tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19234453407075474442024-02-18T17:50:17.838-08:00Bastian ContrarianBastian Contrarian provides original written content and quality Italian-English translations to help you promote your business -- online and offline.Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-46583289749583348832015-11-09T14:53:00.002-08:002015-11-09T14:59:50.152-08:00The Idea is Everything; Does it Really Matter Where it Comes From?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><i>Art Director and copywriter, Bernie Thornton, talks about his experience </i></b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><i>in the advertising world & why it's important to </i></b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><i>share ideas & work as a team.</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: , , , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">From day one I wanted to be an Art Director.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">In 1976, having just completed my Advertising and Design degree at Manchester Polytechnic, I made the leap into London armed with an A to Z Street-finder and a long list of agency phone numbers.</span></h2>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I had a book full of fresh ideas – rough Magic Marker stuff – and the majority of agencies I went to see said I would make a good copywriter. I could write good headlines.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A bit confused about which way to go, I was given a trial in a London agency – Benton & Bowles – where I worked for nothing for 3 months to gain some experience and work out what I wanted to do.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My learning curve went straight up through the whole five floors of the building.</span></div>
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My first ad was for Associated Biscuits – headline, copy and layout – then I came up with an idea for a beer poster for Youngers Tartan Bitter. I enjoyed writing, but because the agency was short of Art Directors they asked me to go and shoot both ads, I was so excited. I knew nothing about photography so the more experienced guys set me up with two top advertising photographers: Derek Seagrim and Bob Cramp. Those guys knew how to take a picture. There was no Photoshop back then – the shot had to be perfect, retouching was expensive.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I got back to the agency with the shots everybody commented on how good they looked. Next day, the Creative Director came in to see me and offered me a full time job as a junior Art Director.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I know you want to be a copywriter” he said, “but these shots are great and we need another AD here right now, so do you want to take the job?” Damn, I thought, I really want to write ads, but I’d be mad to turn this down. I took the job.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So, I’d swapped roles within my first 6 months in advertising and became an Art Director.</span></div>
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After a month of working with different teams, the agency finally brought in a writer who had previously been a teacher in a secondary school. She didn’t think advertising straight away, which meant she couldn’t think different. Don’t get me wrong, she was a nice person, but she hadn’t done four years at an advertising college like me. She thought she was employed to just write persuasive words on a piece of paper.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GTDeLQWY4ibWQpjRWVRO0fp01s9FZb3BuvGXoFSM2VEJ16vwXu3PSmSA2h1ptcekdoywBAFmKTpY51Njyh87BdKBrgB-05lCozclVazW1bqEUTcdzk5_kL3m4wAa-MPH44mvrgPKCq8/s1600/matryoshka-970943_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GTDeLQWY4ibWQpjRWVRO0fp01s9FZb3BuvGXoFSM2VEJ16vwXu3PSmSA2h1ptcekdoywBAFmKTpY51Njyh87BdKBrgB-05lCozclVazW1bqEUTcdzk5_kL3m4wAa-MPH44mvrgPKCq8/s400/matryoshka-970943_640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Then it all changed. One day we were working on a cold remedy and she had a great idea for a TV spot using Russian dolls. It showed how cold and flu symptoms built up as one doll was placed inside another. To show the relief from symptoms, after taking the product, the sequence was reversed – simple. I loved it!</span></div>
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trying hard to conceal my enthusiasm for the idea I said to her: “But it’s my job to come up with the visual ideas, so we’re not going to do that”. She looked at me distraught, tears welled, she was livid. Then I smiled, just before she was about to throw her typewriter at me. (Yes, volatile creatives did do that in the 70’s). She knew what I was up to and laughed, calling me one or two unprintable names. I’d made my point. We were fine after that, and a better team, because she finally accepted that this was a good way to work.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I drove all the way up to Luton and he sat me down and talked about this idea he had. It was based on a sound strategy and good advertising thinking. He was a good client.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I said to him: “Chris, you get me all the way up here to tell me this? You don’t need me, you’ve cracked it. This is a great idea” He looked at me and said: “Yes I know, but I just wanted to hear you say it, and I need you to make it better.” He wanted reassurance and someone who wasn’t going to be precious or upset about the fact it was his idea. He also knew that I’d be honest enough to tell him if I thought it was crap too.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The point of my story is this: It doesn’t matter where an idea comes from, because an advertising idea is the most important thing. We see too many ads these days that are just wallpaper; all veneer and no idea. They become part of the background, easily forgotten.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Grab someone’s attention with a good idea and it will stand the test of time. Ads like that are the ones you remember, the ones that stick in your head. The ones that make you say: “Damn, I wish I’d done that”, whether you‘re a copywriter, an art director or a client.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve heard it said many times that art directors come up with better headlines than copywriters and more often than not the copywriter would come up with a great visual idea. Who cares? It happens when you’re a team.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We should also listen to what our clients have to say too. I like to involve them and treat them as part of the team. After all, they’re much closer to their product than an agency and often have a good idea that’s worth talking about. Having said that, we need to have the wisdom to know a good idea when we see one and the courage to speak up if it’s not; being precious and protective about an idea will only stifle creativity in my book.</span></div>
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Bernie Thornton</span>,<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic; text-align: justify;"> is a freelance copywriter with over three decades of experience and a genuine passion for ‘ideas’. He has worked for some of the UK’s top ad agencies, on many of their leading brands, producing everything from small space ads to big international campaigns. His expertise extends across all the communication disciplines, including traditional and online media.</span></div>
<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;">With his long-standing advertising experience, he also has a </span></span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;">solid understanding of what motivates consumers. He applies this knowledge to good effect and never loses sight of the fact that creativity has to work – and sell too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We invited Bernie to join the </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bastian Contrarian</span></span><span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> copywriting and advertising team in September this year and can’t wait to work with him in future.</span></span></span></span></div>
Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-85527968393159656002015-11-08T06:50:00.001-08:002015-11-08T07:02:37.565-08:00Guest Bloggers Wanted for the Bastian Contrarian Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xWV7x3IcCIxTRlhgaNsDnfuTsf4OW61cXT1kaTBXGf12CVVszs6cClEBBt6skj6beXANJaPyOBAJllCXaWYnnms5KxLGVUcqFle5dQtHLW6XFFpZpkcYeKv2ZXCl7D9LJm3VqATz9YQ/s1600/blog-372771_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xWV7x3IcCIxTRlhgaNsDnfuTsf4OW61cXT1kaTBXGf12CVVszs6cClEBBt6skj6beXANJaPyOBAJllCXaWYnnms5KxLGVUcqFle5dQtHLW6XFFpZpkcYeKv2ZXCl7D9LJm3VqATz9YQ/s400/blog-372771_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hello. </span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thank you for dropping by.</span></div>
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<div class="font_8" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: helvetica-w01-roman, helvetica-w02-roman, helvetica-lt-w10-roman, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We're looking for guest bloggers who have interesting articles on SEO, analytics, social media, graphic design, marketing and content management software, advertising or similar themes that we can publish on the <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!blog/c252" target="_blank">Bastian Contrarian blog</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a great opportunity for companies or individuals looking to promote their writing skills or a particular service or product.</span></div>
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<span class="color_15" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If the article gets published, we will obviously credit you and link back to your website.</span></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-40646142007952078312015-10-01T08:30:00.001-07:002015-10-26T11:42:13.175-07:00Kathaline Page-Guth: A New Unique Jewellery Brand from Florence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love what we do and we also love working with start-ups. Here's a recent press release we wrote for Kathaline Page-Guth, a new, online brand of luxury jewellery that is launching today. I wish we were in Florence to pop open a bottle of champagne with her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">Kathaline Page-Guth</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;">, a fine jewellery designer based in Florence, Italy, will be unveiling her new online store on the 30th September 2015.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Through her designs, </span>Kathaline<span style="line-height: 200%;">, who was born in Geneva in 1961 and has studied at the Gemological Institute of America, explores the female world, drawing inspiration from her own personal experiences, travels and passion for ancient geometry, cultural contaminations and precious materials.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To mark the occasion, the new luxury brand, which proposes an exclusive, limited edition range of handcrafted designer rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants and broches, will be launching four distinctive collections: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/empowered/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">Empowered</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;"> is a unique range of assertive, statement pieces, showcasing an eclectic selection of designs with meticulous artisanal accents. The height of the collection is the striking ‘</span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/product/claw-ring/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">Claw</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;">’ ring, featuring a generous, London Blue Topaz stone in a Diamond pavé, feline claw setting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPPsVhNUizSYrzTKZykrGCW97bWZIONZUwLtEL46W3I6wmhkYRMM0381NFN_QmwyIG61bE8UIjh-vhgkaHlboYfyIilNBMk5jQt7uhYNDbl56xr6pTTbIo44KMgeL3dWh4v2YZi9HJj4/s1600/claw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPPsVhNUizSYrzTKZykrGCW97bWZIONZUwLtEL46W3I6wmhkYRMM0381NFN_QmwyIG61bE8UIjh-vhgkaHlboYfyIilNBMk5jQt7uhYNDbl56xr6pTTbIo44KMgeL3dWh4v2YZi9HJj4/s320/claw.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Empowered collection: Claw ring </span> </span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Glamourous and indulgent, the </span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/burlesque/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">Burlesque</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;"> collection is the epitome of feminine sensuality and luxury. The range features a sophisticated, ‘<b><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/product/black-passementerie-ring-2/"><span style="color: windowtext;">Passementerie</span></a></b>’ ring with curvaceous, snake-like lines, punctuated with a shimmering array of brilliant cut, white or black Diamonds.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWWgEiG_ofxrv_S49kYrhDZ8-WImiqL_ghWTsaCvP9Ysaepzw9Lp4qJ3rhyF7YdksnOpmORf_d4K6y_-ncRfRgw7mNSMbm3LjX_-EBZrFk0rPHP2sJ0qj3pxFI9eFsEu3c_dXjFuU56M/s1600/passementeriering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWWgEiG_ofxrv_S49kYrhDZ8-WImiqL_ghWTsaCvP9Ysaepzw9Lp4qJ3rhyF7YdksnOpmORf_d4K6y_-ncRfRgw7mNSMbm3LjX_-EBZrFk0rPHP2sJ0qj3pxFI9eFsEu3c_dXjFuU56M/s320/passementeriering.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> Burlesque collection: Passementerie ring</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">In </span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/alter-ego/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">Alter Ego</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;">, the designer explores the dark side of the female psyche, expressed through glinting shark’s teeth and striking geometric forms. One of the highlights of the collection is the 18 karat yellow gold, ‘</span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/product/kati-ring/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">KATI</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%; text-decoration: none;">’</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="line-height: 200%;">ring</span></span><span style="line-height: 200%;">, featuring a distinctive, circular motif with brilliant cut diamond accents.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiXHQiIY1F6GsN9E3IEdKMaQFMlT99hFL6Ws3dyAkccOfLEEB-ccwiwT2RIcXGPKbz87TFNwGqJvlw4NoS0vEQXrkKfljKR2PQv2UoOjzSN8tahbrjUg_0mvz80edXNdYV6VqzoFGwhw/s1600/kati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiXHQiIY1F6GsN9E3IEdKMaQFMlT99hFL6Ws3dyAkccOfLEEB-ccwiwT2RIcXGPKbz87TFNwGqJvlw4NoS0vEQXrkKfljKR2PQv2UoOjzSN8tahbrjUg_0mvz80edXNdYV6VqzoFGwhw/s320/kati.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="line-height: 200%;"><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Alter Ego collection: Claw ring</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">As the name dictates, the </span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/romance/"><b><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 200%;">Romance</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;"> collection, pampers to the gentler side of a woman’s nature. And it is here that the designer gives free reign to her creativity, crafting unusual, playful and extravagant designs of a timeless yet contemporary quality. One of these pieces is ‘</span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.it/product/greedy-brooch/"><b><span style="line-height: 200%;">Greedy</span></b></a><span style="line-height: 200%;">’, an exquisitely colourful dragon brooch, made of a striking array of minute <span style="background: white;">Tourmaline cabochons, Sapphires, Tsavorites, Diamond pavé, and a single Chrysoprase briolette.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscaC-TM8KhVd9qdQxgFk4QKR3vQhj2BG5IvZIG9tq6kYowhGx1BTYXtYSZEFATRbK9J1M9QnIHImvKnoW1ZWcU1KWHUbE1SQ92T0GkWQm7zP-UmLZqLbRVEAOMi_WN9xEj3G3qORzh8s/s1600/greedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscaC-TM8KhVd9qdQxgFk4QKR3vQhj2BG5IvZIG9tq6kYowhGx1BTYXtYSZEFATRbK9J1M9QnIHImvKnoW1ZWcU1KWHUbE1SQ92T0GkWQm7zP-UmLZqLbRVEAOMi_WN9xEj3G3qORzh8s/s320/greedy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Romance collection: Greedy brooch</span></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I wanted to create a collection that expresses the true spirit of the modern-day woman. An independent woman who knows what she wants; a woman who doesn’t have to wait for a man to buy her a ring or a special piece of jewellery. For me, a piece of fine jewellery is more<span style="background: white;"> than just an ornamental accessory. It’s a rare and valuable work of art; a symbolic and emotional investment piece to be worn and treasured for generations to come”, states Kathaline Page-Guth about her new collection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each piece is made entirely in Italy, by highly skilled Florentine artisans, using only the finest quality materials, and all of the diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones are ethically sourced and certified<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">Kathaline Page-Guth jewellery is available on the official website and in selected online stores, with prices ranging from €2000 to €24.000.