Uliana Apatina at St Mark's Church in South London

Yesterday was the opening of Uliana Apatina's show in The Crypt of St Mark's Church in South London. The show is called "That Side Where Real Is". Getting in was a bit like doing an assault course but once I had climbed through all the ropes and wires she had put up, I witnessed an impressive series of interactive installations. You can find out more about Uliana's work by going here: http://uliana-apatina.blogspot.co.uk/ The Crypt is directly opposite Oval Tube. You can make an appointment to see the show any time that is comfortable for you including evenings and weekends, please, contact the artist directly: uliana.apatina@gmail.com or 07944401310 Here's the press release... 'That Side Where Real Is' - a series of physically constructed, site-specific, inter-connected installations challenging our perception of space and the idea of the space as such built from ephemeral materials or materials that become ephemeral when being constructed into the space. Components of 'That Side Where Real Is': Cracking [Room1] Transparent Invisibility [Room2] Suspended Dreams to Eat the Time [Room3] There Is No One In Here [Room4] Vertical Immersion [Room5] All How It Was [Open Room] Black Penetration Into and Through Horizontal Dimension [Corridor] Red Gloss One String [Entry Hall] The exhibition's title, 'That Side Where Real Is' refers both to the visual challenges conveyed through the materials used and the way they trick the mind by disorienting the body, making it to squeeze in-between something that seems to be impossible to enter, perceive something that human eyes cannot simply see unless they are positioned at certain angles or fixed at the points of the space where the light is reflected. Emotionally and intellectually challenging chameleonic geometry that constantly changes into hallucinational spaces while your body is moving. It is a division between physical and abstract, rational and intuitive – with a big question mark on which of them is real. A peculiarity of the site is echoed in here – being in an underground crypt, empty and dark, with the whole universe of life happening on the upper layer inside the building of the church itself; and, then, beyond the point of the church – in a real life on the streets. Due to the very nature of the crypt 'That Side Where Real Is' deals with a notion of a death/life duality. All components of the installation are process-based constructions - having been built by the artist in a process of inhabiting the site and creating the artwork directly there without a preliminary plan or scaled model.

