Studio Archives - Aberdeen Voice

Wasps Open Studios 31 October & 1 November

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Oct 292015

With thanks to Keith Byres.

Wasps Artists Studios open their doors this weekend from noon to 5pm.

We have a range a range of events, demonstrations and tours of artists studios. In conjunction with the open weekend we are exhibiting studio work in Under the Hammer.

Wasps Artists Studios provides affordable studio space to artists throughout Scotland and has been established in Aberdeen since 1981.

Come along to to the open weekend and the exhibition and experience a flavour of the creative energy in the city.

Gerry Jablonski Band: No Trouble With These Blues.

Aberdeen City, Featured, Opinion No Responses »

Apr 172015

Trouble With The Blues is the fourth album from the Gerry Jablonski Band. It’s a classic compendium racing up and down the full spectrum of The Blues, and it’s absolutely cracking. Suzanne Kelly stops listening to it long enough to review.

The Gerry Jablonski Band has come up with their best album yet, although it’s not as if they’ve released any flawed albums before. Twist of Fate, their last album was rightly well received.

But on Trouble With The Blues, the high production values, writing, playing, solos and vocals have reached new, highly-gelled heights. My first initial reaction is that I must see them do this material live as soon as possible.

The lyrics run from playful, for example in ‘The Curse’, to heartbreakingly raw and painful.

This emotion comes in no small measure from the sad passing of the band’s long-standing percussionist Dave Innes, who tragically passed away one year ago after illness. The last piece, ‘I Confess’ puts me in mind of Hamlet’s famous soliloquy which painfully questions existence; if you hear the song, you’ll perhaps take my meaning.

In ‘I Confess’, the lyrics are initially filled with sorrow:

“I never felt this way before until my friend passed away”

– as direct and crushing as a lyric can get. As it reaches a crescendo, the lyrics increasingly expose more raw pain, self-contempt and anger mirrored in the poignant vocals. All the while the guitar grows correspondingly louder and more insistent.

It’s cathartic for anyone who’s had such a loss; such a person will identify with this song and likewise be moved. It’s incredibly honest, as is ‘Anybody.’

‘Anybody’ is also a mournful, classic blues. Clapton would have been happy to have come up with this song. The instrumentals are minimal, while Jablonski sings

“I’m only human after all. I’ve been through my changes; don’t know which way to turn. All my friends are doing fine. So somebody, could be anybody, take me to the light.”

People are going to be singing along to this when they hear it live, I guarantee it. The only thing I’d say is that this sweet song is one I could imagine with a gospel choir on the chorus towards the end; i.e. the ‘Under The Bridge’ effect if you will. But other than that suggestion, I’ve no fault to find with this accomplished album.

Jablonski’s voice has never been in better form; the guitar work, and especially the guitar solos have also taken things up a notch. The title track ‘Trouble with the Blues’ has a scorcher of a solo, for instance.

But this album is a group effort, a team production. The entire band shares the song writing credits. There are polished bass lines and funky bass solos: ‘Trouble With The Blues’ has a great solo. Once again Peter Peter Narojczyk’s harmonica work is versatile, polished, expressive; Jerry Portnoy would approve. Lewis Fraser is now on the drums. He’s done a brilliant piece of work on this album. Mr Innes would approve.

I’ve dwelt on two melancholy, soul-baring tracks so far; but ultimately this album is celebratory. ‘Lady & I’ is upbeat and sassy; ‘The Curse’ is great fun. Then again so is ‘Fork Fed Dog’ – down, dirty, fun. I can imagine sets opening with this high-voltage track. It’s a tremendous track and I look forward to experiencing it live. ‘Big Bad World’ is a nice sharp bit of social commentary and a good showplace for Narojczyk, with a short but sharp Jablonski solo.

Live dates are indeed coming; for more information on this album and where to catch the Gerry Jablonski band, see the website here: www.gerryjablonskiband.com . I also understand that a video is forthcoming, shot at least in part in Aberdeen’s D-Range recording studio.

There is a great deal of debate in Aberdeen now about what is or is not culture, and what Aberdeen’s greatest cultural assets are. This album is as strong a hint as you can possibly get on that score.

This is not a piece of work to listen to once and forget; it will be going on your iPod and going where you go.

Having seen their Facebook updates during the project, and how happy they were to be at Abbey Road, I must say I’m very happy they’ve come out with such a strong, varied, memorable work. Nice work, gentlemen.