</span></span><span style="background: white; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">For further information visit </span><a href="http://www.kathalinepageguth.com/"><span style="line-height: 200%;">www.kathalinepageguth.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 200%;">~ENDS~ </span></b><span style="background: white; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Press contact <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kathaline Page-Guth</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tel : +39 335 5355110</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>E-mail</b>: <a href="mailto:k@kathalinepageguth.com">k@kathalinepageguth.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To download high resolution images, please click<b> </b><a href="http://bit.ly/kpg_hres"><b>here.</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About Kathaline Page Guth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born to Hungarian and American parents, in 1961, Kathaline Page-Guth grew up in Geneva, where she first studied Art. After graduating in Business Administration, in 1982 she moved to Milan where she worked as an Art Director at an advertising agency for five years, continuing to design and create in her own free time. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She finally went freelance and channelled her passion for design, aesthetics, luxury objects, cultural crossovers and pattern making into everything, from furniture and home objects, to fabrics and clothes.<span style="color: #cc9966; letter-spacing: 3pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kathaline’s move to Florence in 1997 was a real turning point in her career. It was here that she came into contact with the Florentine ateliers and, under the mentorship of Simone Rucellai, began to learn the prestigious art of fine jewellery making.<span style="color: #cc9966; letter-spacing: 3pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Convinced this was the ideal way to vent her obsession with sacred geometry, symbols, history and intercultural aesthetics, she enrolled on a number of courses at the Gemmological Institute of America and began designing and creating her own jewellery collection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Collection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This exclusive range of limited edition jewellery is inspired by the raw and multi-faceted vitality of the female experience. Women’s desires, sexuality and emotions, embodied in luxurious yet understated designs that express the dynamic and independent spirit of the modern-day woman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Meticulously crafted heirlooms that aren’t necessarily worn just on special occasions or chosen for us by someone else, but sophisticated pieces that radiate the true essence and complexity of who we are.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fine jewellery designed by a woman for women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Workmanship<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Kathaline Page-Guth a piece of fine jewellery is more than an ornamental accessory. It’s a rare and valuable work of art; a symbolic and emotional investment piece to be worn and treasured for generations to come.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This is why every design is handcrafted with the utmost care and precision by highly skilled artisans, trained in the century-old goldsmith tradition for which Florence is so renowned.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Each piece is made from only the finest quality materials and all of our diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones are ethically sourced and certified through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Need help with your next press release or campaign? Visit the Bastian Contrarian <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a> or write to <a href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com">bastiancontrarian@gmail.com</a> to find out how we can help.</b></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-29671521816982367462015-09-18T05:48:00.000-07:002015-09-18T10:20:51.863-07:00Translation Tests: To Do or Not to Do?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">When to avoid or accept doing a
translation test.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBvx-2-AefAbeslMUq5sVtTfgioHzQL1IBgSRIMDjoDWg8L9OjKqZQedxn29em4ws-4DBSWmig1uqRf7XuCqzaBtEuOQFbB2ZspLWH6hDb_4SxKffWdcArxoGyuUiRGvpprrqA8BA7ek/s1600/test-pattern-152459_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBvx-2-AefAbeslMUq5sVtTfgioHzQL1IBgSRIMDjoDWg8L9OjKqZQedxn29em4ws-4DBSWmig1uqRf7XuCqzaBtEuOQFbB2ZspLWH6hDb_4SxKffWdcArxoGyuUiRGvpprrqA8BA7ek/s640/test-pattern-152459_640.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most translators will probably face this dilemma at some point in their career. In the fifteen plus years I've been
working as a freelancer, I’ve been asked to do tests on several occasions. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But should you do them?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dbhZnOIPRHj7_xEwwqvV8qpCQyGedeBpF5HtwgKRom9L_0Csd6YTgr29-H556dKt2MZXkeEIrl_MzMQGKbdXG11BneELjrC7MPZNPYfZvn6HTCTUzZnY4C-RTeyPslJYnzUJdKgqWJ4/s1600/bank+robbers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dbhZnOIPRHj7_xEwwqvV8qpCQyGedeBpF5HtwgKRom9L_0Csd6YTgr29-H556dKt2MZXkeEIrl_MzMQGKbdXG11BneELjrC7MPZNPYfZvn6HTCTUzZnY4C-RTeyPslJYnzUJdKgqWJ4/s400/bank+robbers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, let me start with a story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first started out, I hadn't really entertained
the idea that there might be bogus agencies out there. Bad payers yes, but not
translation thieves! Parasitic companies that ask translators to do tests to
get their clients’ projects done </span><u style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for free</u><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was only a few months into my freelance career when an agency contacted me, asking me if I could do a translation test,
with the promise that there would be more work if I passed. New to the game and
eager to get established, I stupidly agreed to do a free translation of approximately 4000
characters. [I saw you shake your head and roll your eyes then].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, I did have my suspicions, but I'd checked their website - they seemed a legit agency - and
we'd exchanged several e-mails. N.B.: they were always very responsive during
the negotiations and when I had any questions about the job...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I finished the job on time, sent
it off and awaited their almighty verdict. Nothing came. I sent them an e-mail,
asking them if they’d received the work, but they never replied. I chased them
again: not a bleep came from my inbox. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I went on the company's website to
look up their telephone number and, to my horror – and shame –, I discovered they
didn't have one. Again,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>mia colpa</i>,
I should have known better. I'd checked just about everything else except that
one <u>extremely important</u> detail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYAyH8THlrORqYpTQhgulXMVOh4orLHYa09HlElBqhXy-m3AQ_WL4-sLMcpkbwG4Pf7thE5Be_hnoR9HC1M905bw9kKeiPhqBGNav6E_FZwRcxyw-AnnaT1RdaJ1USVwSpjP8eXeF3ac/s1600/fright-241435_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBYAyH8THlrORqYpTQhgulXMVOh4orLHYa09HlElBqhXy-m3AQ_WL4-sLMcpkbwG4Pf7thE5Be_hnoR9HC1M905bw9kKeiPhqBGNav6E_FZwRcxyw-AnnaT1RdaJ1USVwSpjP8eXeF3ac/s400/fright-241435_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been taken for a proverbial ride.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Determined not to let it happen again, I
started trawling the online forums and found quite a lot of sensible advice – as
well as disagreement </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">–</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on whether it was good practice to do translation tests
or not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Armed with this contrasting but valuable knowledge,
I decided that I would only do a translation test under very special
circumstances, i.e. if a reputable client was offering a long-term contact, and, in
any case, I would never do a test of more than one file (I usually work on a
1500 characters, spaces included basis, which is roughly half a page). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This decision has, in fact, served me well for the rest of my
career, and I’m usually able to spot one of these rats a mile off now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which
brings me to the reason for this post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month I responded to an advert for an Italian-English book translator. They
said they were selecting for long-term translators – the guy claims he is an experienced
publisher, who is launching a new publishing house – and that they would be in touch with the short-listed candidates in September. I also checked him
up online: he didn't have a company website yet, but he did appear to have a history in publishing…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, what do you know? Yesterday I got an e-mail from this, ahem,
‘publisher’, who said that they were now contacting all of the translators to ‘wheedle
out’ the ‘false mother tongue speakers’ (i.e. those with a British surname, who
might not be pure native speakers, because they’ve grown up in Italy, for example)
and that if I wanted to be considered for the job I would basically have to do
a <u>two-page</u> [!] translation test of the book. After which, if I passed his 'exacting standards', he would send
me the details about the payment terms and conditions, etcetera. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come again? So you’re basically saying you want me to do a
two-page translation of a book, without even telling me when the deadline is or
what the payment terms and conditions are going to be? <i>Sei
matto</i>? (Are you mad?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently so...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemwMZLo7cX92DCvcrPKvdxOV2_twCRl9GL2J2F7Sz9dU6p5cuh1aOGk9n4JK8tE2kcpRcodw5tkqaMmxb1Fcf17PWnMjl9wZoR4pKgpIivntDXNdmmTl7jtWVDZ7r7NlDHhhYtTpEWU0/s1600/man-358969_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemwMZLo7cX92DCvcrPKvdxOV2_twCRl9GL2J2F7Sz9dU6p5cuh1aOGk9n4JK8tE2kcpRcodw5tkqaMmxb1Fcf17PWnMjl9wZoR4pKgpIivntDXNdmmTl7jtWVDZ7r7NlDHhhYtTpEWU0/s400/man-358969_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a conscientious professional, a book translated by multiple translators is enough to keep the author, translators, proofreader and publishers awake at night - for life. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this sly customer doesn’t care, because he’s hedged his bets on getting his job done super quick – and practically for FREE! </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Capisici</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I wrote back, politely telling him that as a busy
professional, I am not prepared to do a two-page translation test; a
shorter test would be enough to understand the quality of my work. And, that I
would like to know the payment terms and conditions before I even consider his
offer.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guess what? I haven’t heard a peep from him since…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, after all my rambling, what you probably want to know is <u>when
should you agree to do a test translation?</u> Well, it really depends on the
case, but here’s a few tips that should help guide you in making a decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forewarned is forearmed<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’ve vetted a company as much as you can (by Googling, checking the translator forums, etc.,) and
you agree to do a test, make sure the text is short. It’s also important to check – you can usually tell just by reading it – whether it’s actually a snippet from
a full text or a finished piece. If it looks like a finished piece and your
instincts are telling you to run for the hills, run for the hills! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlbomKMt7utbfKFw51h_6xlsAk2bYVUmU-J31KwrNt6bZWEoCMvBJJ6bUBmKCanuTY81ZJtGWtzsD-LOR05ZZR7ncAUsVX3IX7Ea0vmh-rx1K3Ld3BCeIjpn2a0nqvHvYIlbU3Jo57RU/s1600/size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlbomKMt7utbfKFw51h_6xlsAk2bYVUmU-J31KwrNt6bZWEoCMvBJJ6bUBmKCanuTY81ZJtGWtzsD-LOR05ZZR7ncAUsVX3IX7Ea0vmh-rx1K3Ld3BCeIjpn2a0nqvHvYIlbU3Jo57RU/s400/size.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Size matters</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, the only people I do tests for are usually reputable companies or
translation agencies who ask me for a ‘reasonable’ test, i.e. not a ridiculously
long one. This shows they understand the job and also appreciate the time and effort
that </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">goes </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">into a translation.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It ain’t necessarily so</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In any case, bear in mind that even serious translation agencies won’t necessarily ask
you for a test. They will usually try you out on a [paid] short job to see how
you work first, then, if they like what you do, they’ll use you again.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terms and conditions<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always get them to provide you with the date of the deadline and the payment
terms and conditions before agreeing to do any test. If they won’t give you this
information they’re probably up to something and should be avoided. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The personal touch</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If possible, have a telephone or Skype call with the potential
client first. Even better, if they’re in your area and the deadline
allows, arrange to meet in person. That way you’ll have a better idea of who
and what you’re dealing with. Usually, most serious clients will be more than
happy to Skype, talk on the phone or meet face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set firm boundaries<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where reasonable, impose your own limitations on the interested
party politely, stating that you usually only do tests of approximately 750
characters, which will be more than sufficient to evaluate the style and accuracy
of your work. You will soon get an idea of their true intentions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously, there’s always the risk of making a mistake and even
when you’re really cautious you can still be conned. But, if you stay within the
less than 1500 character rule, you’ll probably feel a lot better about it than
if you slogged over a couple of pages work for nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-35995186794853515332015-09-17T04:58:00.000-07:002015-09-17T05:05:37.233-07:00Magnino Fine Furniture Holds Debut Exhibition at TENT London<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello again, folks. It's been a busy, yet exciting week at <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bastian Contrarian</a>. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, I've been working on some 'Top Secret' projects: </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The translation of two screenplays (one a black comedy and the other a dark, dystopian tale, based in an obscure but not too distant future, about the downfall of some powerful, wealthy people); writing a promotional e-mail for the launch of a new, Italian fine jewellery company; translating a press release and website for a Milanese law firm, and, finally, translating some recipes for a tomato salsa producer. How varied is that?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then another project came up, which I can actually shout about! </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Monday morning, <a href="http://www.magnino.co.uk/" target="_blank">Magnino Fine Furniture </a>contacted me asking for some help with a press release for their debut exhibition at <a href="http://www.tentlondon.co.uk/" target="_blank">TENT London</a>. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Created by Armando Magnino, the designer furniture is flawlessly crafted and amazingly beautiful - and I'm not just saying that, it's true.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I wrote this short release for his </span><a href="http://www.londondesignfestival.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The London Design Festival</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> press pack:</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Magnino Fine Furniture Launches a New </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furniture </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collection at Tent
