PRIVATE VIEW OF SAMS DESKTOP III
BY DAN PROOPS
HOSTED BY DegreeArt.com
THE EMPIRE GALLERY
30 VYNER STREET, E2
1st May 2008
  
The hotly anticipated 2008 exhibition Sam's Desktop III by Dan Proops opened last night at Vyner Street's busiest gallery. Invited guests and TimeOut's First Thursday's visitors spent an evening amongst Proops' monumental new paintings and Pop Art inspired montages. As Proops' career continues to gain momentum one can only guess at what subject matter he will choose to follow the Sam's Desktop trilogy.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:
In this riveting new show, Proops has created a collection of dazzling and powerful pieces, including a reworking of Dali’s 1954 ‘Hypercubic Body'. By setting it within the framework of a computer desktop, Proops is commenting on the new ‘religion’ of modern computing and the classical tradition of fine art painting.
Proops integrates our obsession with the fleeting progression of technology with the epic tradition of fine art painting. He has taken the Microsoft OS as a subject matter for paintings in oil on canvas is pioneering new theories relating to the design concepts and visualisations that contribute to the design of the modern day operating system.
  
Click here for more photos
Sam's Desktop III as featured in:
ATTENDED GUESTS
Dan Proops, Elinor Olisa (DegreeArt.com), Isobel Beauchamp (DegreeArt.com ), Katie Nicholl (Mail on Sunday), Emma Lowe, Rick Sky, Josh Spero (The Guardian), Faye Heran (Who's Jack).
DRINKS
Duvel Vedett
WHERE
The Empire Gallery, 30 Vyner Street, London, E2 9DQ
WHEN
Thursday 1st May 2008
Show runs until the 13th May daily 12-6pm
PRESS
Lisa Agasee PR, 07970 727801 lisa@lisaagaseepr.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
James Galloway Copyright 2008
For more photographs please click here Labels: Art, Dan Proops, Google, Painting, Private View
Review of A Birds Eye View
PRIVATE VIEW OF A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
BY RUTH HOLLOWAY
HOSTED BY DegreeArt.com
THE EMPIRE GALLERY
30 VYNER STREET, E2
13th MARCH 2008
  
The hotly anticipated Private View of Ruth Holloway’s ‘A Bird’s Eye View’ took place last night at Vyner Street’s busiest gallery - DegreeArt.com at the Empire. Party guests were treated to the unusually named natural energy drink ‘Pussy’, extra blond beer from ‘Vedett’ and music from our DJs Alex and John who provided the perfect sounds. The event was held in aid of Ovarian cancer action raising awareness of this often under publicized disease through the unexplored view of the female form depicted in Ruth’s 18 hand stitched canvases. For our charity raffle the Strand Palace Hotel kindly donated a 2 night stay for 2 guests at their hotel whilst the runner up received a case of personalized beer bottles from Vedett.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:
The exhibition is both visually and mentally stimulating. Ruth’s choice of bright, textured canvas colours contrasting with the threads, oil pastels and the occasional crystal and chain creates satisfying compositions. The subject matters are both reaffirming and educative for the viewer. We all see a bird’s eye view of our own bodies yet rarely consider it worthy of recognition let alone depiction on canvas however, the artist’s clever use of this perspective reminds us of our neglect. The daily narratives depicted range from sunbathing and surfing to pregnancy testing and shaving legs.
As Ruth says her inspiration is taken from the mundane to the pivotal which together result in a diary of the contemporary female’s personal images of her body.
     
Click here for more photos of the private view
Click here to view available work by Ruth
ATTENDED GUESTS Ruth Holloway, Elinor Olisa (DegreeArt.com), Isobel Beauchamp (DegreeArt.com), Allyson Kaye (Ovarian cancer action), Marcus Jaye (ChicGeek) Sam Gibson (Bright Spark PR), Jolanda Smit (Pressroom PR), The Grunbergs, Antosh and Grant (Mozzo Coffee), Lisa Agasee, Dan Proops, Josh Spero (Who’s Jack), The O’Neil Sisters
DRINKS
Duvel Vedett, Pussy Drinks
SPONSORS/ PARTNERS
The Strand Palace Hotel, Love Art TM, Ovarian cancer action
MUSIC
Alex Gromadzki and John Stewartson
WHERE The Empire Gallery, 30 Vyner Street, London, E2 9DQ
WHEN
Thursday 13 March 2008
Show runs until the 23rd March 12-6pm
PHOTOGRAPHER
James Galloway Copyright 2008
For more photographs please click here
 
  
Labels: Ovarian Cancer, Private View, Ruth Holloway
PRIVATE VIEW OF PLEASURE ISLAND
BY NATHAN JAMES
HOSTED BY DegreeArt.com
THE EMPIRE GALLERY
30 VYNER STREET, E2
06th MARCH 2008
  