Wasps Artists’ Open Studios 19, 20 October

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Oct 142013

With thanks to Keith Byres .

For one weekend only, artists at Langstane Place will open their doors and showcase a wide variety of work including: drawing, painting, photography, textiles, glass and installation.

Wasps Studios provide studio space for artists and makers across Scotland.

During the month of October 2013 we will be opening our studio spaces to the public and inviting you to come inside, meet artists in their working spaces and talk to them directly about their work.

Wasps Studios are at 36-48 Langstane Place, Aberdeen AB11 6FB.

For more information about participating artists, venues and additional activities, please visit waspsstudios.org.uk

NEOS At Scottish Sculpture Workshop 16 – 23 Sept 2012

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Sep 172012

With thanks to Emily Wyndham Gray.

ssws-open-studio-exhibition-for-neos-2012

Beginning on the 16th of September, Scottish Sculpture Workshop will be opening its doors to the public for NEOS 2012. This year, SSW will be hosting an open studio exhibition, showcasing the work of artists in residence and programme participants, as well as a variety of events and activities.

Cheesecake Making and Afternoon Tea, and will continue throughout NEOS with Still Life Drawing classes, woodcarving demonstrations, artist talks, a participatory paper-kiln workshop and will close with a performance by local group Dudendance on Sunday 23rd.

The Open Studio Exhibition, Sunday 16th September to 22nd September will feature work from artists who have been in residence, and from projects led by SSW over the summer. The exhibition will bridge areas of sculpture, ceramics, illustration, installation, photography and text-based work. Alongside the exhibition will be resident artists working in their studios, giving visitors an insight into the day-to-day of Scottish Sculpture Workshop.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to engage with the ongoing Sculpture in the Landscape Symposium; information revolving around the renovation of the Lumsden Sculpture Walk will be made widely available and any input on the development is welcome.

The results from SSW’s Makers’ Meal, which has been running since the beginning of July, will also be on display. Makers’ Meal is a project between local artists and artisans which has seen the setting for a meal crafted from the ground up, combining areas of woodwork, ceramics, and forging, with heavy emphasis on collaboration.

The work will be on show in the SSW studio over NEOS for anyone who would like to view the final collection before being exhibited on tour around the North East.

Contemporary dance collective Dudendance will be performing at SSW on Sunday the 23rd of September, 6.30pm, to conclude the Open Studios event. The group will be creating a site-specific performance piece, as a durational work in the open studio space.

Date(s) and Times:

Open Studio Exhibition
10am to 5pm, 16 – 22 September

Paper-Kiln Workshop and Woodcarving demonstration
10am to 5pm, Saturday 22 September

Dudendance
6.30pm, Sunday 23 September

Location: SSW, 1 Main Street, Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4JN.
Cost: Entrance Free
Afternoon Tea, £2.50/person

For more information or to book a place on any of the workshops and classes listed above, visit our website www.ssw.org.uk, call 01464 861372 or email office@ssw.org.uk.

Image Credits: All pics ©SSW

Art And Sculpture At Easter Anguston Farm

Aberdeenshire, Featured, News 1 Response »

Sep 132012

On Wednesday 12 September VSA’s Easter Anguston Farm in Peterculter opened its annual one-week outdoor art gallery and sculpture trail. This is in conjunction with North East Open Studios 2012 (NEOS), which runs a yearly event during which regional artists open their studios to the public over a one-week period. Suzanne Kelly reports.

Over 70 guests attended the preview evening, and were treated to guided tours of the artwork placed around the farm’s grounds.

Guests were also able to meet some of the artists – some of which are service users – and view the farm, farm shop, animals and education areas of the facility.

John Booth, Deputy Chief Executive at VSA, was one of several speakers welcoming the guests. Thanks and floral presentations were made to several volunteers.

Alex Kay, a well-known name on the Aberdeen art scene, has a deep connection with Easter Anguston Farm’s NEOS gallery; she commented

“Every year it gets bigger and more interesting. It brings a different dynamic to the farm and the work that’s done there. For the service users heavily involved in farming, it means developing a new skill set. There are some real stars there.”

Alex and her partner Simon led a tour around the site.

I was introduced to William Moir, who had made a wonderful sculpture of a Koala bear, which was situated in the perfect setting – a tree. This beautiful sculpture and all of the other exhibits were extraordinary; the artwork on show radiates enthusiasm, optimism and colour; it is some of the happiest artwork I have seen in a very long time.