The Other Art Fair 2013 featuring The 100 Mothers Show

Ryan Stainer's Other Art Fair is London’s leading artist-led fair. It connects art lovers of all tastes and experience directly with the most talented emerging artists before they are signed. From the 25th to the 28th of April you can buy direct from 100 of the best unrepresented artists. All artists chosen by their selection committee of experts (Yinka Shonibare, Mila Askarova, Laura McLean-Ferris) The address is: "AMBIKA P3" 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1. Works are on sale from as little as fifty quid. If all that wasn't already reason enough to go to the fair - it's just been announced that, as an added bonus, visitors to T.O.A.F will now also get to see 100 Mother paintings. This collection of paintings of artist's mums was put together by Harry Pye with help from Mat Humphrey, Jasper Joffe, Emma Ridgway and also vital support from Eilidh Crumlish, Edward Ward, Gordon Beswick, and Elizabeth Haarala. The paintings have been exhibited at Chester Uni, The Oh Art Gallery at The Oxford House, The North Edinburgh Arts Centre, The Sartorial Gallery in Notting Hill, and The Festival of Firsts in The Wirral. Mat Humphrey: "For me, the notion of painting my mother was very difficult, and also extremely rewarding. It forced me to sit down and think harder and more specifically about her than at any other time in my life. It also made me look harder at her face than perhaps I had before. I photographed her many different times, with the portrait in mind, and spent time watching her different expressions. I saw how the years had affected her skin and the way it creased and folded as different emotions took shape in the muscles around her eyes and mouth. I waited until I felt like I had captured some of the glint in her eyes that betrayed her impish humour. The colours I used were emotionally triggered. I used browns for her skin tones, as it felt right. Earthy and permanent. I gave her eyes a turquoise that belied the power, not the true colour of her gaze, and I gave her iconic gold radiations, as she is my creator, not god. I found it hard to end the painting. I didn’t want an end. It takes no psychologist to work out why. She was moved when she saw the result, and I was relieved at that. It felt like an honest and emotional thing to do, and I believe that everyone, whether they consider themselves to be an artist or not, should paint a picture of their mother." Rowland Smith:"The portrait is a picture of my mum at a party with my dad from the time before they were married and long before I was born. It’s copied from a small black and white picture which I had to enlarge to fill the canvas. My mum likes it because it is not a present day portrait. My mum compares herself unfavourably to A Grotesque Old Woman by Quinten Massys. I disagree and so do most other people who meet her but I guess mum is comparing herself now to the young woman she once was. This brings me back to the questions that were going round in my mind while I painted, making me think about who ‘my mum’ is. Is the young woman in the photo my mum or is my mum the woman who brought me up? Did she have any idea that she would be my mother when the photo was taken? What was she thinking of back then? What were the things that were important to her? It made me more aware of my mum being a person independent of me, with a past and a future, how much more of life she has seen.” Sean O'Connor:"I made this painting whilst I was studying at Chelsea college of art and design. I think that I was supposed to be using my time more constructively rather than painting a picture of my dear mother Barbara. The painting depicts my mother, naked in a mountain landscape with her cat Nelson (1991-2006) draped around her neck, scarf like, for warmth and security. Babs is painted without clothes to show her vulnerability, the mountains ( perhaps her homeland Snowdonia ) are there to enhance this feeling. My mother is a dangerously committed smoker, so I painted Nelson, her companion and confidant, taking a drag to help Babs shoulder the harmful effects of nicotine addiction. I am very fond of this painting and I felt that the portrait did her justice as a caring, loving , sensitive lady, that gives more time to others than she does to herself. When I showed Mum the painting I don’t think she really liked it, firstly it is not in a painterly style that she favours and secondly she would rather have seen herself clothed and minus the fag. My Dad liked it though and I think he knew what my intentions were, he was proud to see it in print and showed the exhibition publication to friends and family members." (Please note: It costs £6 for a ticket to see The Other Art Fair although obviously Mum artists and their mums can get in free. The 100 paintings in the collection are not available to buy individually. A list of the artists in the collection whose work is being displayed will be online soon.) Geraldine Swayne: Bula Chakravarty Agbo: Bula: "She taught me how to read, she taught me how to write. On sunny days we sat in the shade on the veranda cutting green beans and pealing tangerines; two for you, one for me. We watched dragonfly's hover above bright pink zinnias and chased butterflies into the marrigold borders. "Oh look Ma! there's that baby elephant again; Is it going to work with her Ma?" I would ask as they walked past our home every morning. Looking back now I knew it was Ma who taught me grace and beauty, good manners and gentility. And Oh! Girls don't climb windows, or else they might turn into boys! She still shares her wisdom with me, even now...but it's mostly over the phone. As she's in Assam and I in London. How I miss my Ma." < The Other Art Fair's p.v is Thursday 25th 5pm till 9pm, on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th it's open 11am till 7pm, on Sunday the 28th it's open 11am until 6pm)

Fun at FOLD Gallery

Last night I went to Fold Gallery, 15 Clerkenwell Close, EC1R 0AA and had a fine time. It was the private view of a group show called... The 6 excellent artists in the show are: Chris Baker (who is the chap with specs in the photo above),Dominic Kennedy, Ellen Stanford, Gabriel Hartley, Kes Richardson, Neal Tait, Ross Taylor. The gallery is open Wed to Saturday 12 till 6pm. Mudlark runs until Saturday the 30th of March. (Above: Kes Richardson proudly poses with his housemates). (Above: Gav Toye in front of a painting by Ellen Stanford). (Above: My friend Jake.) (Will Danniels fights his way through a sea of art fans) (Tracey and Francesca ponder the meanings of one of Kes's masterpieces.) (Young Julian) Time Out says of the exhibition... "Painters with different aesthetics but similar approaches are brought together in this show. Chris Baker, Gabriel Hartley, and Ellen Stanford are among the artists in this show, who seem to prioritise the spontaneous over the laboured."

