, why not check out ‘Houseparty of the Dead II’ on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTgxYpYXnJc
One of the slightly less fun sides of the film shoot was that whilst tidying up afterwards I noticed that some of the RCA Secret postcards that I’d spent all Saturday working on had got covered in fake blood. For those that don’t know, the RCA Secret is an annual show at the Royal College of Art (this year’s is some time in November), where artists make and donate postcard sized artworks which are then exhibited and sold to the public. However, the buyers only find out whose work they have bought once they hand over the cash and check the name on the back.
So, I’ve ordered some more postcards and will redo them soon. Maybe I’ll post one of them on my blog so you can look out it if you go to the show. Or would that be cheating? Either way, if you’ve seen my Spidey Pods print you’ll probably have a good idea which ones are my postcards anyway.
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