Put Your Best Foot Forward

Barbara I Gongini

Been craving a pair of these for ages now. Maybe it's time for me to try my hand at DIY??

Omnia Vanitas

This has been a jam-packed weekend. Kicked off on Friday at noon with getting my new chest tattoo. Arrived at Irezumi on Dowanhill Street, Partick, 5 minutes late. Had to dive into the Partick Tavern to use their facilities before heading into the shop - shouldn't have had that second cuppa before I left the house. Sitting in the waiting room I realised Steven (Wrigley - son of Terry) was caught up with another customer so I didn't feel too bad.12.15pm: still sitting there, now listening to some rather dodgy reggae tunes - wtf??
12.20pm: Lee, the apprentice, pops his head round the door and mouths 'sorry - 5 minutes'
12.25pm: the other guy appears, top off, with Steven to look at some flash on the wall. I pick up that he's after a chinese dragon down his back - sounds nice.12.30pm: finally - into the studio and the choons have improved. Lee offers me a coffee which I politely decline - no more liquids for me. Chat turns to the gentleman wanting the chinese dragon.
"Aye, it's a cover up he's after""What's he covering up?""Yosemite Sam... with tits!"


After much gaffawing, down to business.The day before there was much to-ing and fro-ing between us over the final design. This is how it went:


Sketch 1: Left or right? I prefered the left, but not keen on the wing


Sketch 2: Crossed keys? Hmmm... nah - don't like that either. I'd prefer some flowers or some shining light?


Sketch 3: Shining light is on every other chest tattoo - you're not getting that. What about this?

Final Sketch: I love it!

By 2.45pm on Friday it was all over. Bit ouchy around the heart in the middle as I'm not so well endowed and quite boney, but no where near as painful as my feet.

Here's the finished artwork:

ALL IS VANITY

Inspired by the work of Glenn Arthur

Not For The Faint Of Heart

A bit sleepy this morning. Last night was my introduction to the mighty HEALTH. I'd been introduced to them only a few months ago and to be honest, only listened to their second album a few times in it's entirety, but who can resist a good double bass pedal, throbbing basslines and sinister synth?? Check out my previous post.
As we squeezed into the 110 capacity sold out venue, the Captain's Rest, clinging to our pints of cider and black, I realised we were about to witness something special. These guys could have easily rocked and filled a much larger venue.

"We're HEALTH from Los Angeles"

Off we go!

Right, if I hover on my tippy toes and put all my weight on my right side I can just about make out John, the bass player's whipping long locks. Shift as best I can to the left, peering over Spinal Lou's blonde mane, I can see the flashing tips of BJ the drummer's insane sticks. I'm pretty sure Lou's view was a checked shirt and sweaty armpits...

Nae photos for me then.

I'm a pretty visual person and if I go to see aband, I do like to actually see them, but, relentless pounding on the drum kit mixed with the droning guitars was spot on. The sound quality was just the bees knees. Could have done without the wishy-washy vocals - a bit too shoe gazey for my taste, but the haunting soundscapes made up for it.

Check them out. They're playing Liverpool tonight and London tomorrow before heading to Europe.

Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art

This year's Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (Gi Festival) kicked off on Friday with a White Bike ride through the city. 50 white bikes have been provided by NVA for visitors to the festival to use between venues. This is a first for Glasgow - I wonder how many will be left after the 2 week event?? I spotted my first one on the way home from work on Saturday. It was perched against a lampost outside the Glasgow Sculpture Studios.

Further along the same road, I stumbled upon this rather crazy car - covered in Banksy -style graffiti.



On closer inspection, you can see the rather macabre subject matter.



I can't seem to find out any more about it...

Just over the fence from the parked car lies the Sculpture Studio car park. Out the corner of my eye I could see two men up a ladder working away on some kind of metal structure. I assumed it was some more graffiti artists and carried on up the road blissfully listening to Motley Crue at full volume.

Traipsing down the same road this morning and Saturday's 'metal structure' was fully formed. It looked like the gateway to an abandoned theme park or the door to a dystopian underworld. The rusty metallic sign read "Vestiges Park".