London</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiU8LIZb5MbND78a5mlSYzcD7jwg92yhcfr82cbUG-xs6Cv6o4EOn4XKLUm-S10yZOuGNaIMYM4YVZLnHR9ycIOHeZFh07o_F5Gee-gnNopbbRQ237RF4TQn9EKyyrq_8NGZgR_F-iyM/s1600/Waltham+Cabinet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiU8LIZb5MbND78a5mlSYzcD7jwg92yhcfr82cbUG-xs6Cv6o4EOn4XKLUm-S10yZOuGNaIMYM4YVZLnHR9ycIOHeZFh07o_F5Gee-gnNopbbRQ237RF4TQn9EKyyrq_8NGZgR_F-iyM/s400/Waltham+Cabinet.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Waltham Cabinet, designed and created for <span style="text-align: justify;">the Everyday <br />Encounters exhibition at the William Morris Gallery.</span></b></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">From
the 24</span><sup style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> until the 27</span><sup style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> of September 2015, </span><a href="http://www.magnino.co.uk/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Magnino
Fine Furniture</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> will be
presenting an exclusive range of designer</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> furniture at Tent London.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born
near Turin, in Italy, Armando Magnino is an award-winning designer, who
currently lives and works in Warwick, Warwickshire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After
leaving his homeland and working as a youth worker, outdoor educator and
personal development trainer in the United States and the UK, in 1997, Armando
began his formal training in furniture making at Warwickshire College, where he
acquired a City and Guilds with distinction (Medal of Excellence). Successively,
in 2009, he took a BA Honours in Furniture Design at the Rycotewood Furniture
Centre and he also joined the Society of Designer Craftsman, receiving the SDC
Trustees TSB Award for the most promising new Licentiate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During
his career, he has worked for the likes of the <a href="http://robinfurlongfurniture.co.uk/">Robin
Furlong</a> furniture
company, where he worked on the <a href="http://robinfurlongfurniture.co.uk/?portfolio=gullwing-chest-of-drawers">Gullwing Cabinet</a>, which was awarded the Guild Mark by
the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers (2001). Other award-winning pieces
that he has designed and created include: <a href="http://www.dmac.co.uk/magnino2015/Slider%20Computer%20Table.html">Slider</a>, which came second in the 2009 New Forest Show – Fine
Crafted Wood Competition, and the <a href="http://www.dmac.co.uk/magnino2015/Waltham%20Cabinet.html">Waltham Cabinet</a>, which was commissioned for the
Everyday Encounters exhibition at the William Morris Gallery, in Walthamstow,
and later exhibited at the <a href="http://www.ashmoleanbroadway.org/">Ashmolean Museum Broadway</a> from 2013 until 2014. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v0KRmeyi09nWVKgV0gfI21T94KoQnmQXD6M4DSuk1IW0P_RNKoUW42nXhLY7XnXnPOqB0A8ddf7MRzjQvlVq3rjboay8j0SqiMPUx1stphzl2pk2TfbXOxNfqpTOpNP0KJ7n798sR8s/s1600/mirror.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v0KRmeyi09nWVKgV0gfI21T94KoQnmQXD6M4DSuk1IW0P_RNKoUW42nXhLY7XnXnPOqB0A8ddf7MRzjQvlVq3rjboay8j0SqiMPUx1stphzl2pk2TfbXOxNfqpTOpNP0KJ7n798sR8s/s400/mirror.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>This Thing of Darkness, mirror and shelf in English Oak.</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To
mark his debut exhibition at London Design Week, Magnino Furniture will be
showcasing a unique range of designer furniture, including cabinets, shelving
systems, coffee tables and home accessories, which are being exhibited as a collection
for the first time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fascinated
by unusual geometries, the designer’s work is inspired by his interest in
literature, architecture, geometry and the forms he sees in his everyday life and
nature. Fusing century-old furniture making techniques and modern technology,
the designer skilfully combines premium quality wood, mirrors and glass to
create pieces that are both beautiful and practical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “I’m really excited about this exhibition. Showing
my work at Tent feels like a major step towards bringing my work out of the
craft shows, where I have been lurking for some time, and getting my work in
front of a wider, more design-savvy audience”, states Armando Magnino about
taking part in the show.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Magnino Fine Furniture will be
exhibiting on Stand M11 (Hall T3) at Tent London,<span style="color: #231f20;">
Old Truman Brewery Hanbury Street, London</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #231f20;">, </span></span><strong><span style="color: #231f20; font-weight: normal;">E1 6QR,</span></strong><span style="color: #231f20; font-size: small;"> UK</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening times: Thursday,
24</span><sup style="color: #231f20; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> September, from 10am - 7pm; Friday 25 September, from 10am -
8pm; Saturday 26 September, from 10am - 8pm, and Sunday 27 September, from 11am
- 6pm.</span><br />
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #231f20; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>-ENDS-</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you all the best, Armando. I'm sure your furniture will be a huge success!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you would like further information on our <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!content-writing/cuxg" target="_blank">press release writing services</a>, just <a href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com" target="_blank">drop us a line</a>. We're always happy to help!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's me signing out for now. Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.</span><br />
<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-34616755289923326492015-09-16T14:30:00.001-07:002015-09-16T14:33:06.033-07:00Parliamo!: A New Season of Italian Conversation Lessons in Solihull<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The summer is over - "Summer? What summer?", some of you may ask - and the new season of Italian conversation lessons has begun at the Ramada Hotel bar, in Solihull.</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ciao a tutti!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonight's lesson was really good fun and we also welcomed two new students to the beginner's course, which was great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Italian lesson's are held every Wednesday, at the <a href="http://www.ramadasolihullhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ramada Hotel</a> bar (known locally as The George). It's a very friendly and relaxed learning environment, where you can have a drink and meet up with like-minded people, who share the same passion for Italy and the Italian language as you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the first session (advanced), student's engage in guided conversation and reading, while in the second we work from the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Contatti-Italian-Beginners-Course-Edition/dp/1444133144" target="_blank">Contatti 1 Course Book</a>, which provides a more structured learning programme for people just starting out. At times, we even throw in a few games like Monopoly and Uno as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parking can be found at <a href="http://your.morrisons.com/store-finder/Store-Details/?recordid=261" target="_blank">Morrisons </a>or the <a href="http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Resident/Parking-travel-roads/parking/car-parks/solihull-town-centre-car-parks" target="_blank">Malvern Park</a> Avenue car park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to come along or require further information, simply send me an <a href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> or give me a call on the number in the image above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All levels are welcome, so don't be shy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A presto!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah</span></div>
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<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-13366761562627299012015-09-16T08:12:00.002-07:002015-09-17T07:39:14.068-07:00New Website, Blood-curdling Tales and Violin Makers...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZmaVdqtO2csl_iCjrD87eyT9svP7TrdByktwGEjqFG5yF9JScu9eDyjwJjdvjBVDYEX07hszlFIi9cn7a4ZFPnzDXaxoRzBBUeH85Q0hBBuGojt4yX0fxcjNxHs9T5G8FCMiAw1fkAQ/s400/blog-372771_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I know, it's been ages...</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a long time since I posted something on this blog and it's really been bugging me. But, alas, there's only one of me and they don't provide personal cloning services - well not just yet, anyway...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I just thought I'd give you all a brief update on what's been going down in Bastianlandia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last year, I've been very busy working with some interesting, new clients and we've also been updating our <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>, which is almost finished and ready to be translated into beautiful Italian. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you who are wondering what happened to <b>Art in Rure</b>: it was difficult to get things going as planned, but I still managed to organise a couple of art exhibitions in some great venues, including <b><a href="http://bastiancontrarian.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/art-in-rure-debut-exhibition-at-john.html" target="_blank">John Lewis Solihull</a></b> and <a href="http://bastiancontrarian.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/art-in-rure-showcases-local-artists-at.html" target="_blank"><b>Specsavers</b></a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I'm still heavily interested in the arts, I've decided to put the project on the back burner for now. This doesn't mean it's gone forever, it just means that I've decided to focus on other areas of the business instead, like our PR, marketing, copywriting and translation services. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said, if any local shops or businesses are interested in holding an exhibition or event on their premises, please do <b><a href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com" target="_blank">get in touch</a></b>. You will not only be supporting a varied and vibrant Solihull art community, but you'll also have an opportunity to get a lot of free publicity and potentially attract some new clients as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NwsoJLougOc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NwsoJLougOc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this year, we worked on a wonderful website and video translation project (see above) for <a href="http://www.nicolamonzino.it/en/home.html" target="_blank"><b>Nicola Monzino</b></a>, an Italian violin maker. The content has a really personal and humble tone and was a real pleasure to work on.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Spooky story coming soon!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also had the fantastic news that the English version of </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alberto Buchi</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'s fantasy-horror book that I translated last year, is already at the final editing stage, so his macabre tale will soon be lying on bedside tables worldwide. I don't have a definite date yet - there's rumours that it will be on the 1st of November 2015 - but I'll be posting more updates when it comes out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, the sand timer's run out for now, but I'll be back shortly with more news on what I've been up to during this lengthy blog silence...</span></div>
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<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-21836134672690884462014-07-10T03:59:00.001-07:002014-07-10T03:59:13.135-07:00Art in the Park debut in Jephson Gardens<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>For the first time ever, Jephson Gardens will
become the stage of an exciting</b></span></i><br />
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with cultural activities and events for all the family.</b></span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A Gentle Stroll by Kim and Paul
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On 2<sup>nd</sup>-3<sup>rd</sup> of August, <b><a href="http://www.lsa-artists.co.uk/" target="_blank">Leamington StudioArtists (LSA)</a></b> will be holding Leamington’s first ever <b>Art in the Park</b> event in
<b><a href="http://www.leamington.co.uk/jephson-gardens.htm" target="_blank">Jephson Gardens</a></b>.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sponsored
by <b>LSA </b>and the <b>Warwickshire District Council</b> <b>Arts Development Grant
scheme</b>, the two-day event will be showcasing an eclectic selection of painting,
photography, sculpture, crafts, jewellery, live music, dance, theatre and
demonstrations by local and regional artists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tree carving by Graham Jones</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Among the
many artists involved will be Birmingham sculptor, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://gmjwoodcarving.co.uk/" target="_blank">Graham Jones</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, who will be
creating a chainsaw sculpture live, and Leamington artist, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sonia-bublaitis.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sonia Bubliatis</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,
whose works are currently on show at Ryton Gardens, will be presenting an
installation of her ‘log canvases’ created using recovered or dying wood.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>A 'log canvas' by Sonia Bubliatis</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><b>Kim and
Paul Ingvar</b> of <b>KPI Images</b>, will be presenting a fascinating series of digital
works, featuring surreal and ‘otherworldy’ images of some of Leamington’s key
landmarks, whilst <b><a href="http://www.fatwhitecatstudio.com/wp/" target="_blank">Caroline Gatehouse</a></b> and pointillist artist <b><a href="http://www.bryanbkellyart.com/index.html" target="_blank">Bryan Kelly</a></b> will be
exhibiting a selection of paintings inspired by landscapes and nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV2dczSxU2iHkvXe6BVgUMWYV1FS0u_fDCbyM9cD6BfREIP9oau7f4M1BgHxqmRIal1B8DpXTWyVMMn_Owr2cIIM7pv-bwDTilEZntEzZcn6gfRYBgZ-huswcD3sdhukZLfWt1GxQfxk/s1600/bryankelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV2dczSxU2iHkvXe6BVgUMWYV1FS0u_fDCbyM9cD6BfREIP9oau7f4M1BgHxqmRIal1B8DpXTWyVMMn_Owr2cIIM7pv-bwDTilEZntEzZcn6gfRYBgZ-huswcD3sdhukZLfWt1GxQfxk/s1600/bryankelly.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Yellow House by Bryan Kelly</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ceramicist
and glassworker, <b><a href="http://www.gabirucinski.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gabrielle Rucinski</a></b>, whose works have been included in the
famous Wedgewood ‘Artisans Collection’, will be running a free pot making
activity, where people of all ages can create their own pot to take home and
keep. At the end of the weekend, the pots will be taken to be fired and
participants will be able to collect them from <b><a href="http://gallery150.co.uk/Gallery150/Home.html" target="_blank">Gallery150</a></b>, in 9 Livery Street,
Leamington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Local
organisation <b><a href="http://www.swirls.org.uk/page/default.asp?title=Home&pid=1" target="_blank">Swirls</a></b>, who promote collaboration between schools, providing a
wide range of engaging learning activities, will be presenting <b>Birdsong</b>,
an exhibition of art works created by <b>South Leamington Schools</b>, in the
<b>Glasshouse</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">At 3-5:45
pm on Saturday afternoon, <b><a href="http://www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk/" target="_blank">Heartbreak Productions</a></b> will be holding a
free performance of their innovative adaption of <b>Macbeth</b>, directed by <b>Oliver
Hume</b>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX50V5eGqaEf2hSJp6sflPcUpWdMXDFLJcBswIJng8BSlv3KWR-HbyZnpv0dotZGlTkrDC5yH5t7HpizkrethZ2apSSCXorI5w15aM8RSbSf5vnO-gy_9ihZwj8HFnsEht-yH3jsmHPeI/s1600/Macbeth+Final+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX50V5eGqaEf2hSJp6sflPcUpWdMXDFLJcBswIJng8BSlv3KWR-HbyZnpv0dotZGlTkrDC5yH5t7HpizkrethZ2apSSCXorI5w15aM8RSbSf5vnO-gy_9ihZwj8HFnsEht-yH3jsmHPeI/s1600/Macbeth+Final+(1).jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A scene from Macbeth, performed by Heartbreak Productions</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sponsored
