Emin, Sewell and a bit of knitting....

This post will officially be my first of 2011 - and its June. Some may see this as a realisation that literary neglect only ends in guilt, which in this case is partly true. However adding to this guilt, Brian Sewell's disgusting review of Tracey's Emin's new show at the Hayward Gallery, whereby he insinuated that viewers would struggle to feel sympathy towards a woman who has suffered incredible physical and mental trauma by the hands of man, enraged me to such a degree that I felt the need to shake the cobwebs of this small corner of the internet and start writing again. Kate Smuthwaite's blog response to the article, was well written and extremely convincing, resembling a glimmer of hope that despite Emin's career, she is primarily seen as a woman rather than an transgressive artist. Smuthwaite acknowledges that this was not a academic attack from one cultural figure to another, but instead a hard cold threat from a man to a woman, the misogynist vs the feminist. I urge you to locate this review published in the Evening Standard and ask yourself whether this is what art criticism has been reduced to, essentially an old man labelling an intellectual woman a mere 'drunken slag'. 

Moving on to a rather different topic, but one which unconsciously keys into this discussion of gender politics, is knitting. Yes, knitting. The question that has been weaving itself around my brain for a few weeks now, is whether knitting is a purely a woman's game. Now I personally would consider it odd if I was considering the politics of knitting just for the mere enjoyment - but there is no need to worry, I do have a stimulus - I work at an Art Gallery. The current exhibition is looking into the workings of fabric and textiles during the mid twentieth century, its quite interesting actually, come along. The curators of the gallery have decided to get the public involved and have started up what is now referred to as 'The Wool Wall'. The Wool Wall, which I have taken to saying as if it represents an impending sense of doom, is supposed to, by the end of the exhibition, be filled with hundred of different pieces of knitting. I had heard that knitting was no longer considered a slightly geeky activity and had actually began circulating the 'cool' hobby club, and so when our bosses began to encourage their workers to add to the wall, I was enthusiastic to say the least. After a week of knitting frenzy I began to notice that while the gallery's female employers were searching for different yarns and patterns, the male workers, (minus my creative gay friend who has a tendency to make paper cranes), were throwing the wool under their chairs, and feigning temporary deafness if the matter of knitting was raised. Now by 2011 I had thought that knitting had become socially acceptable, having lost its ageing female connotations, and a man could confidently stroll into a haberdashery store and demand larger needles. However, this is seemingly not the case. I would be interested in knowing what people think. Men, hollah at me - are you going under cover to your local thursday knit and stitch club? Do you feel panicked at the thought of your secret being exposed? or is knitting for men just NOT ok?


ps: yes don't worry, all responses will be kept anonymous....

Vintage Verity

Hello, Sorry its been a while again - I'm useless when it comes to time management!

I know people are waiting to have their work put up, and I have started writing, I just don't want to rush things - but your work is in safe hands! Email me if you want to chat.

Ok, so back to it. Let me introduce Miss Verity Hatfield, the girl that has always been too cool for school. I think of all the work I've been looking at recently - i've fallen in love with her images, I feel almost transported to a new way of seeing, and any image which allows me to do that, I tend to deem successful. The style of the images themselves are dominated through the use of black and white, something which highlights a certain sense of nostalgia for our ideas of the past.

She seems to pocess an ability to capture a hint of danger through a vintage tainted lens and somehow create a new meaning to light and dark. Enjoy!

'Whose your Male Muse?'

Happy New Year!, yes a little late, but I've brought you a present:

Just about every photographer and artist have had their collection of muses over the years - some of which have been shot to fame because of it. I'd like to take the common assumption of a muse and turn it on its head by looking specificly at male muses, an idea many people disregard due to the preference of the female form. 

Here are two young men that undoubtably have a little 'sumthin sumthin':

First up Mr James Slater. At 20 years old, living the student life in Liverpool - he screams ' the new kid about town' with a face that seems to have been carved by an indie god. He holds a petite frame, with a paleness to the skin which mixes unbelivably well with his newly dyed platinum look.