Okay, I'm intrigued. I'd read over the Gi Programme and to be honest, it all seemed like the usual wanky, self-indulgent contemporary art that I try to avoid. How wrong could I be??
So, my colleague Fiona (another Art History graduate!) and I went for a wee wander over the bridge this lunchtime. We were welcomed at the gates by the Oolite Sisterhood who gave us a map of the park and told us to mind our feet on the uneven ground. We held up our map to the light, as instructed, to find out where to go: Through the little blue gate...

I've taken a barrage of photos, but I don't want to spoil the magical experience for those who might manage to make it along before it closes on 3rd May. I'll attempt to upload them onto another account and post a link here for those of you who live too far away.

EDIT: Here's the link to the photos - but don't spoil it for yourself!

Vestiges Park does not exist, cannot exist, will not exist. The artists involved deny all knowledge of the project and the authorities are mute. In some cases these artists may not actually exist – they split, double, multiply, evaporate, condense, dissolve and merge until truth and fiction, science and magic become indistinguishable. Vestiges Park is a chimera – there and not there – dare to find us, dare to enter and let us take you to the edgelands, the rotting places where nothing is as it seems... ...and if you cannot find us it is because we have fallen off your maps
- Lady Ada Lovelace

Show Me What You Got

Went to another local fashion show this week. In the Company of Wolves was hosted by SG Events at the Sub Club in Glasgow. For a tenner we got a token for a free drink, although no one told us it was only vodka/mixer, so we had to pay up for our gin n tonics, 'canapes', a darn good show and a jolly good goody bag! The Sub Club is one of the best clubs in Glasgow, but it's a shit venue for a fashion show! Too dark, ceilings too low, very little seating etc, etc. As a result, I got no shots from the show itself.

This piece really got me going!

However, one designer that had me drooling at the mouth was Obscure Couture. Lyndsay Pagan is behind the label. She's made dresses for Paris Hilton and Shirley Bassey, but don't let that put you off - she also spent a year working with Brighton's self titled IKON of customisation, NOKI. This is what she has to say about herself:

I design and make clothes an have a BA(hons) in Fashion Design.
I like rock 'n' roll but not on the dole.
I like the things that i like, but im more inspired by learning to like the things which I think are repulsive.
I like mould.

Shameless

Friday night's get up. Still recovering.

black vest top, H&M // ripped leggings from Urban Outfitters // chain belt I've had so long I can't remember where from // pink fur coat from River Island // Jeffrey Campbell wedges // Vivienne Westwood pearl choker // Primark sunglasses (which we lost on the night...)

Look What The Stork Brought Home

My babies have FINALLY arrived! Parcel Force delivered my Jeffrey Campbell Zero Peep Toes to my work about half an hour ago. I flew up the stairs with the box and here is the result...

Layer 1 - opening the USPS box

Layer 2 - The Jeffrey Campbell box appears

The Reveal!

The Joy!

The Fitting!

First Steps!

I'm off out tomorrow night, so I'll do a full outfit post tomorrow.

These Are Some Of My Favourite Things

Melancholy Lashes from Untamed Menagerie

Lightning Bolt Ring from Superclovers

POW Ring from Superclovers

Diablo Spiked Headband from Rackk and Ruin

Studded Bow Shoulder Bag from Jaff Shop

Leather Half Gloves with Giant Studs from Superclovers

This Is Bad For You

Bought tickets to see these guys on April 20th. Check them out if you haven't already. Durty, noisy, synthy nastiness.

Lipstick Killers

I watched the film 'New York Doll' last night. It's a documentary about Morrissey's attempt to reunite the three remaining Dolls (Arthur 'Killer' Kane, Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen) in 2004 for a one off gig at London's Meltdown Festival.
I've always loved the New York Dolls, or more specifically, the bands they've influenced such as Motley Crue, Hanoi Rocks, Manic Street Preachers etc, but I had no idea what tragic story lay behind the glitter and sequins...
The documentary is told from the point of view of bassist Arthur Kane who always felt that the rest of the band went on to greater things and he was essentially left behind. After his marriage broke down, he converted to Mormonism in 1989. Living a quiet life, getting the bus to and from the library that he worked in. When he was asked to reunite with the band and relive the rock star lifestyle he so missed, he was ecstatic. The gig looked amazing! Wish I had cared enough to have gone. But it wasn't all roses from then on in. You gotta watch it to find out!
Check out the website. Even if it's just to play with lipstick cursor!