by <b><a href="http://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/" target="_blank">Wright Hassall</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brink-Contemporary-Arts/194112833954709" target="_blank">BRINK Productions</a></b>, will be bringing a dynamic, urban edge to
the event with a live painting demo in the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Pump_Room_Gardens" target="_blank">Pump Room Gardens</a></b>. During the event,
Leamington’s iconic bandstand will be ‘wrapped’ in canvas and the creativity of
five of the UK’s top street artists will be unleased to create a colourful
contemporary mural that will be visible from every angle. The entire event will
be documented in a stop motion video.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnS7GRLYtBgmA1VD3VNRbvNfTtwyO2MsW490KCgfFAfsp9N0Buan6JbwZ32IISfxLuO36DI7Noev8xGRmwikhoWp_SbnSVXNxqRYkk3tnuRh_KGbab1Nl8O7E2SYM-AG8IS3G_dpXS9I/s1600/brink+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnS7GRLYtBgmA1VD3VNRbvNfTtwyO2MsW490KCgfFAfsp9N0Buan6JbwZ32IISfxLuO36DI7Noev8xGRmwikhoWp_SbnSVXNxqRYkk3tnuRh_KGbab1Nl8O7E2SYM-AG8IS3G_dpXS9I/s1600/brink+2.jpg" height="86" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A contemporary mural by Brink Productions</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Children
will also be able to take part in a <b>balloon art card competition</b>, where they
will be able to decorate their cards and launch their balloons throughout the
weekend or in the group balloon launch on the last day of the event. The
winners will be the art cards that are sent back or phoned in as having
travelled the furthest distance. People can also report and/or photograph their
balloon art finds by posting them on the <b><a href="http://twitter.com/artintheparkLSA" target="_blank">Art in the Park LSA Twitter</a></b> or
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-in-the-Park-LSA/489395867826742" target="_blank">Facebook page</a></b>. The prizes have been kindly donated by WH Smiths Leamington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As well
as these events, there will also be <b>live Salsa</b>, <b>Hair Art</b> by <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/offyour.hd" target="_blank">Jane Ward</a></b> and
<b>garden-inspired body painting</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Long-standing
<b>LSA</b> member, <b>Mo Finnessey</b>, who is the mind behind the event said: “The
idea for Art in the Park came to me after seeing Art in Action, at Waterperry
Gardens, in Oxford. It was so exciting to see so many artists doing live
demonstrations of their work and I thought how wonderful it would be if LSA
could hold an event like that in Jephson Gardens. There is such an active
and vibrant, local arts community and it has always been my dream to organise
an event where artists can promote their art or craft and engage directly with
the public.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Refreshments
will be provided throughout the weekend by <b><a href="http://www.stmarysleamington.com/" target="_blank">St Mary’s Church</a></b>, with the proceeds
donated to <b><a href="http://www.mytonhospice.org/" target="_blank">Myton Hospice</a></b>. Food and drink will also be available at the
newly-opened ‘<b>Larder</b>’, in the <b>Aviary</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If you
would like to take part or would like to help at the event, please contact
<b>Carole Sleight </b>on <b>07768 617081</b> or e-mail </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="mailto:Carole@artinpark.co.uk">Carole@artinpark.co.uk</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><b>Art in
the Park</b> will open its doors on <b>Saturday, 2<sup>nd</sup> of August</b>, from
<b>11am-6pm</b> and <b>Sunday, 3<sup>rd</sup></b> from <b>11am-4pm</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-38937135135767984602014-05-27T07:31:00.001-07:002014-05-27T07:31:48.426-07:00Leamington Studio Artists Seeking Artists & Crafters for Art in the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingptnqlhYbsk5FlghBztPKrmhC7BkEqki13BOugtlya02sgWe3nr3rT3o6J82gO2gzgZsD3Pvqw0MtFk06sga6NfcZWAZyHCHTY-gNCsBp-oQEpAjz_pAWXdp6sISySC8Fahyphenhyphen9ALs8-Y/s1600/Art_in_the_Park_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingptnqlhYbsk5FlghBztPKrmhC7BkEqki13BOugtlya02sgWe3nr3rT3o6J82gO2gzgZsD3Pvqw0MtFk06sga6NfcZWAZyHCHTY-gNCsBp-oQEpAjz_pAWXdp6sISySC8Fahyphenhyphen9ALs8-Y/s1600/Art_in_the_Park_Logo.png" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On the 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> of August 2014, <a href="http://www.lsa-artists.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Leamington Studio Artists (LSA)</a>, will be holding their first ‘<b>Art in the Park</b>’ event in <a href="http://www.leamington.co.uk/jephson-gardens.htm" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jephson Gardens</a>.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As well as live painting, performance, music, activities, dance and theatre, the 2-day event will also be showcasing works of art by artists and crafters from across the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>LSA</b> currently have a variety of exhibition opportunities available and are calling on artists, working in any medium, to take part in the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To find our more or to book your Art Spot at a reduced price or for free, <b>contact Carole Sleight </b>on 07768 617081, e-mail: </span><a href="mailto:Carole@artinpark.co.uk" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Carole@artinpark.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, or pop into Gallery 150, 9 Livery Street, Leamington Spa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Download the flyer below to find out more</b>.</span></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-1450428706580992672014-04-26T11:18:00.001-07:002014-04-27T07:46:04.282-07:00How to Approach Art Galleries<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What they don’t teach you at art school: the dos and don’ts for approaching art galleries </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/02/article-1210698-06437912000005DC-736_634x850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/02/article-1210698-06437912000005DC-736_634x850.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’ve helped a lot of artists approach galleries over the
years. I’ve also received a lot of artist CVs for my own shows and an
exhibition organiser can be seriously put-off if they are not approached in the
right way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is particularly so with large organisations and
institutions, whose staff are extremely busy and inundated with submissions
from hopeful artists every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here’s a guide on some of the issues that <b>could make the
difference between your submission being considered or banished to the recycle
bin </b>in one swift click of a mouse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Submitting Your Work to Galleries</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Each reality has different needs and
expectations. One of the first things you should do before approaching
galleries is <b>check their website thoroughly for instructions on how to submit</b>
your work.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Always <b>follow these instructions to
the letter</b>, otherwise your CV might find itself in the aforementioned bin.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Check that the style and medium of your
work is suitable for the gallery </b>you want to approach. To get a feel for their
tastes/themes, look through the gallery’s history of shows. If they deal in art
works that are light years away from your own portfolio, <b>don’t submit your
work</b>. If uncertain, you can always call the gallery to find out more.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Some galleries prefer to hunt the artists down themselves and will not evaluate direct submissions at all. They will usually state
this clearly on their website. However tempting, <b>do not contact these gallery
owners</b>. They’re busy people and will not appreciate you clogging up their
mailbox.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">With galleries that don’t provide specific instructions,
it’s a pretty safe bet that they are open to being contacted directly. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Before you do, <b>make </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a phone call</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, so you can get the name and the correct e-mail address of the person
you need to contact. People like being addressed by their name and it also
shows you’re willing to do a bit of groundwork.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sending Images</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">When sending images <b>always make sure they are high
quality</b>. Never send blurred, grainy or dark images.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Always follow the galleries instructions on image
resolution and size</b>. If in doubt, or no specific instructions are provided, make
sure they are of a good quality but not too big, particularly if you’re sending
several images at the same time.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Unless requested, <b>avoid sending images of your
work taken on walls or in frames</b>. This might be fine for an online store, but
it may not be for the gallery. It can look unprofessional and also draws attention away from your work.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Do not take pictures of works under glass</b>: the
glare and reflections will make it difficult to see the quality of your work.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Unless instructed otherwise, <b>always name your
images</b> stating the:</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Year;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Title of work;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Medium;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Dimensions.</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Alternatively, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">list your attachments at the end of the e-mail</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">, stating the name of the file and all the relevant details. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It might seem a bit long-winded,
but it’s very useful for the people who have to sort through the images. And, the gallery owner will
thank you for it!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: -24px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">"do not mention that part-time </span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: -24px;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">job at the local chip shop."</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Polishing your CV</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your CV is </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">a crucial presentation that should be prepared
with great care</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. I’ve seen a lot of young and not so young artists get things wrong. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's some tips on what you should and shouldn't include:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Include any </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">relevant art-related jobs and
experience</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">, but do not mention that part-time job you had at the local chip
shop. This kind of information may be fine for a normal job application but not
for a gallery owner.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">If you have had a lot of experience, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">be
selective about the shows you list in your CV</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. Some of the more important galleries may be
put off by the fact you did a show in a pub, so you might want to avoid
mentioning it.</span></li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">" a gallery owner wants proof </span></i></b><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">that you're pro-active, productive </span></i></b><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">and reliable."</span></i></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If necessary, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">tailor your submissions to suit
the different types of gallery</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">/organisation.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Split your exhibitions into two sections</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">: Solo
Shows and Group Shows, this makes your CV more immediate and easier to read.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">Remember, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">a gallery owner wants proof that you’re
pro-active, productive and reliable</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">. They also like to see that your work is
endorsed and exhibited by others on a regular basis. Too many gaps between
exhibitions could be a potential turn-off. The more you exhibit, the more
chance you have of being taken seriously.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When listing your exhibitions <b>always include the following
information</b>:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Year;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Name of Exhibition;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Name of gallery, organisation, institution
organising the exhibition;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Venue (where applicable) and country.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> Name(s) of the curators.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Be honest, accurate and check this
information carefully</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> before sending your submission. The gallery owner may
well look you up online.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">"</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">a gallery will be more willing to invest in you if you’ve got some solid documentation and press coverage</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> behind you</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">" </span></i></span></b></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Bibliography </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">Another thing I've noticed about many of
the artist CVs, is that they don’t include a bibliography. </span><br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Any
press articles, critiques and catalogue texts that mention your name will make
for a well-rounded CV. Also, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">a gallery will be more willing to invest in
you if you’ve got some solid documentation and press coverage</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> behind you.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When listing this information <b>always include the following</b>:</span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Date of publication;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Name of publication/exhibition catalogue;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Issue number, if applicable;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Title of article;</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Name of journalist/critic/writer.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The great thing about today’s technology, is <b>you can also
create hyperlinks to the articles, making it quick and easy for the gallery
owner to find your reference material</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>"Never make exaggerated claims or make your work appear to be something it’s not."</i></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Artist Statement</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Your artist statement </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">should be clear and
accurate</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. This is not a place to blow your own horn. Never make exaggerated claims
or make your work appear to be something it’s not.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Explain the concepts in a concise and simple manner</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">,
avoiding any complex, specialist terms, unless absolutely necessary.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Where possible, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>avoid the use of foreign words</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">,
unless they are the specific industry names or terms.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Explain your reasons</b> for working the way you did
and why you made those decisions.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Don’t get too philosophical. <b>Keep on topic and
be objective</b> about your work and practice.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Obviously, your artist statement will change over time.