The Values in the studio with Neol Davies

2-Tone legend Neol Davies drove down to South London yesterday to help out with the recording of a cover version of All Out To Get You. The track will appear on the compilation C.D: "Specialized 2: Beat Teenage Cancer". Neol (whose name is pronounced "Neal") was the brains behind The Selecter and he wrote all their much loved hits - On My Radio, Theme From The Selecter, Celebrate The Bullet, Too Much Pressure, and Three Minute Hero. Other bands and projects Mr Davies has been involved with over the years include "The Radio Beats" and "Selecter Instrumental" - his solo album "Future Swamp" featured collaborations with Horace Panter of The Specials and Ronnie Wood of The Stones. In 2012 he was one of the headliners of The London International Ska Festival. Anyone who has heard Neol's recent recordings such as "Dolla Fe Dolla" will agree he's still more than able to deliver the goods. The Selecter and The Beat go back a long way. Neol picked The Beat as The Selecter's support act and both bands appear in the film Dance Craze. The Beat's original version of "All Out To Get You" was a hit in 1981 and featured on their "Wha'ppen" L.P. Neol seemed only too happy to help The Values record a decent cover for "Specialized 2" which will hopefully raise lots of much needed cash for Teenage Cancer Research. The Values version of A.O.T.G.Y also features some amazing sax from Paul Speare. (The keyboard player of Ranking Roger's version of The Beat is Micky Billingham. In the early 80s Micky and Paul were both in Dexys Midnight Runners together.) The track features singing from Mikey Georgeson (pictured below clutching a guitar.) The track's producer Julian Wakeling has come up with a fantastic new arrangement of the song. I'm looking forward to see what kind of reaction it gets from Beat fans. Neol recorded three great guitar parts to the track and was then persuaded to add a bit of slide guitar to a track called "Rio" which The Values began work on last Summer with Neil Innes and Horace Panter. Meeting Neol was a real pleasure. All of The Values are really delighted he agreed to help us out the way he has.

Q & A with Sean Flowerdew

The London Intl Ska Festival celebrates it's 25th anniversary with 50 acts across 12 events, all happening at famed and iconic London venues. Events planned include a free launch party at the Victoria & Albert museum (Friday 22 March), Rico Rodriguez & Jerry Dammers (DJ set) at the Jazz Cafe (Thurs 28 March), Studio One Thames Cruise, Ken Boothe, Trojan Explosion starring Freedie Notes (Montego Bay) and much more. Tickets available now from www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk/tickets The organsier of the festival: Sean Flowerdew answered a few questions for me.

The Rebel: How many instruments can you play? Who taught you or encouraged you most? "I learnt classical piano when I was young. I think the biggest encouragement was having two parents who supported me and bought me my first keyboards, came to gigs and drove us to rehearsals. Them and having a bunch of friends that had the same passion of wanting to be in a band from about the age of 12. We made our first album by the time we were 15/16. Keyboards is the only instrument I play, though I write for every instrument."

The Rebel: What was your introduction to Ska? "I had a few introductions. My older brother Kev (Do The Dog skazine) had some singles by The Beat and Madness' One Step Beyond album. Fellow member of The Loafers Nasser Bouzida (now of Big Boss Man and The Bongolian) and his older brother had a load of 2 Tone releases as well. We were a little young for 2 Tone and only got to start going to shows around 84/85. By that time it was only Madness still going. So we'd go to see them and the likes of UB40. I remember seeing the Ghost Town video and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. Like many other from 2 Tone I discovered Prince Buster, Toots, The Pioneers and the world of Jamaican music."

The Rebel: Is running a festival stressful - how do you relax? "It can be if you let it. It's an incredible amount of work, which takes up far to much time. Spending time with my kids and writing music help me to remember what's important though and nothing is worth stressing over. There's always a way to make things work."

The Rebel: Who is the nicest person you've become friends with? Sean: "Lynval Golding has been a long time close friend. More recently Freddie Notes. I've been lucky to meet lots of nice people like Laurel Aitken, Horace Panter, Chrissy Boy and my old Loafers muckers who I'm very happy to say I still have friendships with that have lasted 35 years!"

The Rebel: What was the last great new band you heard? "I'm listening to tons of soul at the moment but mainly old stuff. I really like Michael Kiwanuka and the Hold On single by Alabama Shakes is pretty cool. I mostly listen to old music and always try to discover something new to my ears. My favourite songs of the moment is You & Me by Penny & the Quarters from the 60s. Raw as hell, but beautiful. And Aretha Franklin's version of The Weight with Duane Allman. As far as new ska and reggae acts go... well you just got to look at who I've booked for the ska festival.. Razika from Norway. Great to see them go in their national album charts at number 4 this week. The Sidewalk Doctors are working on a very cool sounding new record. The Upsessions from Holland. And really like Mr.T Bone & the Young Lions new single Then I Saw You. I also like what J.Bonner is doing in California with his Jani Disc label and productions. He used to be in The Aggrolites and plays sometimes now with Tim Armstrong from Rancid. Some of Tim's solo stuff I'm diggin as well."

