November First Thursday is upon us once more, traditionally November is one of the busiest of East London’s First Thursdays. Things are a little more fractured now of course, the loss of the twin focal points that were Vyner Street and Redchurch Street, that’s old news now though, old ground and already covered on these sometimes angry pages. So what’s happening this Thursday then, what does First Thursday in East London, and indeed the city in general (for Lucy Sparrow returns to Soho this Thursday evening),, what does Thursday evening offer us in terms of late evening gallery openings and exciting art to explore?
PART ONE OF OUR THURSDAY EVENING PREVIEW STARTS ON THE ROMAN ROAD….
Polish feminist avant-garde Natalia LL has a show opening at Roman Road Project Space over in Bethnal Green
Natalia LL
“Roman Road is very pleased to introduce Natalia LL, an artist of the Polish feminist avant-garde, to the London art scene with a solo exhibition entitled Probabilities. Created in the 1970s, during a decisive moment in her career, the show presents framed photographs and videos from the artist’s notorious Consumer Art and Post-consumer Art, in which she drew attention to the issues of consumer culture and the status of women in the then society. The exhibition also features a unique installation of Natalia LL’s NATALIA!; employing the high ceiling of the gallery, this piece has been specially printed as a vinyl that measures the full height of the walls, instigating a novel experience of the artist’s work”.
Opening Reception: Thursday 3 November 2016, 5pm – 9pm Exhibition: Friday 04 November 2016 – Saturday 14 January 2017 Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm and by appointment. Roman Road is at 69 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 0QN.
Natalia LL
STOLEN SPACE have two offerings in their two rather inviting rooms this Thursday evening. An East London gallery that can always be relied on in terms of the brightly coloured urban art flavours they offer, commercial rather than edgy, Stolen Space is maybe not the most dangerous risk-taking out-on-the-edge art space out there, you might be tempted to call the space conservative in terms of the art featured and the manner they go about presenting that art. It is a space you can rely on in terms of the life on the graphic urban call-it-what-you-want-you street art side of gallery life though and their shows are consistently worth investigating. This Thursday evening Stolen Space have a solo show from New York based artist Jason Woodside and Dominican born Evoca1, a figurative painter and muralist currently based in South Florida.
Jason Woodside
Jason Woodside Strike Me With Your Lightning November 4th – 27th 2016 (opening reception Thursday 3rd November, 6-9pm)
– “Stolen Space is proud to present ’Strike Me With Your Lightning’ the new solo show by New York based artist, Jason Woodside. Jason Woodside’s work is characterised by vivid colours and contrasting layers of simple, geometric patterns. Taking inspiration from textiles and clothing, Woodside plays with various bold textures in an attempt to generate visual cohesion. Well known for creating huge murals, Jason Woodside brings the bright colours to the concrete jungle of his hometown of New York City and around the world. Widely recognised as a leader go the ‘post-graffiti movement’, he pushes the boundaries of what traditional urban art is. His slick modern aesthetic makes his work fit as well in a contemporary art gallery as on an urban wall. There is an optimism in Woodside’s work, one that’s clear in the artist’s personal day-to-day ethos, and one that has attracted the attention of private collectors, galleries and museums alike. In this new body of work, we see Woodside continue with his bold signature style, experimenting with patterns and depth to create kinetic works which play with the viewers perception of colour and shape”
Evoka1
EVOCA1 – Through The Perils Of Our Youth – November 4th – 27th 2016 (opening reception Thursday 3rd November, 6-9pm) – “Stolen Space Gallery is proud to present ‘Through the Perils of Our Youth’, the new solo show by Evoca1. Dominican born Evoca1 is a figurative painter and muralist based in South Florida. As an autodidact, he has received his art education from the compulsive study of the old masters works and techniques. His works are a personal reflection on life as well as from observation, focusing on human behaviours and social struggles. This new body of work is based on a series Evoca1 has been working on for the past couple of years. ‘This exhibition of oil paintings, and drawings will reflect on what we endure through our lives overcoming childhood struggles and experiences. The stories portrayed in the work are based on personal child experiences and from observations during my travels. These circumstances that range from corporal punishment/discipline to child labor, have been the main focus of my work and have been a means to shine a light on these social issues that children involuntarily endure around the world. Evoca1’s beautiful free style and delicate detail creates beautiful portraits which tell compelling stories. We are excited to see this new body of work from such a talented artist and with such a poignant subject matter”.
Stolen Space can be found at 17 Osborn Street, London, E1 6TD
Meanwhile the ever busy pop art sewing fiend Lucy Sparrow opens her latest London solo show this Thursday evening, hard to imagine it will be as delicious as last year’s Soho Sex Shop take over, but we do expect exciting tactile goodness. lucy’s show Shoplifting opens thing Thursday at the Lawrence Alkin Gallery, 42 New Compton Street, Soho, London, WC2H 8DA.
‘SHOPLIFTING’ – A SOLO SHOW BY LUCY SPARROW is at, Lawrence Alkin Gallery, 42 New Compton Street, London WC2H 8DA from 3rd to the 29th November, 2016
“Take a trip away from the banality of every day life and treat yourself to the ultimate adrenaline rush, as felt sculpture artist Lucy Sparrow unveils a criminally good exhibition at London’s Lawrence Alkin Gallery.
Punters (honest and otherwise) can expect to see rooms overflowing with temptation – with new pieces in perspex frames and cabinets stuffed with hand-crafted felt items to tempt all types of people looking for a five finger discount, i.e everyone. Shoplifting is a collection of works that focus the spotlight on one of the most common everyday criminal acts. Inspired by the artist’s time spent working in a supermarket, this show takes a humorous look at themes of larceny including the most frequently robbed items in the UK and the types of people who lift them.
With 97% of petty theft in the UK committed by non professional thieves, chances are that someone in your close friendship circle has swiped something from the shelves. Often an early act of rebellion among teenagers striving to escape from their everyday lives with a sneaky six pack, shoplifters have no typical profile, making everyone a suspect. But this is a crime that doesn’t only tempt the cash-strapped; being seemingly irresistible even to celebrities who can easily afford to splash the cash.
Whether it’s designer goods like Winona, booze like Richard Madeley or packets of cheese like Antony Worrall Thompson, it seems the lure to stuff something in your pockets is too good to pass up even if getting caught may jeopardises a lucrative career. Statistics show that retail crime is on the increase, with the annual cost soaring to £613m in the UK last year – the biggest since records began – driven by criminal gangs stealing luxury goods to order.
So to those of you who have stuffed packets of ham or even an iPhone 7 down your trousers – or even just thought about doing it – you’re not alone. Shoplifting exists to prove that this is even more common than most people imagine. So put on a massive coat and make sure you’ve got some strong thighs, shoplifting has never been as bright, colourful and enticing as this. Remember thieves will not be prosecuted”.
Luch Sparrow – Shoplifting
PART TWO OF OUR THURSDAY EVENING PREVIEW WILL BE ALONG IN A MOMENT…. Art excites, and of course if you think we should be covering your art event then you know where we are and you know what to do, drop us an e.mail and let us know what you’re doing. We don’t like to sit around in red hats telling artist and galleries that we can’t be bothered, we want your news, contact us, stick us on your mailing lists, communicate, contact, switch the other… We are picky, it has to excite us but it is about a little more than just a can’t really be bothered art fad…. if you want to get in touch then the e.mail address is organzine at aol dot com
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