On the evening of 7th June 1991, aged 16 and celebrating the end of my GCSEs, I visited Wembley Arena to see my first ever pop concert. A few hours later, I headed for home pretty convinced that I still hadn't been to a 'pop concert', because Pet Shop Boys' Performance tour was more of... Continue Reading →
Visiting exhibitions is one of my favourite things to do so, although this year has barely begun, I already have a list of must-see exhibitions for 2017. Going with a friend can give you lots to discuss, as they often share knowledge you don't have or perhaps spot some things you might have missed. Visiting... Continue Reading →
In a voice over at the beginning of the 1995 film Clueless, the character Cher Horowitz asks the audience, 'isn't my house classic?' She then goes on to explain that 'the columns date all the way back to 1972.' Although viewers may initially laugh at the seemingly naive implication that a twenty year old building... Continue Reading →
On Thursday 26th November a very special dress will go on public display at St Pancras International station. As part of Professor Helen Storey's Dress For Our Time project, this installation will use the power of fashion to communicate some of the world's most complex issues and help change the way we think and act... Continue Reading →
Back in February 2014 I wrote about a fundraising campaign for a feminist art exhibition called Big Swinging Ovaries. Created by London-based Berliner artist Jess de Wahls, who I interviewed for my Exploring Creativity blog series, the show featured huge sculptural portraits of inspirational women which were all hand made by Jess from recycled textiles,... Continue Reading →
It's amazing what interesting and creative things people get up to during the time you don't spend with them, and my course mates on the MA History and Culture of Fashion (now MA Fashion Cultures) at London College of Fashion are an excellent example of that. We came from all sorts of academic backgrounds and... Continue Reading →
I don't think it's possible to run a series on creative careers without looking at the work of an artist, and one I particularly admire is Jess de Wahls. Her portraits are especially fascinating because they are of influential (but not just famous) women, and they are all made by hand from recycled textiles. I... Continue Reading →
I first discovered the work of artist Hormazd Narielwalla when he came to talk to my MA group last year about Savile Row. Using discarded tailor's pattern pieces, his artwork brings together many things that fascinate me: the form of the body, the skill of the tailor, death and, of course, art. As Narielwalla had... Continue Reading →
Supporting the arts is something that used to only be available to the rich. In the days when paintings would be commissioned by wealthy aristocracy or, more recently, when you could only buy art from the sort of galleries who won't let you through the door unless you look like you can afford it, the... Continue Reading →
At the weekend, I found out about Jess De Wahls and her upcoming art exhibition entitled 'Big Swinging Ovaries'. I'm not entirely sure what I thought it would be from that title, but I was amazed once I found out more. Beginning on International Women's Day and running for 11 days, the show will be... Continue Reading →