Frost & Reed Starry Summer Show: French and English Artists of 20th Century

Suzanne Valadon, Les deux chats

The star studded exhibition at Frost & Reed this summer has the work of no less than 27 French and English painters on show, some illustrious names, others less well known but clever discoveries to attract a discerning buyer.

Artists chosen include Derain, Dufy, Boudin, Ben Nicholson, Munnings, but the directors have acquired desirable works by celebrated by ways with desirable works by Suzanne Valadon, Frederick Gore, Maxime Maufra and Roland Oudot.

Frederick Gore, Mausanne

Suzanne Valadon's work can be found in many of the finest museums in the world, though her son Maurice Utrillo (whose father might have been Renoir) is a bigger 'name' as the much imitated recorder of Paris street scenes.

Valadon is the Montmartre groupie, her life in Paris reads like a 19th century novel, starting with the impoverished childhood. She worked as a child acrobat, later a voluptuous 15 year old model chosen to pose for her 'cognac' coloured hair and sense of fun.

Her defining moment came when Degas was impressed by the intensity of her unschooled drawings (Lautrec made the introduction). He pronounced her 'one of us'. Degas bought seventeen Valadon drawings adding them to his collection of works by Cezanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

John Piper, Harlaxton

Frederick Gore was born into the world of art, though not to penniless struggles. He enjoyed an educated middle class background and studied art at the Ruskin in Oxford, the Westminster and Slade Schools of Art in London, absorbing many influences, held his first show at the Redfern Gallery in 1937.

And of course John Piper, one of the most versatile of English 20th century artists, who worked in every medium available to him, from pottery to painting, stained glass to abstract reliefs.

The strength of this painting of Harlaxton at Frost & Reed is Piper's ability to suggest the bones of the building with a large wash of colour, with a sprinkling of detail which seems to dance across the surface.

Subjects vary from portrait sketches (young man by Hockney and seated jeune fille by Forain) to Provencal landscape (Frederick Gore, the English fauve) gentle beach scene (Boudin) pointilliste plants (Signac) dreamlike castle (John Piper) flowers and cats (Suzanne Valadon, model and undervalued artist, mother of Maurice Utrillo). Charm and a celebration of life is a unifying quality of the exhibition.

Devoted to quality for over 200 years Frost & Reed is one of the most prestigious and longest established galleries in London. It was founded in 1808, surviving hot and cold wars, boom and depression, through a shrewd understanding of changing tastes.

All works are available for purchase. The exhibition: French And English Artists Of 20th Century can be seen from now until 10 September 2010 at Frost & Reed 2-4 King Street St James's London SW1Y 6QP. Info: info@frostandreed.com / www.frostandreed.com

The First Ghost

The First Ghost (unfinished version) 84 x96 inches, oil on canvas, 1994-2010

Robert Hawkins is an artists with an artists imagination and he also feels like he has 'power over nature' when he paints. He can make volcanoes erupt. He can cut the earth in half. He can compel ants to burrow through diamond dust to spell his name. He can conjure ghosts in a prehistoric cave.

He does just this in The First Ghost, a seven by eight foot oil on canvas tableau, in which a family of Cro-Magnons huddle in a corner of their cave, as a pale, transparent figure rises from their fire. The painting is the centrepiece of this show, Power Over Nature.

The First Ghost was first exhibited at the Leo-Tony Gallery in Manhattan in 1994, but after a dispute between the gallery owners, the painting was believed to have been destroyed, along with 35 other paintings, in the ensuing battle.

However, in 1998 the painting was surprisingly rediscovered, being used as an awning above a vintage clothing shop window on Lafayette Street. Rene Ricard commandeered a van, which was driven onto the walkway, with him riding on the roof, and the painting was pulled down.

When he confronted the startled store employees, Ricard got some vague story about the shopkeeper buying it for twenty bucks off a bum, who claimed he got it out of a skip. Ricard gave them a twenty dollar bill and left with the painting in the van.