The Rebel: Are you excited/nervous about the International ska festival, is it all going to plan? "It's without doubt been the hardest year to put together. Lots of people moving the goal posts on me, but finally I think I've programmed the best festival yet. So I'm very excited. When Ken Boothe agreed to come back to the fest I was like a kid again."

The Rebel: Which acts are you most looking forward to hearing? "All 50 of them!! It's going to be incredible. The opening night with Rico playing Man From Wareika is going to be historic. I've just confirmed Jerry Dammers to DJ the club night aftershow. Ken Boothe is one of the best singers I've ever heard and was sensational at 2011's festival, so can't wait to see him again. Our Studio One thames cruise is going to be totally unique, with BB Seaton from The Gaylads, Owen Gray and Vin Gordon. The boat is beautiful. A New Orleans style paddle steamer. They even open up Tower Bridge for us! Freddie Notes backed by The Upsessions will be something special at the 100 Club. The return of 100 Men with Mik Whitnall. He's been busy over the last few years working with Amy Whinehouse, Finlay Quaye and Babyshambles. Great to have him back with promise of new material. And of course Pama International's first London show in 2 years... with our new line up! There's so much going on... 12 events in all. Going to be an unforgettable event to celebrate our 25th anniversary!"

The Rebel: Horace Panter and Jerry Dammers have both said Rico is the best musician they have ever worked with. What is it about his playing that people respond to and respect? "Rico is an incredible person and musician and richly deserves any and all praise. I think because he played on so many fantastic JA recordings, then came to UK and started working with the likes of Georgie Fame and then of course The Specials and now Jools Holland he's transcended the generations more then any other artist."

The Rebel:What's the state of play with your band Pama International? Are they back for good? "From the start Pama International really was just a vehicle for my writing. We've had so many players over the first 10 years of the band come and go. It was a big collective style thing. It only stopped because I stopped. I needed a break and to work out where I was. So in the last couple of years I've relaunched the festival and written a bunch of songs. The first round of Pama always touched on a little bit of soul but this next album I wanted to be an out an out soul record and I'm very pleased to say I'm very happy with what's been done so far. The songs I was writing need a killer female voice, with undeniable soul power. After 2 years of searching and 2000+ auditioned I found her! Can't wait to release the first material!

The Rebel:Who would be the fantasy Ska line-up at a dream festival? Night one: The original line up of the Skatalites (Jackie Mittoo, Don Drummond, Lloyd Knibbs and Brevett, Roland Alphonso, Tommy McCook, Lester Sterling, Cedric Brooks, Dizzy Moore, etc) backing Jackie Opel, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, The Wailing Wailers, Phyllis Dillon, Hugh Godfrey, Marcia Griffiths, Prince Buster, Toots & The Maytals and Ken Parker. Followed a Sound System sound clash with Coxsonne Dodd vs Duke Reid with King Stitt, URoy and IRoy. Night two: A 2 Tone night with the original line ups of The Specials, Madness, The Beat, The Selecter and The Bodysnatchers. Night three: I'd have a 80s night with Potato 5, Hotknives, The Deltones, The Loafers, Forest Hillbillies, The Untouchables, The Ska Flames and Bim Skala Bim. Night four maybe bands that have done it for me in more recent years like Dead 60s, The Aggrolites, Hepcat, Stubborn All-stars...

Looking back at David Devant & His Spirit Wife

David Devant & His Spirit Wife were one of the best live acts of the 1990s. If you come across their albums I advise you to snap them up immediately. What follows is a few old press clippings that came to light recently plus an old Rebel magazine interview with Devant front man Mikey Georgeson (who was also known as The Vessel).