<b>Go back to it regularly, and re-write it</b> if necessary. Even if you don’t use
what you've written, it's a great way to assess where
you’re at and where you’re heading.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Covering Letter</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Remember, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">you are approaching a business</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">. Like
all communication in the business world, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">do it professionally.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Write a letter, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">don’t write the e-mail like a
text message </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">and don't</span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">use smileys, Internet slang, or abbreviations like ‘U’ and ‘2’ – believe
me, this happens often. It comes across as lazy and sloppy. Not everyone is forgiving and there are still a lot of purists out
there who will bin your e-mail at the very sight of it.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: 2.25pt;">
<i><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i>
<i><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Don't do this: “hi I would like 2 exhibit
my work in ur show heres my artist cv and a link 2 my website" </b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: 2.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 2.25pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 2.25pt;">If a gallery or
organisation is going to invest in you</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 2.25pt;">, then </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 2.25pt;">you also need to show that you can
work in a professional manner </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 2.25pt;">and that you’re prepared to make the effort.
After all, if you don’t care, why should they?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: 2.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 2.25pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lay-out, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo9; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Once you’ve got all that out of the way, you
will need <b>to check your spelling, grammar and punctuation</b>. Your submission will
be better received if it’s well-written. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;"><i>"The right dose of bold print, underlining, spacing and bullet points</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;"><i> will make your CV easier on the eye."</i></span></span></b></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Read it out-loud</b>,<b> </b>does your covering letter and statement flow right? If you can, get
an extra pair of eyes to look it over too.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Look objectively at the lay-out and content</b>. Is it clear
and easy to read?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Use a simple, readable font</b> (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Verdana, Georgia and Trebuchet MS </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">are good
choices, among others), they are clean and modern and much easier to read on
screen – they also look pretty good in print too. Do some research online and find the
one that works best for you.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><b>The right dose of bold print, underlining,
spacing and bullet points</b> will make your CV easier on the eye – just don’t
overdo it!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">If you know how, and the
submission process allows, </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">you could also put all your information and images into
a nice PDF presentation</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">, a bit like an art catalogue.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I hope this guide has been useful. Obviously, there are lots
of different situations and gallery realities out there, but I think I’ve
covered most of the essentials.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you have any questions, comments or suggestions fire
away! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bastian Contrarian</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-3812767791518925112013-12-02T07:47:00.003-08:002013-12-02T08:45:09.521-08:00Art in Rure Showcases Local Artists at Specsavers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L8u_IVg1Ytc3gMfBuwPcm0d6XQy5f92FRQ1DNMXhOLYyJzsucTii7xI8GksmblHx0iIG7QHKGs81AIV6lE2wbyg1XLp8UhvxXc1If97ylOQk2dhfK2WOKBIm7eCuGel7v9Vgk6roLew/s1600/SSBannerOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L8u_IVg1Ytc3gMfBuwPcm0d6XQy5f92FRQ1DNMXhOLYyJzsucTii7xI8GksmblHx0iIG7QHKGs81AIV6lE2wbyg1XLp8UhvxXc1If97ylOQk2dhfK2WOKBIm7eCuGel7v9Vgk6roLew/s320/SSBannerOK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Art
in Rure</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> presents an exhibition of works by established and
emerging local artists at <b>Specsavers Solihull</b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Showcasing
a varied selection of original paintings, limited edition prints and
photography, the exhibition features the work of </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Hasret Brown</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">,<b> James
Callaghan</b>,<b> Elena Cecchinato</b>,<b> Jan Gay</b>, <b>Paula Hamilton</b>,<b> Paul Jordan</b>,<b> Angus Kaye</b>, <b>Nick Logan</b>,<b> Roy Meats</b>,<b> Julie Robertson</b>, <b>Barbara Shackley</b>,<b> Mark
Skirving</b>, aka<b> ‘King Pleasure’</b>, <b>Tim Southall </b>and <b>Mark Tilley</b>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">All
the art works on display are available for sale and a percentage of the
proceeds will be donated to <b>Northleigh House
School</b>, in Hatton, which provides educational facilities and support to secondary
school children who have been victims of bullying, and <b>Solihull Fairtrade, </b>a group that promotes fair-trade products and
ethical trading throughout the borough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Launched at John Lewis
Solihull in September 2013, the event is the third in a series of cultural
initiatives to promote the <b>Art in Rure
Fest</b>, scheduled to take place throughout Solihull during the school summer
holidays of 2014.<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Local
businesses, members of the local Fairtrade network and artists who would like to
get involved in the up-coming festival can contact Sarah Silver on 07971-022369
or visit <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk</span></a>
for further information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-56214580339530888122013-10-24T05:26:00.000-07:002013-10-24T05:28:47.590-07:00Art in Rure: Meet Director and Animator Kirsten Lepore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVR3Ior2EJcDeBmSKzNi9LO8TtLr8HMCQiYIJppRiGtHZBxsz4URLEcB9k0CVMbMEWGHvtKVBL9k86AdPrwa2TRjhsxoJb28d1Nb_qhtXdCtlN7saAK4_qCmNNKt6Q-g-6Ac4HmKfs4w/s1600/kirsten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVR3Ior2EJcDeBmSKzNi9LO8TtLr8HMCQiYIJppRiGtHZBxsz4URLEcB9k0CVMbMEWGHvtKVBL9k86AdPrwa2TRjhsxoJb28d1Nb_qhtXdCtlN7saAK4_qCmNNKt6Q-g-6Ac4HmKfs4w/s1600/kirsten.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #555555;">Kirsten Lepore</span></b><span style="color: #555555;"> is a young director and animator based in LA, with an MFA from
CalArts. She was recently featured as a rising talent in Shots Magazine,
Animation Magazine, Focus Features, and named one of the 50 most creative
people of 2011 by Creativity Magazine. With a client list including MTV, Yo
Gabba Gabba, Newsweek, Whole Foods, Toyota, Facebook, Nickelodeon, Nestle, and
Glamour Magazine, her work has been featured on TV, the web, and at various
international film festivals<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13.5pt;">Animated on location at a beach, in snow, and underwater, the stop-motion
short, on show at John Lewis Solihull, details a transoceanic conversation between two
characters via objects in a bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5mVEapKnS1c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #555555; line-height: 13.5pt;">Watch the making of the film here: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkgJ6R0S_H8" style="line-height: 13.5pt;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkgJ6R0S_H8</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">To see more films by
Kirsten Lepore visit:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> <a href="http://kirstenlepore.com/">http://kirstenlepore.com/</a></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br clear="all" /></span></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-72694867320907314512013-10-11T07:54:00.000-07:002013-10-11T07:54:03.152-07:00Art in Rure: Meet Artist & Printmaker Tim Southall<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LrJ9f70rj0yADCzvu-N0nXskPd0D84hxzIEm1pL_loXrsmhF6tin3teU1j64WFT8dQTzcgWnjviAEv0g_zIe-YjhSq_4d7h-e2CdKgVRYYn1cjdfE0FXudpHcKsIwZbyovNB6Lgy_Zk/s1600/Tim1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LrJ9f70rj0yADCzvu-N0nXskPd0D84hxzIEm1pL_loXrsmhF6tin3teU1j64WFT8dQTzcgWnjviAEv0g_zIe-YjhSq_4d7h-e2CdKgVRYYn1cjdfE0FXudpHcKsIwZbyovNB6Lgy_Zk/s320/Tim1.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Tim Southall working in his studio in Spain</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: justify;">Tim Southall </b><span style="text-align: justify;">is a painter and printmaker, who graduated at the </span><a href="http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><b>Northumbria University</b></a><span style="text-align: justify;"> and the </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.rca.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Royal College of Art</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His favourite mediums are oil on canvas and paper, etchings and silkscreen, and most of his work is created at his studio in southern Spain. <a href="http://www.londonprintstudio.org.uk/" target="_blank">The <b>London Print Studio</b></a> and <b><a href="http://birminghamprintmakers.org/" target="_blank">Birmingham Printmakers</a></b> are his points of contact when in England. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a figurative artist, his work is a response to the world around us, with a particular interest in both the urban and rural landscape. From the initial sketches and thoughts, his ideas then spread out into whatever medium seems best to transform them into a piece of art. All of his work is informed by drawing and a strong use of composition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The artist is concerned with colour, fluidity and the vibrancy of the brushstrokes, expressed through the landscape. In screen pint, with its process of colour separation, he takes advantage of the opportunity to make more graphic works. In his etchings, where he uses the medium in a highly technical and traditional way, he explores his interest for history, satire, portraiture and other traditional artistic narratives.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsOhlAwKt6vGlCAUmkRo2eR2MlK9C3_yQkr9A0WO3sPtupw3SBRJZ69nNHKap9lVE0mx-a3EwijG71CvpNHly_LXlLweLdw6rMg65qmL4q0g3y9HrzqprPmRy8ZV4VdQgNsfN-1PDHXs/s1600/Tim2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsOhlAwKt6vGlCAUmkRo2eR2MlK9C3_yQkr9A0WO3sPtupw3SBRJZ69nNHKap9lVE0mx-a3EwijG71CvpNHly_LXlLweLdw6rMg65qmL4q0g3y9HrzqprPmRy8ZV4VdQgNsfN-1PDHXs/s640/Tim2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Tim with one of his oil paintings<br /></span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim has exhibited in various national and European exhibitions, including the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/summerexhibition/" target="_blank">Royal Academy Summer Exhibition</a> 2011</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and also has works in various important collections, such as </span><a href="http://www.bp.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b>BP International</b>,</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Brussels, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Northern Arts</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darlington Museums</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and Art Galleries</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gateshead Libraries and Museum Services</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Works on show in the <b><a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!art-in-rure/c1ljx" target="_blank">Art in Rure</a></b> exhibition at <b><a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/solihull" target="_blank">John Lewis Solihull</a>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Tk44mKMyCQUCCKXRA1eV2nUzRutOcPgPokwl8kICc5XvnIxU6x_7Y33-hG2wYK8ZbJQUvoFQ0fZl9zpiRJhGTVo-GV9BVor0MkMqfv-l-au4RzcBWolgOxNZLSrhb9PAEvCBNjJRP9E/s1600/The+Middle+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Tk44mKMyCQUCCKXRA1eV2nUzRutOcPgPokwl8kICc5XvnIxU6x_7Y33-hG2wYK8ZbJQUvoFQ0fZl9zpiRJhGTVo-GV9BVor0MkMqfv-l-au4RzcBWolgOxNZLSrhb9PAEvCBNjJRP9E/s400/The+Middle+Bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">The Middle Bridge, o</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">il on canvas (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">64 x 78 cm)</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW6FaMTE2EeWdQOTkLTtquKuzsAQnlE9RHnd24_iFcls9xTZyNaqRt8cz2TYOEaHxfCYKx_2w73cz2vAuWm6kKRuHk5_goY06MpW9_44opHD-9pX5V_fZpXMWeuEOrDuo7GTvXKsqZTw/s1600/On+the+Towpath.72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNW6FaMTE2EeWdQOTkLTtquKuzsAQnlE9RHnd24_iFcls9xTZyNaqRt8cz2TYOEaHxfCYKx_2w73cz2vAuWm6kKRuHk5_goY06MpW9_44opHD-9pX5V_fZpXMWeuEOrDuo7GTvXKsqZTw/s400/On+the+Towpath.72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">On the Tow Path, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">silk screen print (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">60 x 80 cm)</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IY-bW4T-JTO_pkT5ZGFetXycdaPGG5HL7-M3fksdBRXtxLZqwxbkFhO1BoIBgz-kHJDHFMlqAUTwuNL9vTYLcp97rguZlvRkRGAOqfRsbpmwd5t7n1JG7yxrnMd3V-KYjdJID4aA9PI/s1600/Prowling+Cats.750Pixel.72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IY-bW4T-JTO_pkT5ZGFetXycdaPGG5HL7-M3fksdBRXtxLZqwxbkFhO1BoIBgz-kHJDHFMlqAUTwuNL9vTYLcp97rguZlvRkRGAOqfRsbpmwd5t7n1JG7yxrnMd3V-KYjdJID4aA9PI/s400/Prowling+Cats.750Pixel.72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">Prowling Cats, etching/aquatint, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">34 x 37 cm</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJv1FgVbGIc-fV05frR3fGjtlhqda6DqsrypcCbk8Zb20nhyf-bnJPlHn3HV4q5SMYPC0hiltCOhAPacvdT29nCtHR0DEoKo-StIBvUEerQGFQ3AbtB3dOgP3G0kgDTazw006RisZOs8/s1600/Strolling+Hounds.72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJv1FgVbGIc-fV05frR3fGjtlhqda6DqsrypcCbk8Zb20nhyf-bnJPlHn3HV4q5SMYPC0hiltCOhAPacvdT29nCtHR0DEoKo-StIBvUEerQGFQ3AbtB3dOgP3G0kgDTazw006RisZOs8/s400/Strolling+Hounds.72.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">Strowling dogs, etching/aquatint, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; white-space: pre-line;">34 x 37 cm</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This exhibition has been organsied and curated by <b><a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bastian Contarian</a></b> in collaboration with <b><a href="http://www.solihullfairtrade.co.uk/" target="_blank">Solihull Fairtrade</a></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the proceeds will be donated to <b><a href="http://www.northleigh.co.uk/" target="_blank">Northleigh House School</a></b>, in Hatton, a school for children who have been victims of bullying, and <b>Solihull Fairtrade</b>, who promote fair and ethical trading throughout the borough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><i>All images are copyright of Tim Southhall.</i></span><br />