There is an Alice in Wonderland-themed area featuring a Mad Hatter’s Tea party section, a very winsome snail soft sculpture, and an endearing painting of a rabbit.

These works are displayed in two tiny summerhouses; nearby festive umbrellas hang upside down from trees, decorated with artwork and streamers.

Elsewhere there are colourful papier mache figures copying ancient Egyptian cat mummy styles, fabric wall hangings in the form of stylised deer heads, large and small knitted panda bears by Knit Wits adorn the garden centre area.

Participating artists include children, service users and artists from a variety of backgrounds. The sculpture trail includes remarkable works in situ including a beautifully crafted miniature pond with fish and lily pads by Heather Ivers. A pottery dragon sculpture called ‘The Watcher’ by Bibo Weber adds a fantasy element.

Nearby in a small glade of conifers were realistic handcrafted miniature mushrooms, while overhead a few giant dragonflies hung from the trees. (Unfortunately by then it was too dark for photos of ‘The Watcher’ to come out well, yet too light to get the glow-in-the-dark effect from the dragonflies.

The appearance of a giant rainbow over the farmlands added a magical, happy touch to the event (and was a welcome distraction from the short-lived rain which punctuated the sunshine).

The artwork is in the farm’s grounds which is a most impressive wildlife haven. The Royal Society for the Protection of Bird’s Claire Marsden was on hand and is the Red Kite officer. Red Kites were severely reduced in number throughout the UK, but are being successfully reintroduced.

A sign explains the importance of hedgerows, what plants the hedges are grown from, and the kinds of wildlife which depends on these plants. Like the hedgerows, Easter Anguston Farm’s wildlife pond also supports biodiversity and is important to the area’s wildlife.

Graduate students from Total E&P UK, the Altens-based oil company, volunteered to make improvements to the pond such as building a small jetty. These graduate students recently raised over £600 for the VSA at Total’s offices during a coffee morning fundraiser, and Total is matching this sum.

The graduates’ coffee morning also highlighted to Total personnel the many services the VSA provides. The graduates have other fundraising and community volunteer projects in the near future, including ‘Le Tour de Deeside’ bicycle race based loosely on the Tour de France, with additional challenges added.

The organisers send their thanks to the attendees, and said:

“It was a brilliant event and we were delighted with the turnout… and even more delighted with the fact that most of the rain managed to hold off until the walk around was finished! ”

The VSA’s Easter Anguston Farm’ NEOS 2012 gallery is open between Saturday 15 September and Sunday 23 September, from 10am until 4pm daily with free entry, a café and free parking.

North-east social care charity VSA’s Easter Anguston Farm trains adults with additional support needs, and is also a tourist attraction. The Farm has more than doubled its artists and exhibits from 2011 and boasts a new relationship with Scottish Sculpture Workshop (SSW).

Links:
VSA: http://www.vsa.org.uk/
NEOS: http://www.northeastopenstudios.co.uk/home.asp
More E. Anguston Art here: http://oldsusannahsjournal.yolasite.com/

Stop press:

For those inspired by what they see, SSW will host a workshop for visitors to make their own sculpture, keepsake or piece of jewellery. Participants will be guided through the ancient technique of cuttlefish casting, a form of metal casting, at the drop-in sessions on Saturday 22 September between 10am and 4pm.

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White Junk Fashion Pop Up Shop

Aberdeen City, Articles, Featured, Information No Responses »

Oct 132011

Aberdeen’s most fashionable event is coming back to make a reappearance in the great, Granite City. With thanks to Emma Noble.

S.T.A.G Studio is holding Aberdeen’s return of the Pop-Up fashion and styling event on Saturday 12th November at Korova Klub from 1pm-6pm.

The aim is to promote independent fashion designers throughout Aberdeen and connect the fabulous design talent on offer here in the city and throughout the shire.

Two fourth year fashion design students at Gray’s School of Art, Emma Noble and Toni Roddie, have set up and established S.T.A.G Studio. The company name stands for Scottish Talent and Graduates. It is a unique group dedicated to helping promote the people in Scottish fashion, whether newbies to the industry or newly graduated or established designers.

S.T.A.G Studio aims to feed the fashion industry within Aberdeen and help promote the Scottish fashion industry as a whole. They offer designers the opportunity to connect and network with like-minded folk within the city and to help build collaborations through fashion shows, photo shoots and unique fashion events.

