SUMMER VID

Thought it was about time I uploaded this vid for the world to see. A few clips of my summer adventures this year. Really enjoyed putting this together and when things get exciting  again, I'll be sure to make another one of these soon :) enjoy!

SUMMER2012 from Jess Mcgarrigle on Vimeo.

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR

Prepare for November 22nd, which sees the launch of Shut The Front Door, a Nottingham based club night which will be hosted at Bad Papa's, an intimate venue to  recreate the house party experience. I was asked to design all promotional material for the brand, including posters, flyers and business cards. Look out for these around Nottingham in the next few weeks and take a look at the STFD Facebook page for mixes, behind the door pictures and extra info here!

BYE SUMMER

As much as it saddens me to say it, Summer has finally come to a close, but what a marvelous one it has been. My final summer celebration took me back to Croatia (which I must mention, has made it into my top 5 all time places ever) for Outlook Festival, where I was transported back to another week of dance music heaven, set within the walls of an abandoned fort and a stone's throw away from the sea. 

Despite the rain (yes there was lots of it), the festival exceeded my expectations and managed to generate what seemed to me like the most energetic, friendliest crowds of any festival. Fat Freddy's Drop provided a perfect full moon euphoria on the Friday night whilst the likes of Dark Sky, Joker and Oneman shook the fortress walls until sunrise. I managed to break my camera on the first day, so not many snaps to share. I am in the finalising stages of a short film of this summer though so stay tuned for that. 

August was a rather lovely month which also consisted of Boomtown Festival (top marks), a week in Switzerland and Notting hill Carnival. Amongst my rather generous amount of holidaying I also fitted in a small dose of culture at the British Design : 1948 - 2012 exhibition at the V&A, the Tate Modern tanks, 50 years of the Rolling Stones at Somerset House and David Bailey's stunning exhibition at the Royal Docks, mentioned below.

DAVID BAILEY EXHIBITION

An impromptu trip to Bailey's most recent summer exhibition strengthened my admiration for this London born photographer, responsible for creating and documenting the Swinging Sixties aside other high profile fashion portraits.

This exhibition focuses on the changing landscapes and lifestyle of the East End from the early 1960s up to the present day. Looking at 50 year old photos of places that are just around the corner from the exhibition itself was an interesting and slightly disorientating experience, but only reinforced how much the area has transformed since the earliest photos were taken. 

The stripped back, 'under construction' aesthetic of the Royal Dock interior reflected the subject in some of the photos such as the Silvertown Docks before redevelopment went underway. Stately east London buildings with crumbling walls and working cranes are shot through barbed-wire fences and wire mesh. This can be compared to his photos of more recent years which record Stratford in preparation for the Olympic Games, whilst capturing severely contrasting cultures in the same area. An inevitable and often refreshing occurrence of modern London. 

ARTFIX#3

Netshape Series. 

SOUNDFIX#1

Disclosure boys release their first official music video - an accompaniment to 'Control', featuring the vocal talents of Ria Ritchie and trademark Disclosure doodles of white outlined faces. Love what this duo are doing at the moment, carving out a fresh batch of sounds that are swiftly sweeping across the electronic underground scene. Looking forward to seeing them at Outlook Festival next month! 

LAZYOAF BATMAN LAUNCH

Friday the 13th saw the launch of Lazy Oaf's Batman collection - just in time for the release of the third and final film in the Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. This London based fashion brand, known for its pop graphic prints and bold statement jewellery is swiftly continuing to make its mark across the London fashion landscape, with a bigger than ever summer collection of stylish delights, Lazy Oaf presents a wealth of opportunity to fritter away your holiday funds. Photos from the Launch night at the Electricity Showrooms and online Lookbook below. View the rest of the collection here.

ARTFIX#2

Traffic Globe/More of my work here.

ECHO

Back home from a two week stint in the beautiful sun drenched realms of Croatia and Italy. And what a wonderful fortnight it has been! First stop, Zadar - This magical seaside town closely resembled a Universal Studios movie set; huge Roman walls surrounded a maze of tiny cobbled streets, leading onto the main square and Croatian waterfront. A five minute walk each morning took us to a small pebbled beach, where we would spend the rest of the day swimming in gloriously warm waters, with occasional breaks for a beer or a snooze. We used the evenings to explore the old town, which would come alive with the allure of busy restaurants and bars, and the faint sound of the 'waterorgan' which played as waves sloshed against the pier. With no aid of a map, we also stumbled across a secluded outside bar on the last night of our stay, hidden in a jungle of trees and colour-changing water fountains. It was magical here, and a light year away from the bitter London bustle and gloomy drizzle that we were in just three days before.