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-79027226322896523082013-10-03T04:07:00.003-07:002013-10-03T12:15:10.509-07:00Art in Rure: Meet Artist Laura Adkins<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fRCgS4UyeQEOHnIbvQj3oNSPzvK1RAHGHoGnOwT5asUbYqNuqgx1IqegWIr-6GCxv3cYtThKP1I4MXk6pgsmrNO-zV7we2zy_ROuwHjn1y3wATzNrMNT0ah2m6p-joda3tHdGRik9uY/s1600/laura.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fRCgS4UyeQEOHnIbvQj3oNSPzvK1RAHGHoGnOwT5asUbYqNuqgx1IqegWIr-6GCxv3cYtThKP1I4MXk6pgsmrNO-zV7we2zy_ROuwHjn1y3wATzNrMNT0ah2m6p-joda3tHdGRik9uY/s400/laura.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Demonstrating mixed media at a Stratford-Upon-Avon Art Society exhibition </b></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Born in Birmingham in 1967, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><a href="http://www.lauraadkinsarts.co.uk/" target="_blank">Laura Adkins</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"> has always had a passion for
writing and art. After her A Levels she took a foundation course at </span><a href="http://www.bournville.ac.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;" target="_blank"><b>Bournville Art College</b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">, later going on to study graphics at Brighton.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the 90s, Laura worked as a designer, creating advertising, magazines and exhibition graphics and learning
to use computer design software. She also worked as a marketing assistant and
studied a Postgraduate Diploma in History of Art at the UCE (now <a href="http://www.bcu.ac.uk/" target="_blank"><b>Birmingham City University</b></a>), before leaving employment in 2002 to look after her daughter. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZzx72QWagOBLR7XDtMqSUSPcSQHymqWnWelF1VW-FJRN7zniWinndp2864UI99wkXzX5IXo27DnkGOfUROkBmV5165F3WICB_F0qNJOphUNzKZh3uNh6tygJtEcpeSnBvsgfXdr1Kow/s1600/Laurastudio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZzx72QWagOBLR7XDtMqSUSPcSQHymqWnWelF1VW-FJRN7zniWinndp2864UI99wkXzX5IXo27DnkGOfUROkBmV5165F3WICB_F0qNJOphUNzKZh3uNh6tygJtEcpeSnBvsgfXdr1Kow/s640/Laurastudio.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><i>A peek into Laura's studio</i></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzD3svRZfNtEIalsMtwBp72d_RHDfMShRs-LIUSFRbiKwCBwVWDdqm4GhVsJm-tMV7PkXTpwT8fFJXacA2vC0ognVr0E7RCn8-Bl4nEHvacDMlc61oAmzdub0aGfoSvPZnd378s9aWLVA/s1600/2+Laura+Adkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzD3svRZfNtEIalsMtwBp72d_RHDfMShRs-LIUSFRbiKwCBwVWDdqm4GhVsJm-tMV7PkXTpwT8fFJXacA2vC0ognVr0E7RCn8-Bl4nEHvacDMlc61oAmzdub0aGfoSvPZnd378s9aWLVA/s320/2+Laura+Adkins.JPG" width="255" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Arrow Slit stoneware relief work on show <br />at John Lewis Solihull</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">During this time, she began to take various painting
and life drawing classes at <b><a href="http://www.solihull.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Solihull College</a> </b>(taught by <b><a href="http://www.jangay.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jan Gay RBSA</a>)</b> and creative writing at the
<a href="http://www.macarts.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>Midlands Arts Centre</b></a>. In 2006, she had a children's story published by
<a href="http://www.scholastic.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>Scholastic</b></a>. Later going on to study an M. A. in illustration, with a view to
becoming a children's book author/illustrator. And, although she later changed career course, she won the <b><a href="http://www.panmacmillan.com/macmillanprize" target="_blank">Macmillan Prize</a></b> for
her illustrations in 2009.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Feeling the need for a new expressive outlet, Laura joined a ceramics class, led by <b><a href="http://stephanieredfern.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie Redfern </a>RBSA</b>, at <b>Bournville
School of Art</b>, where she began experimenting with clay and acrylic paint to
create mixed media works. This opened her mind to possibilities she had never
considered before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">She also took up photography, successfully holding an
exhibition of her work in 2010. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Since then Laura has been exhibiting and
selling through galleries and art fairs across the Midlands.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25tHve8U7ENBrGG0gzko9zvpnguPYG4Su9rbKwMOVYa4Mq62Q2zGwEIUyf6oSJJ-vu0NT1o6_D3RS6_pA9OeRZepN8ZHE2Skrl6Im8EpWrKWtona8CQiu02U-unLO7ZFeB_TKY8hvw3M/s1600/1+Laura+Adkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25tHve8U7ENBrGG0gzko9zvpnguPYG4Su9rbKwMOVYa4Mq62Q2zGwEIUyf6oSJJ-vu0NT1o6_D3RS6_pA9OeRZepN8ZHE2Skrl6Im8EpWrKWtona8CQiu02U-unLO7ZFeB_TKY8hvw3M/s320/1+Laura+Adkins.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Art in Rure exhibition: Small Rock pool pot with seaweed</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVRzV7djl6ELtWXhWg9tpOBO8mJdInwLboYB8vnqK2Pg5dyR8Xy2Z8Yy01tyYDoijc00QyI0GweEpc0FacGqdVxQ0j0FeAYpfvr9bCwtVMRFzpy6flRGB1AfLPxXcC1w43pQz9p0s15c/s1600/3+Laura+Adkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVRzV7djl6ELtWXhWg9tpOBO8mJdInwLboYB8vnqK2Pg5dyR8Xy2Z8Yy01tyYDoijc00QyI0GweEpc0FacGqdVxQ0j0FeAYpfvr9bCwtVMRFzpy6flRGB1AfLPxXcC1w43pQz9p0s15c/s320/3+Laura+Adkins.jpg" width="189" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Works in the Art in Rure show: Arrow Slit & Ivy mixed media and acrylics</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Laura takes her inspiration from her surroundings,
the natural world, landscapes, gardens, seaside locations and local history, exploring textures and the passage of time, such as seasons, tides, day and night, and the
effects of the elements on stone. Influenced by her background in illustration,
she has a great passion for detail and narrative, often working from her own
imagination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laura states: “I enjoy being inventive and
combining clay modelling and other materials with acrylic paint. At times, I
also work exclusively in acrylics or in ceramics, either for a change or to
explore the medium. As well as being a pleasure in itself, photography plays an
important part in my work. These photographic references help me to develop the ideas for each creative project"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Since 2010, the artist has been a regular volunteer at
the </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><a href="http://www.rbsa.org.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery</a></b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">. In 2011, she did an
apprenticeship with </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><a href="http://www.solihullartscomplex.co.uk/" target="_blank">Solihull Arts Complex</a></b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"> to learn about leading children's art
workshops, now holding classes for both the </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">Solihull Arts Complex</b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"> and the </span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">RBSA</b><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">You can view Laura's work </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">in the<b> <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!art-in-rure/c1ljx" target="_blank">Art in Rure</a></b> showcase (on the top floor),</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;"> at <b><a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/solihull" target="_blank">John Lewis Solihull</a></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18pt;">. Other artists works can be seen in <b>The Place to Eat Restaurant </b>(floor 1) and in the television department on the basement floor.</span><br />
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<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #5b533e; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span>Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-9666656818696463002013-09-16T10:38:00.001-07:002013-09-16T10:38:27.763-07:00Centre of England Arts Opens Door to Public <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpmOPk_EzBjGTdpFj3Om4DFseonXp4KRGcBxo2YWMz0ifOHs62cs7JsPip3Btpu7NqqrFiFlXQTvDGDdBmgsjfaYIEt8XSJsaEQ2WZ2v6EfWsUg1MFSoTjqGV_so9Obd-5Owi1cFumWs/s1600/DSC_5961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpmOPk_EzBjGTdpFj3Om4DFseonXp4KRGcBxo2YWMz0ifOHs62cs7JsPip3Btpu7NqqrFiFlXQTvDGDdBmgsjfaYIEt8XSJsaEQ2WZ2v6EfWsUg1MFSoTjqGV_so9Obd-5Owi1cFumWs/s400/DSC_5961.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>A watercolour class at Centre of England Arts.</b></span></i></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From 5</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">-6</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b> October 2013</b>,
</span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.coea.co.uk/#" target="_blank">Centre of England Arts</a></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(COEA)</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> will be holding its </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4<sup>th</sup> Art Exhibition</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> at
Patrick Farm Barns, in </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hampton in Arden</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Situated in a beautiful, converted barn, the
two-day event will showcase art works and crafts created by <b>COEA</b> students, and will also provide
the public with an opportunity to meet with the various tutors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Founded in October 2010, <b>COEA</b> is a not-for-profit company and registered charity that
provides a rich and varied programme of day and evening courses, including
<b>watercolour</b>, <b>acrylics</b>, <b>oils</b>, <b>drawing</b> and <b>pen and wash</b>. The centre also runs one-off
art and crafts workshops for people of all ages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Artist and <b>COEA</b> Founder, <b>Julie Hyde</b>
said: "We like to offer a range of skills for people to try. To come here
for just a few hours and take home something they have created, using skills they
never knew they had, is a satisfying and thrilling experience for people. The
aim of the centre is to enable everyone to appreciate and, more importantly,
enjoy the arts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">COEA</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> will be opening its
doors to the public on <b>Saturday and Sunday</b>, <b>from 10.00am until 4.00pm</b>, at <b><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=B92+0LT&ll=52.430295,-1.682539&spn=0.012743,0.042272&hnear=Hampton-in-Arden+B92+0LT,+Regno+Unito&gl=uk&t=m&z=15" target="_blank">Centre of England Arts, Patrick Farm Barns, Meriden Road, Hampton in Arden, B92 0LT</a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For further information on the centre’s
courses, visit <b><a href="http://www.coea.co.uk/"><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">www.COEA.co.uk</span></a></b>, contact <b>Julie Hyde</b> on <b>01676 523357</b>
or email <a href="file:///C:/Users/Sarah/Downloads/COEA@live.com"><b>COEA@live.com</b></a>.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-5467243352082488912013-07-29T03:51:00.001-07:002013-08-04T04:27:59.718-07:00Art in Rure Debut Exhibition at John Lewis<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bastian
Contrarian presents Art in Rure, the first in a </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">series of </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">art exhibitions </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">featuring the works of local, national and international artists.</span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx_B_QBNWzRSpwv1pNvNAbJhlY8qKENZeoa3JQYaRtMchQ40S78vPqK6ZTmy5fNbW-e67tD1pucak2LUD-0JT1NUBfIVbMrbFx8EPt2a6ITvvuadKrdwUJCsmp1NL80Zcwow_waHjPpc/s1600/JamesC_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx_B_QBNWzRSpwv1pNvNAbJhlY8qKENZeoa3JQYaRtMchQ40S78vPqK6ZTmy5fNbW-e67tD1pucak2LUD-0JT1NUBfIVbMrbFx8EPt2a6ITvvuadKrdwUJCsmp1NL80Zcwow_waHjPpc/s400/JamesC_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Frontier Spirit by James
Callaghan . Copyright James Callaghan.</span></span></i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bastian
Contrarian</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> present <b><a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!art-in-rure/c1ljx" target="_blank">Art inRure</a></b>, the first in a series of exhibitions that will be held at <a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/solihull" target="_blank"><b>John Lewis</b> <b>Solihull</b></a> from <b>12<sup>th</sup>
September until the 31<sup>st</sup> August 2014</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">In collaboration with <b>John
Lewis</b> <b>Solihull</b> and <b><a href="http://www.solihullfairtrade.co.uk/" target="_blank">Solihull Fairtrade</a></b>, <b>Art in Rure</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"> will be showcasing an eclectic selection of
original, contemporary oil paintings, acrylics, etchings, wood cuts, silkscreen
prints, photography and video art by established and emerging
artists from the UK, Europe and the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The
show, which will be held in the John Lewis </span><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Place to Eat</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">
and various other locations in the store, will feature works by <b><a href="http://www.jamescallaghan.co.uk/">James Callaghan</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/215835-elena-cecchinato">Elena Cecchinato</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.artbywendycook.weebly.com/">Wendy Cook</a></b>,<b><a href="http://www.jangay.co.uk/" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.jangay.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jan Gay</a></b>, <b><a href="http://paulahamiltonart.com/" target="_blank">Paula Hamilton</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Jordan/108761152380" target="_blank">Paul Jordan</a></b>,
