Bernard Swift exhibition
Bernard Swift exhibition opens at Chocolate Factory Gallery
Collage Arts and Karamel are pleased to be kicking off this year’s series of exhibitions with a selection of works by Bernard Swift. An artist whose style is instantly recognisable but ever difficult to categorise, Bernard’s work contains echoes of bawdy seaside postcards, imposing soviet propaganda posters, and magnificent stained glass friezes, with an occasional loving yet sarcastic nod to the classics of the old masters. But, with a sensibility that could draw comparisons to Velazquez, it’s the fine details and their hidden gems that really give these impressive pieces their unique charm. Whether they’re nostalgic stills of New England beaches, or dense biblical parodies transported to a heaving modern Britain, each painting has its own distinct story, and each character their own personality and purpose. No public figure or archetype is safe from Bernard’s satirical brush and careful observers may even see friends and neighbours among those mercilessly, yet joyfully caricatured.
Exhibition runs until 23 March 2012 at the Gallery in Karamel restaurant, 4 Coburg Road, London N22 6UJ.
Open Monday to Friday from 10 ’til 4pm and Friday/Saturday evenings from 6 ’til 10pm.
Profile: Studio 306 Collective
Studio 306 Collective, Chocolate Factory 1
With all the ups and downs that working in the arts entails, sometimes it’s easy to forget about the catharsis and feeling of satisfaction that producing your own artworks can provide. For Collective 306, though, the therapeutic aspects are always at the forefront of their work. Resident in the Chocolate Factory for 15 years, the collective was set up by experienced artists looking to share the benefit of their expertise with members of the community they felt could really use it, specifically people enduring, or recovering from, problems with their mental health. Through screen printing, and making jewellery, ceramics, and textiles, they have helped hundreds of people find new inspiration and confidence, and garnered a great reputation and some friends in high places to boot. Last summer, Studio 306 Collective were awarded lottery funding for the Mental Health Well Being project, and were visited in their studio over the Chocolate Factory Open Studios weekend by local MP Lynne Featherstone, who was thoroughly impressed by what she saw. Their selection of cards, bags, ceramics, textiles and jewellery are the perfect mix of charity and artistry and are available to buy in Karamel restaurant at Chocolate Factory 2 or from Studio 306 directly and via their online shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/Studio306Collective
Interview: Ursula Kellett, Painter & Sculptor
C307′s Ursula Kellett has exhibited in London, New York, and Tokyo, despite having only explored her passion for art relatively recently. She describes her paintings as a kind of non-textile patchwork, disregarding traditional fabrics for a variety of found materials, and combining the natural and synthetic to create something that is often unpredictable. You can view examples of her work on her website at http://www.ursulakellett.co.uk/
1. How are you finding the Chocolate Factory so far?/ What’s it like working at the Chocolate Factory?
The Chocolate Factory is a haven of tranquillity and inspiration in London.
2. How did you get into your chosen medium?/ What drew you to your
work?
I always wanted to go to Art College but only managed to go 20 years ago to Byam Shaw School of Art in London.
3. Which part of what you do would you describe as the most
important?
I love colour with a passion which I try to communicate to others.
4. If you weren’t an artist/designer, what do think you would be
doing?
I would be a gold and silversmith.
5. Any advice for aspiring artists/ designers?
It takes some time to explore all the possibilities which are available to an artist and to find out one’s real interests and inclinations but after time they do crystallize themselves. Persist.
Season’s Greetings!
Welcome to 2011′s final edition of Feedback, the Chocolate Factory artists newsletter. We’ve had another great year, although not without its obstacles, and the Collage Arts team are looking forward to a well-deserved break, as we hope are all of you. The effort that everyone has put in this year has been tremendous, as was evident from the fantastic Open Studios. We’ve had nothing but glowing reviews from visitors, so congratulations to everybody, and sincere thanks for your continued support! We’d love to express our gratitude in person, so please join us in Karamel for a drink on the 22nd of December from 4 to 6pm. All that’s left to say now is Merry Non-Denominational Festive Period, and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
Open Studios
Chocolate Factory Open Studios
See, Buy or Commission ART from the Chocolate Factory
11-13 November 2011
The Open Studios at The Chocolate Factory in Wood Green is held annually on the second weekend in November and is one of the largest events of its kind in London.
Open Studios 2011 from 11-13 November showcased the talent of over 100 artists, designers and makers from the Chocolate Factory
The Chocolate Factory continues to be a vibrant hub of cutting-edge design, product development and creativity. But we also have a number of artists who use more traditional approaches and techniques. There is a directory of all the creative practitioners based at Chocolate Factory. Don’t forget many of artists are delighted to undertake commissions.
In November 2011 we set up a permanent shop in the Karamel restaurant at Chocolate Factory 2 with a supply of gift ideas and cards from our designer makers and artists. We also have six exhibitions a year at Karamel featuring the work of our visual artists.
In 2012, the Open Studios is planned for the weekend of 9-11 November 2012.
Chocolate Factory Open Studios is now on Facebook – join us for regular updates
Chocolate Factory Open Studios
Photos from the recent Open Studios weekend 2011 Click here
To view selected images from Open Studios 2011 Click here
Sadie Lee: The Face of Homotopia
Chocolate Factory artist Sadie Lee has created an iconic festival image for Homotopia 2011. The painting is one of a group of portraits by Lee which will be exhibited along with painting by Matthew Stradling throughout November.
The Pin-Ups exhibition includes five new portraits including one of Liverpudlian actress Rita Tushingham. This celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the release of the film adaptation of Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey.
These portraits are being produced as prints which will be available at the Open Studio’s event 11-13 November 2011. Lee’s trademark is to produce strong images of her subjects – in this case the sitters were asked to pose to be horty. The result is a series of hugely revealing, touching, intimate paintings with great humanity.
The website announces “Homotopia 2011 is back and ‘Cruising For Art’ in and aroundLiverpoolfrom 1st until 30th November.” There are over 35 events and Pin-Ups is one of the five world premiers.
Pin-Ups Exhibition runs from 4 November to 3 December 2011 at The Gallery,41 Stanhope Street, L8 gallery opening arrangements are: Monday – Friday 10 am – 4.30 pm Saturday 10am – 2pm