Pick Me up

Embankment Galleries at Somerset House open their doors to Pick Me Up: Contemporary Graphic Art Fair on March 17th.

In it’s second year, the UK’s first contemporary graphic art fair will feature some of the UK’s most cutting edge collectives and galleries, including Print Club London, NoBrow and It’s Nice That, with over fifty (known & unknown) artists and illustrators and an interactive programme of workshops running throughout the ten days.

One of this year’s Pick Me Up highlights is an open-studio with multi-media illustrator/designer Anthony Burrill who has invited a handful of long-time collaborators to join him in the studio. Including graphics and ceramics artist Emily Forgot, photographer Kevin Meredith, sculptural artist & illustrator Wilfrid Wood and video artists Paul Plowman & Zac Ella to name a few. Watch them create anything from music to posters in the studio which will also feature Burrill’s 20-year career retrospective.

Exhibitors will work on projects, show their latest work and sell a wide range of affordable artwork. In true ‘fair’ style, visitors from all walks of life are encouraged to engage, and if you can pick (me) up a limited edition print or a hand made book, it could make the experience a much more memorable.

Claire Catterall, curator of Pick Me Up says that “even with the more well known artists, it’s not always easy to find their work. You have to know your way around online galleries, Shoreditch galleries and shops which could all prove to be difficult if you are not familiar with the scene. Even if you do know your way around the right websites it’s still difficult to really appreciate the quality of a print when looking at it through a computer screen. There really isn’t anything like Pick Me Up in terms of being able to see and buy such a wide variety of top quality graphic art”

adding that “if things are for sale I think it changes the dynamics of an exhibition. It’s not about our insatiable appetite to consume but more about getting people to engage with the work on a different, often quite emotional, level. If you’re thinking, does this work appeal to me enough to take it home, hang it on my wall and live with it, then you’re looking at it with different eyes. Buying graphic art allows everyone the opportunity to purchase something that is beautiful and meaningful to them, which of course is not always an option when visiting fine art exhibitions”.

On returning for the second year running, Print Club London’s Director, Kate Newbold says, “like last year, we will be re-building our studio at Pick Me Up so we hope people will pop in, meet our artists, watch some printing and enjoy being part of what is usually a closed members studio – it should provide a great insight into our inky world in the depths of Dalston.”

Sam Arthur, founder of Nobrow added that, “we will be selling a huge selection of prints, hand made books and other products at the fair. The theme for the space is taken from our latest issue of Nobrow Magazine, to be released at the event: ‘A few of our favourite things’. We’re building a set entirely constructed from cardboard”.

So if last year’s fair is anything to go by, Pick Me Up 2011 looks to be one of the most interesting and engaging art fairs of the year. With tepees and pop-up stands, raffles and draw-offs, this fair is bound to excite anyone who has the slightest interest in graphic and contemporary art and give them the opportunity to discover new artists and pick up a unique bargain or two.

Alicja McCarthy

For a full list of artists, galleries + collectives visit The Somerset House website www.somersethouse.org.uk/pickmeup
Pick Me Up: Contemporary Graphic Art Fair will take place at Somerset House from 17th-27th March 2011.

Uniform Wares Interview

Every day watches intended for longevity, characterised with meticulous design details and insistent on everyday day performance that lasts.

Alicja McCarthy speaks to Patrick Bek and Oliver Fowles, founders & designers of the London-based studio Uniform Wares, about their time pieces, their influences and what makes them tick (ahem…)

What’s the idea behind the time pieces?

They are conceived by the idea that a watch should be legible and simple but with enough character for the user to connect with. We hope that our watches are able to slot in to very different lifestyles and social situations. They should be easily dressed up or down. At the heart of our timepieces are movements that we consider to be the best for the price point, the design is built around that. So what’s more important to you when considering a design, style or practicality?

I think as long as a watch is legible it is already going some way to being practical. We could design a watch that is the essence of everyday practicality but in doing so it would no doubt end up looking like many rubberised dive watches that the market is already flooded with. We have to balance the needs of everyday use with a product that connects with the user because of the texture / finish or material. This is one reason why we chose Italian Calf Leather for our straps, rubber would be more practical but it is less comfortable, less luxurious, these are things that are important when considering how a product will age with it’s user.

There is a definite sense of quality to the watches, how do you go about sourcing materials?

Each of our watches is around 6 / 7 months in the making. We’re proud that each part of the watch is designed by us, only the movement is sourced elsewhere this means that we have many models of each component piece being made / prototyped so we can find the right fit for the product. A lot of our material research and prototyping takes place here in the UK, once we have found what we need we can instruct the factory on every stage of the finishing process whether this be the PVD coatings of the cases or the vegetable tanning of the straps.

So what’s the best seller?

The black 100 Series is definately our staple model but we’re glad that this model is the backbone of the company and our other models are all informed in some way by the success of that watch.

So what’s ‘good’ design’?

Something that has relevance, whether that be commercial or emotional relevance.

Who, form past & present has influenced you the most?

In terms of watch making, Ludwig Oechslin developed the Automatic MIH Watch that has an annual calendar that is able to show the correct date at the end of each month without having to reset between 30th and 31st, and it’s a beautiful tool watch. In terms of design, Konstantin Grcic is always No1.

Anything else on the cards for Uniform Wares?

We have two new models that will be released later this year, the 150 Series and the 250 Series. They will be an interesting departure from our current collection.

Very interested to see what they produce next, ‘an interesting departure’ from their already (or soon to be) classic watch designs! Keep an eye on these guys, with their meticulous design considerations and lifestyle influences, Uniform Wares will no doubt be one of the lead design studios of this decade.

Website:www.uniformwares.com/