<b>Angus Kaye</b>, <b><a href="http://www.nicklogan.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nick Logan</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.roymeats.co.uk/artwork.htm" target="_blank">Roy Meats</a>,</b> <a href="http://www.kathrynpettitt.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>Kathryn Pettitt</b>,</a> <b><a href="http://www.alanranger.com/" target="_blank">Alan Ranger</a>,
<a href="http://www.julierobertson.co/About-Us.html" target="_blank">Julie Robertson</a></b>,<b> Barbara Shackley</b>,<b> <a href="http://www.kingpleasure.co.uk/#!kp-art/cqge" target="_blank">Mark Skirving</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.timsouthall.net/home.html" target="_blank">Tim Southall</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.solihullartistsforum.co.uk/Tilley,-Mark.php" target="_blank">Mark Tilley</a></b></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The
video works include ‘<b>Unbelongings</b>’, by
London-based <a href="http://www.creativeplanets.com/#/film/4559903056" target="_blank"><b>Gulab</b> <b>Chaggar</b></a>; the award-winning ‘<b>Bottle</b>’, by <b><a href="http://kirstenlepore.com/" target="_blank">Kirsten Lepore</a></b>, and ‘<b>Returning
to Eve’</b>, by contemporary dance artist and choreographer, <b><a href="http://www.amylouisewatson.com/" target="_blank">Amy-Louise Watson</a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Managing
Director of John Lewis, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Julie Blake</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">
said: "This is an exciting exhibition and we are delighted to help
showcase these talented artists. Supporting our local communities is absolutely
key to John Lewis, and this is a great way of not only doing that but also
giving our customers an extra special experience when they come into our
shop".</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">All
the art works on display are available for sale and a part of the profits will
be donated to <b><a href="http://www.solihullfairtrade.co.uk/">Solihull Fairtrade</a>, </b>a
group that promotes fair-trade products and ethical trading throughout the
borough, and <b><a href="http://www.northleigh.co.uk/">Northleigh House School</a></b>,
in Hatton, which provides educational facilities and support to secondary
school children who have been victims of bullying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">The
inauguration, which will be officially opened by the Mayor of Solihull, will be
held on Thursday, 12<sup>th</sup> September 2013 from 5.30-7.30 pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This event is the launch of
the <b>Art in Rure Fest</b>, scheduled to
take place throughout Solihull during the school summer holidays of 2014.<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Local
businesses, members of the local Fairtrade network and artists who would like to
get involved in the up-coming festival can contact Sarah Silver on 07971-022369
or visit <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk</span></a>
for further information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></b></div>
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<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-6320189175457696792013-05-09T08:41:00.002-07:002013-05-09T08:41:29.594-07:00Sustaining the Person Within: Personal responses to working creatively with the elderly in care<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI75HM3UBORuUvShVaHOKqpBftLAYen12UCgk9y6UOdBfYXJziOI6Bn8zr5oT44zTAV1WrGMcFTql8cZ3_riCC1MskOe3M55JnTWiYdLb5oqoKOV32glWORkxU4XvC_oNckIbxC0Gkhg/s1600/sustExhib+invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI75HM3UBORuUvShVaHOKqpBftLAYen12UCgk9y6UOdBfYXJziOI6Bn8zr5oT44zTAV1WrGMcFTql8cZ3_riCC1MskOe3M55JnTWiYdLb5oqoKOV32glWORkxU4XvC_oNckIbxC0Gkhg/s640/sustExhib+invitation.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sustainingthepersonwithin.org.uk/">www.sustainingthepersonwithin.org.uk</a></div>
<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-71362338846184669482013-04-29T07:02:00.000-07:002013-12-12T06:00:17.342-08:00Solihull Fairtrade and Bastian Contrarian Launch New Cultural Initiative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53ymL25bes4msoqo5kYrw6uf4NcIuffojTAIigkldQEOZMfXIB0j-IQidu72TT1bV8j7wBjPU5Zte_9kr6X1UWoIkottv8CfZy9cZjUyGZXCALfQk4raFrYGWVr6LYBv7sfJZwVrXVTc/s1600/Art-in-Rure-(Two-designs)-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53ymL25bes4msoqo5kYrw6uf4NcIuffojTAIigkldQEOZMfXIB0j-IQidu72TT1bV8j7wBjPU5Zte_9kr6X1UWoIkottv8CfZy9cZjUyGZXCALfQk4raFrYGWVr6LYBv7sfJZwVrXVTc/s320/Art-in-Rure-(Two-designs)-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Solihull Fairtrade</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">, a group that
promotes fair-trade products and ethical trading throughout the borough, and <b>Bastian Contrarian</b>, a local agency that
provides PR, co-branding and curatorial services to businesses, galleries,
artists and not-for profit organisations, have joined forces to launch a new
and exciting cultural event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Due to launch in
the summer holidays of 2014, the <a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!art-in-rure/c1ljx" target="_blank"><b>Art inRure (AIR)</b></a> <b>art trail</b> will consist of numerous indoor and outdoor art
exhibitions, workshops, live performance, sculpture, installation, photography
and video art by local, regional, national and international artists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The aim of the <b>Art in Rure</b> art trail, which will
involve a broad section of the local community, is to increase awareness of the
<b>Solihull</b> <b>Fairtrade</b> network and local businesses, but also to raise the
cultural profile of Solihull and provide new opportunities for the thriving but
often ‘invisible’ art community in the borough and surrounding area. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Solihull Fairtrade</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> and <b>Bastian Contrarian</b> are calling all
local businesses and organisations who can offer an exhibition space or their support,
however big or small, for the six-week event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">If you are a
company or organisation and you would like to be involved, contact <b>Bastian Contrarian</b> on 07971-022369 or
download the information pack <b><a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/#!art-in-rure/c1ljx" target="_blank">here</a></b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Artists who would like to submit their work for
selection or propose a site-specific project, can send an artist statement,
CV and images (including dimensions) of their work to </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com">bastiancontrarian@gmail.com</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">To find out more
about the <b>Solihull Fairtrade</b> network
visit: <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.solihullfairtrade.co.uk/">www.solihullfairtrade.co.uk</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-26100464327340000482013-02-13T08:31:00.000-08:002013-02-13T08:41:51.246-08:00Seeking Artists for Bi-monthly Showcase in Solihull<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Deadline: On-going</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: justify;">We are currently looking for artists for a bi-monthly showcase in a prestigious and busy location in the centre of Solihull. </span></div>
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #070606;">We are particularly interested in landscapes, portraiture and photography. </span></span></div>
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_11" style="border: 0px; color: #070606; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Please send a CV, images of your work and prices to<a dataquery="#Link1pcm" href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com?subject=Solihull%20Showcase" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> </a><a dataquery="#Link1qy9" href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com?subject=Solihull%20Showcase" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">bastiancontrarian@gmail.com</a> and we will get back to you as soon as possible. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #070606; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;"><b>Exhibiton fee:</b> free of charge</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #070606; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.890625px;"><b>Commission:</b> 30% </span></span></div>
<br />Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-34900792281032991302013-01-14T01:17:00.000-08:002013-01-23T07:29:21.164-08:00Thought-provoking art from Iris Berger and Josh King<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The New
Year opens at </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.gallery150.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gallery150</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> with two thought-provoking shows by </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.artandannefrank.co.uk/default.html" target="_blank">Iris Berger</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.joshkingphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank">Josh King</a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFfe4wF_tr_Aib-f-W2cigwIr8yeaPheF9KBbdZ93txu2htRsRbnp_myhYWZRUkBIeOtqM81MeLKsyC3Hg4oLcuWlnRqmzEQu4-hQDy21vLQ8A9TU063acNsq23UWfIbXoCEkm6xWlZE/s1600/013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFfe4wF_tr_Aib-f-W2cigwIr8yeaPheF9KBbdZ93txu2htRsRbnp_myhYWZRUkBIeOtqM81MeLKsyC3Hg4oLcuWlnRqmzEQu4-hQDy21vLQ8A9TU063acNsq23UWfIbXoCEkm6xWlZE/s320/013.jpeg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Auschwitz by Iris Berger</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In ‘<b>Empathy and Reflection. Anne Frank.</b>’, Iris Berger takes us on a
journey into the harrowing reality of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Germanic_Reich" target="_blank">Nazi occupation</a> and the horrors of
the concentration camps. Inspired by her own personal response to the young girl’s
diary and a visit to the house in Amsterdam, where the family hid from the
Germans for two years, Berger explores <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Germanic_Reich" target="_blank">Anne Frank</a></b>’s inner life, thoughts, feelings
and the circumstances surrounding the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust" target="_blank">Holocaust</a>. With this series, the artist, who uses art as a vehicle for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>engendering empathy and compassion, investigates
the duality of hope and despair, stating: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt;">This opposition is the dynamism which forces
the collective memory's responsibility to the present and future. It can do
this because there exists a past whose tragedy is internalized through
remembrance. In this sense my paintings constitute a form of ‘narrative
painting’. As such, the works expressionistically represent the temporal
experiences of human consciousness, through memory, anticipation, despair, fear
and hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The ‘Anne Frank Series’ of paintings invites us
to imagine, and to empathize with, Anne Frank’s feelings - her sense of fear,
her desperation, being trapped yet dreaming, hoping, longing for her own and
her family’s freedom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt;">Photographs of the paintings on show at <b>Gallery150 </b>are
now part of the Anne Frank archive and the artist’s works will also be included
in an educational package, directed by Dr. Batya Brutin of the <a href="http://www.beitberl.ac.il/english/Pages/default1.aspx" target="_blank">Beit Berl College</a>, School of Education, Holocaust Studies Programme, which will be used
in schools in Israel.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSWf09iqb5S3B-Md5PS_cLQ_Dw4pK2I5jnOk-P_ntZztOmgyRU6z-yYeC4zSeI8aRJ0Y8YDzLdADqZCdBuVbLZIRavRQsh5X3fObxQBKUDA3KWbKEwon1QQegxpljsMeiORN9dqXr8LQ/s1600/Jim+portait+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSWf09iqb5S3B-Md5PS_cLQ_Dw4pK2I5jnOk-P_ntZztOmgyRU6z-yYeC4zSeI8aRJ0Y8YDzLdADqZCdBuVbLZIRavRQsh5X3fObxQBKUDA3KWbKEwon1QQegxpljsMeiORN9dqXr8LQ/s320/Jim+portait+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Jim by Josh King </span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Local
photographer, <b><a href="http://www.joshkingphotography.co.uk/about.php" target="_blank">Josh King</a></b>, presents
‘<b>On the Street</b>’ a series of moving and intense works, which explore the very topical
theme of homelessness. Since 2011, Josh has been taking pictures of homeless
people in Leamington. But, his interest in working with the homeless began five
years ago, when he got talking to a busker who was living rough in his
hometown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Josh
King said:<b> </b>“I was struck by the
similarities between his early life and my own and I realised there was nothing
separating me from his situation except luck. I decided then that I wanted
other people to see it too. Every person on the street is an individual with a
history of their own. It’s important to me that I meet the person first and
take photographs second, so that hopefully my images share a little something
of their story.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
series of thought-provoking portraits and street scenes, which aim to raise
awareness of this often overlooked issue, depict people from a broad range of
circumstances, who, for various reasons, including mental health, martial
breakdown and financial difficulties, have found themselves without a home. Donations
will also be welcomed on behalf of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Leamington-Spa-Way-Ahead-Project/143493089035964?sk=page_map" target="_blank">Leamington Way Ahead Project</a> – <a href="http://saleamington.ca/index.php" target="_blank">SalvationArmy</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: IT;">The private view will be held on the<b> 22<sup>nd</sup> January</b> and both shows
will be run until <b>10<sup>th</sup> February 2013</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-language: IT;">Situated at 9 Livery Street, in Leamington, <b>Gallery150</b>