The other 35 paintings were never recovered. The First Ghost was thus returned to Hawkins, who restored and repainted damaged sections. It was put into storage after 9/11, when Hawkins fled from Battery Park to London.

Another 5 years passed before the painting came to London, and in 2010 the work was repainted to a much higher degree of detail and vivacity.

Power Over Nature, can be viewed from June 11 – July 4 The Residence, 229 Victoria Park Road, London E9 7HD. Wed-Sat, 11am-6pm. Info: 0208 985 0321.

The Works of Jim Hodges

2000, Acrylic on newspaper. 1996, Folded book with metal paper clips

In his first solo exhibition in a UK public gallery, American artist Jim Hodges presents works spanning two decades alongside a site-specific installation.

Based in New York, Jim Hodges came to prominence in the 1990s with work that explores the complex themes of love, loss, beauty, nature and relationships. Often directly autobiographical, the work invites an intimacy with the viewer in which personal detail is expressed without being circumscribed, allowing us to relate to the universal relevance of emotional experiences such as sadness, joy or grief.

Hodges creates his fragile works from both everyday and precious materials: gold leaf and silver chain; paper napkins and artificial flowers. The exhibition will include a number of works on paper: whether using saliva to transfer an ink drawing to paper, or delineating form with folds, sutures, pierced and torn surfaces, these intimate works are viscerally evocative of the contingency of the human body.

Employing time-consuming and repetitive techniques, Hodges' work is intricately crafted; spiders' webs are spun from silver chain and photographs of trees have each individual leaf carefully traced and cut out. To create A Diary of Flowers (1994), Hodges spent three years drawing on paper napkins from his daily trips to delis and restaurants, creating a delicate tableau of intricate still-lifes.

The works in gallery 3 are brought together in part as a response to an exhibition held in the same space by his friend and sometime collaborator Felix Gonzales Torres in 1994, will include a large wall painting, Oh Great Terrain. Based upon a camouflage pattern, the multi-layered interpretations comprise the loss of individual identity, political associations including its military function, as well as the original work of Abbott Thayer and Andy Warhol's camouflage series.

The venue (Camden Arts Centre) is renowned for showcasing contemporary visual art where ideas are made visible to people of all ages and abilities; where they can engage in the creative process of making art.

Visit the exhibition from 11 June - 5th September 2010 at Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Road, London NW3 6DG (travel: Finchley Rd & Hampstead Underground Finchley Rd). Tues - Sun: 10am-6pm; Wed late 10am-9pm. Adm: Free. Info: 0207 472 5500.

I'm In Love With The World

Untitled

With a title such as 'I'm In Love With The World' one expects a something to smile about and Josephine Lsyons does not disappoint with her use of compelling and joyful imagery, and her unique engagement with art history.

Her first solo exhibition in her home-town of Oxford showcases new and recent paintings and sculptures that aptly represents her characteristically exuberant vision.

With Turner, Rembrant, and Oxford in mind

With it's subjective and open ended narrative, 'I'm In Love With The World' explores the way meaningful connections are created between disparate experiences and between works of art, using this to making one coherent work from a range individual 'moments'.

The notion of self portraiture is key to her work, as is the idea that a subject can be developed and understood through a series of different moments, motifs or images. In the exhibition Lyons treats each artwork as part of a greater whole, much as in an orchestra a violin or a cello contributes to the overall creation. Primarily a painter, Lyons is interested creating beautiful new forms and images and in creating work that is both complex and evocative, and accessible.

Born in (1983, England) Lyons was encouraged to paint from the age of four and went on to study at Goldsmiths (2002-2006). She has exhibited in group exhibition in London and Oxford including, 'Opera and art' at Covent Garden Film Studios (2007).

She was much influenced by her art teacher Calan Lewis, at Wimbledon High School - who sadly passed away - who advised her to paint what she felt, and thereby gave her a new language to communicate with.

In addition Lyons, whose first solo exhibition, Unexpected Signs and Location of other Realms, was held in the old Woolworths building in Crouch End, London, in June 2009, Lyons cites artists as varied as Tracey Emin, Roi Vareeri, Howard Hodgkin's, Turner, Cranach, Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, and Regina Jose Galindo, as being important for her.