At the Pop Up Shop the S.T.A.G. duo want to showcase new and up-and-coming fashion designers from the local community, along with vintage boutiques and jewellery designers. Delicious cupcakes are on offer from Hannah Bakes Cakes; giftware from Alison Bell; and nail and body artistry is available as part of the fashion exhibition. Plus you may even be style hunted by the in-house fashion photographer, then featured on the blog!

Once you have browsed and bought, you can sit back and have a tipple or two and perhaps even try the S.T.A.G. Cocktail, as the DJ fills the venue with music. You can even get your hair styled for free by Profile Hair of Aberdeen.

S.T.A.G Studio Pop Up Shop will be held at the Korova Klub on Bridge Street, Aberdeen on Saturday 12th November 2011, from 1pm – 6pm. Tickets cost £2, available from ONE UP, or £3 on the door.

Charity The Winner As Rowan Scoops Nex-Factor Prize

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Aug 182011

After months of auditions and much speculation, the North East has spoken and chosen the winner of the first ever NEX Factor. Voice’s Stephen Davy-Osborne reports, with thanks to Yasmeen Ali.

The singing contest, organised by Aberdeen based charity Malaika Africa and Cove based event management company Valley Events, encouraged teenagers to put their musical skills to the test in order to raise funds to build a learning centre for street kids in Mirerani, Tanzania.

The first rounds of auditions were held during June and July in Aberdeen, Dundee and Elgin and out of a total of 45 hopefuls including bands, ten finalists were chosen to perform at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre in the live grand final.

Whittling the ten semi finalists down to three were judges Alex Miller, Steven Milne, Joanne Randall and Ross Milne who selected Rowan Ah-See, Amber Hughes and Cara Mitchell to perform again, leaving the final decision to the audience, who chose 16-year old Rowan – from Aberdeen – as the winner of the first ever NEX Factor thanks to his fantastic voice and guitar playing skills,

Rowan Ah-See ( pictured ) walked away with the much coveted prizes of £1,000 in cash, a professional photo shoot, a recording session at a local recording studio and a luxury car to take the winner to the photo shoot.

Yasmeen Ali and Mirjam Meek were very pleased with how the evening went and with all the positive feedback received:

“We couldn’t have wanted for a better event and it will be a challenge to do even better next year because the standard of talent was already so high”.

The sell-out evening was a huge success and the charity managed to raise nearly £6,000.

More info and Pictures of the event here: The-NEX-Factor-2011.html

Pop In To Korova Pop-Up Shop – Sat Aug 20th

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Aug 132011

Aberdeen is renowned as the Granite City and for it’s oil industry. However, there is soon to be a new connection to the city and that is fashion promotion business – S.T.A.G Studio. Emma Noble and Toni Roddie share their plans with Aberdeen Voice.

Established by two fourth year fashion design students at Gray’s School of Art, Emma Noble and Toni Roddie have set up S.T.A.G Studio.

The company name stands for Scottish Talent and Graduates. It is a unique group dedicated to help promote Scottish fashion whether they are newbies to the industry, newly graduated or established designers.

S.T.A.G Studio aims to feed fashion within Aberdeen and help promote the Scottish fashion industry as a whole. They offer designers the opportunity to connect and network with like-minded folk within the city and to help build collaborations through fashion shows, photo shoots and unique fashion events.S.T.A.G Studio is holding Aberdeen’s first and only unique pop-up fashion and styling event in the great granite city on Saturday 20th August at Korova Klub from 1pm-6pm. S.T.A.G. Studio is aiming to promote independent fashion design throughout Aberdeen and connect the fabulous design talent that they have to offer here in the city and throughout the shire. One half of the fashion duo, Emma Noble commented:-

“We feel there is a real lack of support in terms of Scottish fashion, with so much talent thriving amongst the city and shire we feel the best way to show off a slice of the creative flair is to showcase it at our very first pop up shop- giving you the opportunity to buy selective one off pieces directly from the designers”

With free hair styling from Profile Hair of Aberdeen along with Harlequin Make Up Artistry and The Closet Vintage it is sure to be a packed afternoon not to be missed. Toni Roddi also commented:-

“The Pop Up Shop will create a great shopping environment which is new and fresh to the city! It will bring everything you need under one roof – fashion designers, textiles designers, vintage shops, models, photographers, make-up artists, hairdressers, stylists and much more!”

S.T.A.G Studio Pop Up Shop will be held at the Korova Klub on Bridge Street, Aberdeen on Saturday 20th August from 1pm – 6pm. Tickets cost £2, available from Korova or £3 on the door.