All Things Considered

The Map of Spitalfields Life
Posted by Simon Lewin

'The Map Of Spitalfields Life' is a fresh look at an historic neighbourhood, produced by Herb Lester Associates in collaboration with the lauded website Spitalfields Life and illustrated by noted cartographer Adam Dant.

It explores this corner of East London through its distinctive characters and businesses, providing a glimpse into a world few people even notice, where chestnut sellers and story-telling waiters rub shoulders with milkmen, artists and scrap-dealers. From Gilbert and George and Tracey Emin to Molly the Swagman and Sandra Esqulant, landlady of The Golden Heart, all Spitalfields Life is here.

You can purchase a copy for £4.00 from both Spitalfields Life and Herb Lester Associates.

Look out for Tim Rich's interview with The Gentle Author - creator of Spitalfield Life - later this year in Random Spectacular.

Posted by Simon Lewin on September 17th, 2011

Ravilious In Essex – closes soon
Posted by Simon Lewin

We popped along to the Fry Gallery in Saffron Walden yesterday to see the Ravilious In Essex exhibition that's been breaking records for visitors numbers to the gallery since it opened in April.

You'll find 18 watercolours of Essex by Ravilious, brought together specially for this exhibition from private owners and galleries throughout the country, plus a selection of related work from the Fry Gallery archives.

The exhibition closes on Sunday 14th August 2011 - I wish we hadn't left it so long.

If you don't get a chance to visit we can recommend the Mainstone Press publication Ravilious: A Country Life which features twenty two watercolours with accompanying essays by James Russell. 

Posted by Simon Lewin on August 8th, 2011

Lineage
Posted by Angie Lewin

Currently showing at Edinburgh Printmakers is this exhibition of new and recent editions by Michael Craig-Martin, Ian Davenport (see below) and Julian Opie.

The prints on show have been published by Alan Cristea Gallery in London and explore the use of the line, whether drawn or dripped, cut out or printed.

The exhibition runs until 3rd September 2011 at Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LR.

Posted by Angie Lewin on August 6th, 2011

Robert Rauschenberg
Posted by Simon Lewin

Here's "Crossings (Borealis)", a favourite piece featuring at the Robert Rauschenberg exhibition at Inverleith House with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Posted by Simon Lewin on August 1st, 2011

Andrews of Arcadia
Posted by Simon Lewin

Here's the wonderful letterpress printed poster publicising 'The World of Andrews of Arcadia – A Tented Installation of Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul' which you'll find in the Caught by the River Field at this year’s Port Eliot Festival between Thursday 21st and Sunday 24th July 2011.

The installation will be created and hosted by John Andrews a.k.a Andrews of Arcadia who can often be found at his stall in Spitalfields Market. You can also view a selection of John's vintage fishing tackle online.

To find out more about the installation visit the Caught By The River website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 6th, 2011

Edwin Smith
Posted by Simon Lewin

We managed to catch the last day of Edwin Smith's exhibition of photographs and paintings at Moray Art Centre yesterday.

Having initially trained as an architect, Smith (1912-1971) is perhaps best know for his photography and particularly his exploration of the vernacular in architecture.

But the exhibition also featured a number of Smith's paintings - here is an example, 'Turf Fire', which is on loan from the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden.

Merrell publish a great book featuring Edwin Smith's photography and you can view and order digital prints from the RIBA photograph archive.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 3rd, 2011

The Dunmore Pineapple
Posted by Simon Lewin

Just back from a visit to The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh catching the last day of Ed Kluz's exhibition there.

Amongst a sea of red dots I was surprised this stunning collage was currently without a home. Very tempting to add to the piece we'd already purchased.

'The Dunmore Pineapple' is a large framed collage at £950.00 - and worth every penny. To find out more visit The Scottish Gallery website.

We're currently making some final colourway amends to our forthcoming Ed Kluz fabric, Painswick. More on that soon.

Posted by Simon Lewin on June 29th, 2011

Ravilious in Essex
Posted by Simon Lewin

Our friends at the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden are part way through their Ravilious in Essex exhibition of 18 watercolours of Essex created by Eric Ravilious and brought together specially for this exhibition from private owners and galleries throughout the country. It complements the illustrated book 'Ravilious in Pictures: A Country Life' published by Mainstone Press.

On Wednesday 13th July 2011, the book's author, James Russell, will be giving a talk at the Friends Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden at 7.30pm - tickets £6 on the door.

The exhibition continues until 14th August 2011.

Posted by Simon Lewin on June 15th, 2011

On Nature
Posted by Simon Lewin

Our friends at Caught By The River publish the follow up to their eponymously titled collection of words on water.

On Nature is a hardback book published by Harper Collins featuring contributions from some of the site’s regular contributors alongside a host of new names.

In it, you’ll find the likes of Chris Yates, Stuart Maconie, Tracey Thorn, John Andrews, Richard King, Dan Kieran, Michael Smith, Ian Vince, Martin Noble, Jon Berry. Colin Elford, Mark Dredge, Dexter Petley, Ceri Levy, Nick Small, Nick Hand, Sarah Boden, John Wright and others waxing passionately about all aspects of the British countryside.

The book is illustrated by Jon McNaught - we feature Jon's screenprints over at our online print store and he'll be contributing to our journal Random Spectacular which we publish later this year.

The book is published on 23rd June 2011 but pre-orders for signed copies are being taken now via the Caught By The River store.

Posted by Simon Lewin on June 8th, 2011

The Alhambra
Posted by Angie Lewin

Ever since my days working in garden design, I've gazed at photographs of the Alhambra and Generalife. But I was worried that the hordes of camera clicking tourists would make the reality a disappointment.

After the relative isolation of my residency at Los Gázquez our time in Granada was in sharp but good contrast. In countless photos I tried to record the incredible gardens and architecture. But on a smaller scale the complex tile patterns and their wonderful glazes that feature throughout are a real inspiration.

Posted by Angie Lewin on June 7th, 2011