He seems to thrive off a dirty atmosphere, with him appearing to make places alluring even when their not - a skill I doubt many have in the pocket of their skiny jeans. Currently I believe James is attempting to crack the model pipline, and to those photographers who I know are looking for their latest 'face', i'd say you can't go to far wrong with this guy.

Next, Mr Joel Dixon. Not only does he look like he walked out of a great episode of skins but he also takes some awesome shots, which capture life itself. He's 19, an age which according to him, would suit him for life - making me see him as a contemporary peter pan, replacing the green with black. His influences are 'life and reading about celebrity families and serial killers', which indicate a cocktail of fresh youth mixed with a little warhol mindset. I'm going to leave you with some of his past snaps, because thats how I see them,  kind of snaps of life as he knows it.I like this guy - and i'm thinking you should too.

Looking Back...

As we look towards the New Year, I find myself thinking of the great people I've come to write about these past months and what their work has done for me. I'd like to thank each person who has helped me bring this page alive from those close and those so far away. I have a quote, which I often read, usually during  times when things just catch up on us, and I'd like to share it with you, here it goes:

Have you ever wondered what marks our time here? If one life can really make an impact on the world...or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one person can change many lives'

I like to hope that people can make a difference, people who are not afraid to chase their dreams or let the world hear what they have to say. So shouting out to all you aspiring young people with just a camera or a pose and a bunch of ideas - throw them out there, because you might find that your work ends up making a difference, be it small or large.    

So, Happy New Year, I hope 2010 brings lots of beautiful inspirations wrapped in silver paper to those of you willing to enjoy the chase and not be afraid to reach for the ribbon.

Keep reading,

Cat

New Zealand's Port of Call.

These past couple of months, I have been searching for the perfect face, the carefully crafted polaroid, the ultimate black and white shoot - and I'm still looking. But to put a lovely marker in my search, I've found Miss Ruth Winstanley, a lady whose really taken to the skies. During her teenage years, Ruth moved to New Zealand, the land of beauty - which, looking at her, is highly likely why she fitted in. Now at 20, Ruth has become a successful young face of the country, with her travelling all over the world for her work. I think the less words the better for this piece, her pictures really do speak for themselves, her eyes have the ability to captivate a viewer - so please, let yourself go.....

Horace Ng - Hong Kong's answer to Fashion Photography?

3 weeks! I can't believe i've left a post until this long - university is crazy. But don't worry, this will not be a regular occurance. Can I just make a small apology to the people waiting to have a post up on their work - this weekend, i'm going through all my current projects, so I havn't forgotton about you!

Now, back down to buisness, I present Mr Horace Ng.

Horace is just a damn cool guy for starters - having come over to the UK to study from Hong Kong, he brought with him a whole load of style and creativity that is evident in not just himself but also within his work. Currently Horace has just finished an Art Foundation  focusing on Fashion Design, and is situated in and around London - a place which suits his strong contemporary edge.  

I've known him through his photography, but if he has the ability to transfer his skill over towards Fashion, I am almost certain that we'll see him bracing the catwalk at London's Fashion Week in a few years to come.

Remember, you heard his name here first.

For more information - drop an email, you know the score.

''Little Miss Manchester''

Hello Hello - sorry its been a little while - just started university and all, hectic time! As a little thankyou for your patience, i'm introducing you to a true little gem - Miss Hester Speirs, Manchester's own version of Gemma Ward.

I first met Hester a few years back - and remember once taking a few shots of her, when I wasn't quite the photographer that I am now ,yet luckily for me she most certainly did her job in front of the lens,allowing me to produce some quality photographs.

Currently, Hester, at only 17, is being enquired about by several agencies and she recently did a lookbook for a vintage shop - indicating she's definatly getting seen around her home city. It is rare at a young age to find a model who has worked with different photographers and Hester is one of those - from Hong Kong's Horace Ng to currently Nicholas Bentham, a fellow mancunian.

I hope to be seeing a lot more of Hester - I think she has the potential and the facial features to match to carve a career for herself - and I wish her all the luck in the world.

To find out more - email me at catfryn@hotmail.co.uk