Part One: Reviews of "Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous" (the band's debut album released in July 1997 on Rhythm King/Arista Records) VOX Magazine: "This wonderful album distils the essence of British art college pop, nicking bits of everything from vintage Bowie to Blur, without forgetting to squeeze at least two or three melodies into each song. If they didn't look so odd to the producers of daytime and children's television, they'd be arm-in-arm with Suede and Pulp in a month or two, strolling through the Top Ten" David Kelly (7/10)

Q Magazine: "Taking their name from a long forgotten Victorian magician and his most illustrious piece of visual trickery, David Devant & His Spirit Wife are currently conducting a six man rearguard action on behalf of English eccentricity. Whether they're in it for the duration or just a quick laugh remains to be seen... both musically and lyrically the ideas flow freely, making for a relentless quirky entertainment. Ginger, the redheads' manifesto, has already proved its worth as a single. There's obviously more to them than first meets the eye".Peter Kane(3/5) Part Two: Reviews of concerts.

Melody Maker Magazine: "Tonight Glasgow witnesses art terrorism/glam/(subtly)political theatre gone MAD. Taking turns behind a guitar or a wurlitzer and in the eye of sturm, frontman The Vessel models Ferry's Bogart impression in the frame of Ziggy Stardust while wearing Ron Mael's moustache. It would be impossible to take your eyes off him if there wasn't so much to look at." - Dave Simpson

Loaded Magazine: "They're somewhere between The Kinks and early Bowie with a smattering of 96 mod pop and Trevor and Simon's World of Strange from early 90s Saturday morning TV" - David Plunkett

The Independent: "In an era where most Britpop stars have as much stage presence as a sack of wet compost DD&HSW's vaudevillean extravaganza is a rare delight. Utilising film, slides and a steady stream of DIY props, this sextet house their wry, glam-influenced pop in a multimedia assault on the senses. Think Ziggy Stardust via Vic Reeves' Big Night Out and you're halfway there." James McNair.

Part Three: Extracts from interviews The Rebel Magazine (2006) Harry Pye: Why fools fall in love? Mikey Georgeson: "Because they believe in the dream and they are pure of heart." Harry: Percy Sledge once sang: If a man loves a woman he'll sleep out in the rain and turn his back on his best friend if he puts her down. What say you? Mikey: "She will probably be his best friend... eventually. A lot of men would happily do both these things however because we all have innate Hamlet syndrome (discuss)." Harry: What single thing would improve your life? Mikey: "Having the number one song in heaven."

Select Magazine: "David Devant & His Spirit Wife, you may guess, aren't your average indie band. They've taken Warhol and The Velvet Underground's multi-media performance idea and added a pair of silver platforms, a massive wig and lots of magic. Live, they're an experience." - Gina Morris. Select Magazine: What's the biggest misconception about the band? Mikey Georgeson: "People think we're trying to be clever or ironic, but really we're far too infantile for that. We're honest - there's no irony whatsoever in our music. It's just that we're not honest in a 'shirt and jeans' way like Oasis." (July 99)

The Sunday Times: "DD&HSW may have a daft name and an off-the-wall-act. They may also be the future of rock'n'roll" Robin Eggar reports... "They are being noticed by all the right people. "Initially, I was intrigued by the look of them, by the name, by the image. Then I heard some really good songs," says Mark Radcliffe, the Radio 1 breakfast show presenter, who made Ginger his single of the week in March. "They are quirky, very different", says Jason Carter, a live music producer at LWT, in what might be the understatement of the year. "Six months ago I thought they might founder, but the music stands by itself and the signs are very good that their next record will go Top 40. Then, if they get picked up by Chris Evans' TFI Friday... who knows where it will end."

Liam Scully's Liquidation Art Sale

Legendary artist Liam Scully will soon be off to Iceland to undertake a 2 month residency at Skaftfell. Before he leaves London, kind hearted Liam is selling off some of his masterpieces to fans at rock bottom prices! Last night I went on the DLR to Bow to visit Liam's "Neverland ranch" and managed to get my hands on some superb drawings. Liam lives at 32 Warren House, (in the Bow Arts Trust area) - there is still time for you to visit him and buy some bargains. For more details phone: 07981005993

Above: (Harry Pye is stunned by the quality of Liam Scully's work) Photos by Jasper Joffe and Lizzie Homersham. Below image: "Chuck Norris" (2013)painted by Liam Scully

Drawing below: "Custard" by Liam Scully (2004)

With drawings available from as little as £50 this is an opportunity that can't be missed. Why not buy a Liam Scully painting for the art lover in your life as a Valentine's Day gift?