The title of the exhibition, Pleasure Island, refers to the name of the island in Carlo Collodi's children’s novel "Pinocchio". In the novel, Pleasure Island serves as a haven for wayward children, allowing them to indulge their vices in an environment that is seemingly free of recrimination.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:
With this new work, Nathan James illustrates the convergence of two modern domains: cartoon and plastic and flesh and bone. The boundaries between the two areas are not neat or evenly divided. Instead, they overlap, intersperse and transform each other spatially. The plastic world promises excitement and holidays. With its endless curves of neon, cuts and slashes of bright colour and pretty lights, it offers a virtual gluttony of sensory delights, instant gratification and fulfillment. At the same time, it simultaneously divides, covers and competes for dominance with other elements of the composition. It thereby permanently transforms the youthful, pleasure-seeking human subjects of the paintings along with everything around them.
Here, James presents a day-glow matrix that is the antithesis to the modern world envisioned in 1956 by Richard Hamilton, with his principal Pop work “Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing?”. With these paintings James is inferring mass media materialism can indeed fulfill some of their promises of leisure and enjoyment, but at the cost of forfeiting some of the subjects’ humanity.
James uses a combination of techniques, including traditional painting, silk-screen printing, and stenciling to achieve his distinctive works. He finds inspiration from many sources, including trash TV, graphic design, vintage photography, popular magazines and his own passion for youth culture.   
Click here for more photos of the private view
Click here to view available work by Nathan
Pleasure Island Featured In:
ATTENDED GUESTS
Nathan James, Elinor Olisa (DegreeArt.com), Isobel Beauchamp (DegreeArt.com), Jamie McLaren (RunRiot), Andy Owen, Laurie Freeman, Lisa Agasee, Dan Proops, Andy Wicks
DRINKS
Duvel Vedett
WHERE
The Empire Gallery, 30 Vyner Street, London, E2 9DQ
WHEN
Thursday 06 March 2008
Show runs until the 09th March 12-6pm
PHOTOGRAPHER
James Galloway Copyright 2008
For more photographs please click here
Re: Art JanuaryFebruary
Re: Art February 2008
The latest update from all things DegreeArt.com
NEWS:
The Signature Photography Awards -
We are hosting our very own, first student and recent graduate photography award exhibition in May this year - the Signature Photography Awards. It may seem like a long way off, but the call for submissions is now out. We have a distinguished panel of judges including representatives from the AOP, TheTimes and Magnum Photos. For more details and to enter click here.
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| Artists and Politicians:
Our very own Lorna Wadsworth was interviewed on BBC radio early in January and to her suprise the interviewer had a former sitter of hers - MP Michael Howard waiting on the line to greet her.
As some of you know Lorna recently painted Michael Howard's portrait but was taken aback to learn that Westminster rejected the painting as the Right Honourable Gentleman was painted in profile as opposed to full frontal!?
We can therefore offer Lorna's piece to our clients but it will only be sold
on the proviso that it remains as it was returned from Westminster, wrapped
up and with a large 'Ex Westminister' sticker blazened across it. To listen to the interview click
here.
To enquire about purchasing the painting please contact us
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'Michael Howard' 90cm x 90cm Oil on Canvas |
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STUDIO TOURS:
| Visit DegreeArt.com Artists' Studios -
Throughout 2008 we will be holding a monthly studio visit with selected DegreeArt .com artists. The visits will offer a great insight into how and where the artist creates their masterpieces, as well as allowing you to be able to ask questions in an informal setting. It is also a good opportunity to see work in progress and snap up pieces before they go on general sale. |
The first studio visit of the year is on the 20th February at Nathan James' studio in Tulse Hill, South East London. Nathan will briefly introduce his work and be available for discussion over a glass of wine. The event is free to members of the Collector's Club or £10 each for non members. Click
here to find out more about our Collector’s Club. To book tickets please call 020 8980 0395
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Victoria Scott in Print -
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Illustrator Victoria Scott has had her designs published in Illustration +Play alongside 22 other artists working across the globe. The book attempts to show that in a digital world there is still space for a more hands-on approach in illustration. The book is beautifully illustrated and with exclusive interviews is well worth a look.
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Illustration+Play is published by Victionary (www.victionary.com) who produce many an interesting title. We especially love Nice to Meet You, a collection of business cards, some beautifully subtle, whilst others seem to be mini sculptures in themselves. Good inspiration for self or company promotion. |
EXHIBITIONS:
| Works on Paper
14th Feb-24th Feb
Opening Night: Thursday 14th Feb 6-9pm
The Empire Gallery 30 Vyner Street London, E2 9DQ |
To start the year we have curated a show of our artists whose work incorporates
paper, in whatever form. An eclectic combination of artists from the RCA,
Goldsmiths, Chelsea and Central Saint Martins including the likes of James Burke, Masaki Yada, Kaori
Dan and Jesse Brennan this show offers the opportunity to view new work by our artists. Do come along to the Private view on the 14th Feb (which is Valentine’s Day - See our quick ideas below). |
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
| |
| Pleasure Island - a Solo Show by Painter Nathan James 27th Feb-9th March
Private View and First Thursday: 6th March 6-9pm
The Empire Gallery 30 Vyner Street London, E2 9DQ
Click here for more information
| A Birds Eye View -
13th March-23rd March:
Private View: 13th March 6-9pm A show by artist and designer Ruth Holloway in aid of Ovarian cancer action, for more information and to get involved click here. |
VALENTINE'S IDEAS:
£ = Free Love ££ = Cheap Date £££ = Money Honey |
1) £ to ££
Invite your date to the Private View of Works on Paper and then if you are feeling generous head around the corner to Bistrotheque for cocktails |
2) ££ Encourage your beloved to start or add to their art collection by signing them up for
an annual membership to our Collector’s Club £150 - £250
|
3) ££ to £££
Purchase a Kate Marshall Acrylic on Board 150cm x 150cm such as ‘Portrait of the Artist as an Artist' £2500 or if that blows your budget how about an etching at £550 | 
'Portrait of the Artist as an Artist 2' Mono Print 15cm x 15cm £550
Labels: kate marshall, lorna may wadsworth, signature photogrpahy awards, valentines day, victoria scott
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