I'm In Love With The World can be viewed from now to 23 May at The Jam Factory Gallery, Oxford. Open 7 days a Week from 10am -11pm.

Info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3ZV7ymhISE

Mitchy Becomes a Birmingham Bwoy

Mitchy Bwoy, the man behind the brand of dance duo Chase & Status, will soon be exhibiting a selection of new and old work, following on from the hugely successful Swifty Pop Shop, which opened in December 2009.

Working from his own London studio over the last 10 years, Mitchy has carved his own niche not only in music cover design but also in illustration, fashion, and more recently, video production. He has worked with artists including Chase & Status, Amp Fiddler, Bugz in the Attic, Nitin Sawhney, Ziggy Marley, and Howie B, amongst others.

His reputation has also led to his inclusion in numerous art shows, such as; the Art Basel / Miami (alongside Doze Green, Swoon, Rostar), Candela Festival / Puerto Rico (with Swifty, Mode 2 and HVW8) and Loud Graphix / Berlin (with Parra, Delta, Mode 2, Swifty and Machine).

Punch Records has secured a major scoop bringing Mitchy Bwoy to the city and showcasing his famous work. From album covers and illustrations, to famous fonts and fashion designs, fans will be able to see and purchase a range of prints, one-offs and originals.

Synonymous with new music and club culture, London-based Mitchy Bwoy has worked with some of the best names in the industry.. From his studio, the 'post-graff' artist has designed album covers and branding for the likes of Chase & Status, Ziggy Marley, Nitin Sawhney and Amp Fiddler.

He has also made a name from himself in illustration, fashion and video production. As well as working on a number of special projects, including the Blak Twang/We Love You album project with Banksy, Bacardi brand development with Mode 2, and live art project 55 DSL.

"After the success of the Swifty shop we knew there was high demand for pioneering graffiti artists and designers to bring their work to the city. Mitchy is one of the best in the business, not only designing for some amazing artists but also creating fantastic visual representations of today's society and culture," said Ammo Talwar, Director of Punch Records. "We're really excited about bringing Mitchy to Birmingham and can't wait to see his work in the gallery. He'll only have a few originals, so die hard fans need to make sure they get down early."

The Mitchy Bwoy exhibition opens on 1st April and runs until the End of May at the Sauce Gallery, 5 The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth. Info: www.punch-records.co.uk

Mon 14-17 May
COLLECT
Lesley Craze Gallery will be exhibiting at the leading international fair for contemporary objects. This exhibition will feature the 'Blue Knight' ring set by Wendy Ramshaw CBE RDI which was made for Lesley Craze Gallery's 25th Anniversary exhibition. Artists represented: Michael Becker (Germany), Jewellery by Vladimir Bohm (UK), Metal Nora Fok (UK), Jewellery by Jo Hayes-Ward (UK), Jewellery by Professor Yasuki Hiramatsu ( Japan ), Jewellery, Metal Benjamin Lignel (France), Jewellery by Salome Lippuner ( Switzerland), Jewellery by Wendy Ramshaw CBE RDI (UK), Jewellery by Kamilla Ruberg (UK), Jewellery by Maud Traon (France), Jewellery by Arek Wolski (Poland), Jewellery. Venue: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of Yorks HQ, Kings Rd, London SW3 4SQ (nearest mainline railway station is Victoria). 11am-6pm & 8pm. Adm: £10 adv, £15 door. Info: 0207 928 8195.

Mon - Fri
FINE ART
With Sally A Turner of Blue Lizard Arts. Make your own canvas with artist in these fine art classes that explore the themes of her exhibition. Venue: Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 5ZA. 2-4pm. (11-16 yrs). Info: 0161 226 1912.

Mon - Fri
LAYLA GARNER
Fun art and craft activities to inspire and delight artistic, young minds. Learn mixed media and new craft techniques from artist Layla Garner. Venue: Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 5ZA. 10am-11.30am (up to 11 yrs). Info: 0161 226 1912.