is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am - 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-27010821731126057972013-01-04T05:40:00.003-08:002013-01-04T05:40:31.298-08:00Last chance to see the Gallery150 Xmas Artist Showcase<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">If you haven’t done so already, then don’t miss the last few days of the ‘</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">Xmas Artist Showcase</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: justify;">’ at<a href="http://www.gallery150.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Gallery150</a>.</span><br /><h3 style="margin: 0cm; position: relative; text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD3r-q4Plyc1RRSUzA8UbYti1QZVCKV04GGfHMGTrZ6YoO0SIyE144PPx2Y0F6IynKqfgdl7Mbbl7he9a7qN3B76luqOUaF2TMgrRoKuTFtDNnBCP3OetUmSMDeeMUDhPV8BkKnDskug/s1600/PaulCheshire0000138-5801.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: initial;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD3r-q4Plyc1RRSUzA8UbYti1QZVCKV04GGfHMGTrZ6YoO0SIyE144PPx2Y0F6IynKqfgdl7Mbbl7he9a7qN3B76luqOUaF2TMgrRoKuTFtDNnBCP3OetUmSMDeeMUDhPV8BkKnDskug/s320/PaulCheshire0000138-5801.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">PRE-RAPHAELITE BY PAUL CHESHIRE</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">The exhibition, which closes on Sunday, 20th January 2013, is an eclectic and colourful display, featuring the works of a good thirty artists and photographers, from all over the UK and beyond, including: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Paul Cheshire</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, whose sultry <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Raphaelite_Brotherhood" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Pre-Raphaelite</a>style paintings, featured in the first episode of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">BBC</a>’s ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0117755" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Show me the Monet</a>’, in 2012; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.lsa-artists.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Leamington Studio Artists</a> (LSA) Chairman, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.biggegg.co.uk/section543459_205526.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Clive Engwell</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, who presents a series of works inspired by Pop Art and comic books; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.davidlewisart.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">David Lewis</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, the highly regarded </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">local landscape painter, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">who supported the appeal for the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/2012/03/08/news-Linden-Arches-project-close-to-completion-32315.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Linden Arches</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, restored to its former glory early last year; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">S<a href="http://www.sourenmousavi.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">ouren Mousavi</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, Iranian artist and activist with her intriguing works, focused on the female world and the human condition; Gallery150 Trustee, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Gerry Smith,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"> and his fascinating photograph’s that take the viewer on a voyage around the world, as well as the works of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Libby January</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Kit Leck</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Neil Phillips</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hilary Roberts</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pam Smallshaw</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Khaled Townsend</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Leslee Woodard</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">, and many more.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">From 22<sup>nd</sup> January until the 10<sup>th</sup> February 2013, the gallery will be hosting a controversial double solo show called ‘</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Holocaust’, featuring the works of<b> Iris Berger </b>and<b> ‘</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Homeless’ by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Joseph King</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> 22nd January - 10th February 2013.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Situated in 9 Livery Street, in Leamington, Gallery150 is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am - 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.</span></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-40983720758576618332012-11-26T00:49:00.002-08:002012-11-27T03:03:04.595-08:00Seeking Artists & Makers for New Online Store<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bastian Contrarian</a> </b><span style="color: #070606; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.883333206176758px; text-align: justify;">online store will be a unique showcase for original works of art, prints, sculpture, design objects, home accessories, fashion, fine art jewellery, books, cards, craft kits/supplies and all things handmade, unusual and creative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are an artist or you create
original and unusual art, craft or design objects, Bastian Contrarian would love to hear from you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #070606; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;">We are also interested in anyone wishing to create exclusive, one-off pieces or limited edition collections specifically for the Bastian Contrarian store.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interested? Please send information and
images of your work/products with prices and product description to <a href="mailto:bastiancontrarian@gmail.com" target="_blank">bastiancontrarian@gmail.com or call 07971-022369</a>. Visit
the Artist Opportunities section of the website for further information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> website</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span>is due to
launch in <b>January 2013.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please share!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk/">http://www.bastiancontrarian.co.uk</a></span>Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-3465010408197348572012-11-13T04:13:00.004-08:002012-11-13T04:13:40.762-08:00Barry R. Willis: On the edge of realism<br />
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From 20th November until 10th December, Stratford-based artist, Barry R. Willis will be holding a solo show at<a href="http://www.gallery150.co.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank"> Gallery150</a>, in Leamington.</div>
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Born in Southampton, Hampshire, in 1949, Barry’s interest in art began at a very early age. After taking his Fine Art degree at <a href="http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/adm/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Portsmouth College of Art and Design</a>, he then went on to an Art Teacher Certificate course at the<a href="http://www.sussex.ac.uk/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">University of Sussex</a> in Brighton.</div>
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On finishing his education he started working as a secondary school art teacher, firstly in Berkshire and then in Wiltshire, later moving to the West Midlands, where he worked as head of department at a comprehensive school in Solihull for twenty years. Today, he works as a part-time leisure tutor for adults, with an emphasis on teaching mixed media.</div>
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While studying at Portsmouth, his earlier studies consisted of a series of iconic paintings of rock artists, such as <a href="http://www.mickjagger.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Mick Jagger</a>. He then went on to a different subject matter, based on figures in landscape, which was very much influenced by <a href="http://www.thomas-gainsborough.org/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: initial;" target="_blank">Thomas Gainsborough</a>’s painting of 'Mr and Mrs Reynolds'. This project involved costume hire and locating figures in landscapes with an emphasis on social celebration. Photographs of the scenes were then taken to form a series of starting points for paintings.</div>
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This led on to a series of works inspired by his extensive travels, including an overland trip from London to Delhi, in the late 1970s, and other locations, such as Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iceland, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, New York, Norway and Sri Lanka.</div>
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Over the last twenty years, Barry’s practice is chiefly centred around environmental paintings. The artist said: “I find the impact of certain places extremely interesting, particularly their atmosphere, beauty and dreamlike quality, which sets them apart from other places. They often have a surreal feel to them, which is an area that I have always found interesting. The intrigue and tension between what could be and what could never be is a fascinating area and one that I often use within my work.”</div>
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Although photographs are usually the starting point, he often deviates from the original image, exaggerating some areas and bypassing others, evoking an air of mystery and fascination.</div>
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In his solo show at Gallery150, the artist will be presenting a series of meticulously detailed landscapes and cityscapes in acrylics, using techniques that vary from light washes to heavy impasto, resulting in an intriguing play on light, colour, distance and depth that leave the eyes of the viewer hovering on the edge of realism.</div>
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The private view will be held on Tuesday, 20th November from 7pm.</div>
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Gallery150 is situated at <span style="color: #333344; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9 Livery Street, Regents Court, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4NP.</span></div>
Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-89817969757762018152012-11-12T07:13:00.004-08:002012-11-12T07:14:14.884-08:0010-week Oil Painting Course with Nick Logan<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6xSdbAPNiQIIV8kJ-C9xkuaHFBhOxr-TANRDGlmQ7jMx5mGFelWK-8dGuJnGJs1Gqphiy54qlckQKRgI9-H6j2joyE45rTwQ6pfzxGhpTqwwA_jVB9Acyeafhofd1Wt0j9m64C_ruMs/s1600/paintweb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6xSdbAPNiQIIV8kJ-C9xkuaHFBhOxr-TANRDGlmQ7jMx5mGFelWK-8dGuJnGJs1Gqphiy54qlckQKRgI9-H6j2joyE45rTwQ6pfzxGhpTqwwA_jVB9Acyeafhofd1Wt0j9m64C_ruMs/s320/paintweb.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Thursday 10th January - Thursday 14th March </span></span></div>
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Each 10 week course is geared towards the development of sound oil painting skills. </span><br />
<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Personal attention will be given to each student according to his/her current skill level with an emphasis upon form, composition, tonal values and colour harmony. </span><br />
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This class will not be about making a finished painting as such. All materials will be provided.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">• 13:00-15:00</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">• 16:00-18:00</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.3em;">• 19:00-21:00</span></div>
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em;">The fee for the 10 week course is £100. Refreshments provided.</span></span></div>
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<span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="font_8" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Payment: in advance or split into two instalments of £50.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em;">For further information or to book your place contact </span><a dataquery="#Link1ylk" href="mailto:info@nicklogan.co.uk?subject=10-week%20Painting%20Course" style="border: 0px; color: #888888; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span class="color_30" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="bold" style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">info@nicklogan.co.uk</span></span></a></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1923445340707547444.post-42877476771175683892012-10-19T03:35:00.001-07:002012-11-02T09:16:23.769-07:00Iranian artist and activist presents works on her journey to freedom<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCsAdCE7keb46cCkKA6caAFgZHeFyMhVk9lFoesr3ZqHDTWKtPbTrvqOVt8gYwSht5deiTUW0FFYBsHGQrXoCz_c33I-KPRYCKjosxSpaRlHNCBbmzeKBkKJ9A9bsWL36OQDx_lbcbiM/s1600/sourenmousavi_Dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCsAdCE7keb46cCkKA6caAFgZHeFyMhVk9lFoesr3ZqHDTWKtPbTrvqOVt8gYwSht5deiTUW0FFYBsHGQrXoCz_c33I-KPRYCKjosxSpaRlHNCBbmzeKBkKJ9A9bsWL36OQDx_lbcbiM/s320/sourenmousavi_Dream.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Dream by Souren Mousavi.</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From <b>30th October-18th November</b>, <a href="http://www.gallery150.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gallery150</a> in Leamington Spa will be hosting <a href="http://www.sourenmousavi.co.uk/" target="_blank">Souren Mousavi</a>’s solo exhibition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born in Persia, in 1969, to an Iranian mother and Baraini father, Souren’s ancestral line is linked to the Iranian monarchy. She acquired her Masters in Fine Art at the University of Tehran, where she actively began to use her art in the fight for women’s rights. This led to her arrest by the regime, who considered her portrayals of the female form pornographic and offensive. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a terrible and traumatic period in prison, Souren managed to escape and finally
acquired refugee status in the UK, in 2006.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At times colourful and Daliesque, with echoes of Futurism, her works unfold in a series of obsessive images that refer to motherhood, creation and the power and dignity of the female realm. At others, they are more introspective, darker: indignation smoulders behind hurt and challenging eyes; vulnerable, yet proud and voluptuous female forms seem to cower in the shadows, longing for a sanctuary, far from the cruelty that mankind can inflict on its fellow human beings. The figures appear almost perfect, unscathed, implying that their souls or beauty, be it inner or outer, cannot be defiled, no matter what befalls them. The use of colour, combined with recurring elements from nature, symbolise the artist’s need for humanity in a world of brutality, where freedom of expression, sexuality and intimacy is prohibited. The flowing figures represent the dissolution of the spirit in time and space, seeking escape and renewal; the fragmented, elongated limbs, noses, mouths and eyes seem to allude to depravation, denial, the desecration of humanity and the dissolution of the ‘self’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this show, the Stratford-based artist will be presenting a series of watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels and drawings that explore her own emotions and experiences and her difficult and painful journey to freedom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The private view will be held on Tuesday, 30th of October from 7pm.</span></div>
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Bastian Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12699822015473963755noreply@blogger.com0