Debased is almost upon us, we’re rather looking forward to it, I’m especially looking forward to seeing Ian Bailey’s work in the flash. This will be Ian’s debut in terms of Cultivate, he was last seen at the V&A where some of his beautiful hand-printed wallpaper was being on show..

Debased is a maximalist art show, a group show, Debased is about cross-pollination, about artists who probably don’t cross paths that often being on the same walls, sharing spAce and ideas and energy. We rather like the idea of street artists sharing space with contemporary painters, performers, print makers, dress makers, and in Ian’s case, someone who created beautiful hand printed wallpaper.   There’s something exciting about a good repeat pattern, especiAlly a slightly rebellious one – “Student of the late seventies and still angry. Ian’s art and repeat pattern wallpaper designs are inspired by Pugin, Strummer, Jamie Reid, Ickey, Banksy, Orwell and Delia Smith CBE”  I’d throw William Morris in that pot as well but then William is a hero of mine and I am a frustrated textile designer,  I was delighted when Ian asked if he could take part in Debased, I can’t wait to see his wallpaper hanging next to a This One canvas or an Emma Harvey painting.

CULTIVATE DEBASED is at BSMT Space 22-25 September 2016. Opening night: Thursday 22 September, 6pm until 9pm then open: Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September 11am until – 7pm each day.  BSMT Space is found at 5d Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, London, N16 8BH

CULTIVATE returns to Dalston and that beautiful basement knows as BSMT Space. In March it was DEBASER and slicing up eye balls, on September 22nd it will be DEBASED. Another gathering of pro-active artists and a maximalist exercise on cross-pollination. A room alive with contemporary painters, so-called street artists, performers, print makers and more…. Artists taking part include: ADAM ESPIRA, AMY KINGSMILL,  APPLE TART,  BRUCE LOVELOCK,  CHRISTOPHER CACHELIN (aka Kidd Feather),  DEBORAH GRIFFIN,  DIANE GOLDIE,  ELIZABETH SANDFORD RICHARDSON, EMMA HARVEY,  IAN BAILEY, MUTINY,  LYNNE BLACKBURN, MARNIE SCARLETT,  MEGAN PICKERING, MIA-JANE HARRIS, QUIET BRITISH ACCENT,  ROSSO, SEAN WORRALL,  THIS ONE….

LYNNE BLACKBURN has been quite a regular at Cultivate, we always get so much out of Lynne being involved in out group shows and exhibitions. Now I’m no printmaker  and I don’t really know how she achieves what she does but her beautiful multi-screened prints are so alive with colour, with texture, depth and I guess (although I don’t know) alive with technical dexterity – and although there’s obviously a high degree of skill involved, with all due respect and admiration, I don’t really care that much about that side. I’m more interested in the result of whatever it is Lynne does, the interest is in the piece that ends up on the wall – beautiful colours, delicious repeats, glorious textures and often with a not to obvious slice of a social or political undercurrent,  There’s print makers and then there’s artists who really do explore the possibilities of print making, the layers and relationships of shape and colour, the glory of texture. Lynne Blackburn isn’t an artist who comes jumping off a wall demanding your immediate attention, her  work is just there, quietly waiting for you to take a proper look rather than a polite glance, art there to really be discovered and get lost in. I can spend hours just looking at  a Lynne Blackburn print, indeed I have done just that when we’ve had shows on, why do you think we keep asking her back, there’s something rather special about a Lynne Blackburn print, rather looking forward to seeing what she has for us this Thursday evening., she promises a new series of prints called Ghost Building….

Here’s a load of past Lynne Blackburn images “borrowed” off social media and such, click on an image to enlarge or run the slide show and get a small flavour of her world….

Both Lynne Blackburn and Ian Bailey produce their work at Hippo Screeenprinting studio.

“HIPPO SCREENPRINTERS is a fine art printmaking studio, specialising in hand-pulled screen print editions for artists, art galleries, band merchandisers, interior designers and publishers. At our studio, which is situated in the Essex countryside, we also have facilities for etching and digital printing”.