On Friday morning we hopped on a coach and headed South, where the partying awaited. A beautiful coastal road trip took us straight to Makarska - home of Echo festival, where we spent the next 5 days submersed in a realm of summery holiday bliss. With less than 1000 tickets sold across the weekend, the extreme intimacy, with which comes warmth and friendliness, was apparent straight away - something that is often less notable in larger festival setups. Staying in an apartment as opposed to the usual on site camping experience was definitely an added luxury - nothing quite tops a comfy bed and cold shower after an eight hour dancing session. Two main stages were setup on the beach, and a smaller stage hid in a secluded den of trees, away from the crowd.

Although the whole spectrum of musical talent was impressive, there were a few particular sets that really stuck out for me. Best picks included S.P.Y and SpectraSoul for generating the most excited and energetic of crowds, and Ashley Marlowe, Lorca and Deadboy for filling the air of Buba Beach with the perfect mix of housey summer beats. Two beach bars served thirsty dancers until the early hours, and rows of sunloungers lined the shore, ready for daytime sunbathing/late night pass outs. The colossal mountain range in the distance formed a perfect backdrop to all of this, which in my eyes, was a quintessential beach panorama. Echo festival, you did well. I am confident to say, a truly superb weekend was had by all. Adding this festival to my 2013 summer schedule no doubt! For more photos of Echo, check out the Festival's Facebook page here. Italia photos up next! 

BIRFDAY

Pineapple rainbow cake, Pimms and presents made for an ace birthday weekend. Croatia tomorrow, summer starts now!

ART FOUNDATION SHOW

Made it home in time for the art foundation show at Wiltshire College, and needed to share with you some more superb creative talent. Some really great collages and 3D pieces were on display, as well development sketchbooks which included still life drawings and photography. It encouraged me to take my own notepad and pencils away with me - i'll add some when i return. In the meantime, check below! 

NTU GRADUATE SHOW

A rather delayed post I admit - but I wanted to share some work from Nottingham Trent's Graduate shows which took place earlier in May, before i divulge in all things summery. The quality of work definintely exceeded my expectations, leaving me equally amazed and inspired as to what can be achieved at the end of a creative degree. The Textiles department showcased a beautiful display of tie dyes, colour blocking and playful embellishments, whilst graduates of Graphic Design demonstrated outstanding attention to detail, through convincing branding and strong drawing and typographic skills. NTU has produced another batch of talented students, who will hopefully all continue to flourish as they embark on their own creative journeys.

ECHO

Just bought my ticket - too excited! Can't think of a much better way to start the Summer -exquisite lineup, beautiful location, and all for £35. I'l be sure to write up a full review when i return! Yippeeeeee.

MIKA ROTTENBERG

She is one of the most talked about New York artists of the decade, which did not surprise me after I visited her exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary today. Mika Rottenberg addresses politics and contemporary culture in her art, which is presented in an oddly humorous and extremely surreal way. Engrossed in the first of her films, i was struck with an immediate sense of familiarity, soon realising that i had come across another of her exhibitions at the Guggenheim in Berlin last Summer. 

Her videos feature women with extraordinary bodies - very large, very tall, very muscular, very long haired or very long nailed. All make their living through their bodies, perhaps presenting their fictional personas to unusual sexual tastes. These women are performance artists, whose bizarre, repetitive tasks are focused on a particular part of their bodies, the end result usually being rather grotesque. The first film I watched involved women producing a disgusting minimalist style cube, made of food and cosmetics. Cream from tree bark forms masses of rubbery fat. Flowers cause allergic tears, making an overwhelming mass of bread dough to rise. Vegetable pickers poke their arms in holes which are scrubbed and massaged by underground workers. Extreme squeezing and squashing causes sweat to turn into glittery powder. Slightly hard to comprehend until you watch them yourself - make sure you track this artist down.

ARTFIX#1

CITYSLICESERIES, New York. Check out more photos here 

KIDROBOT

If like me, you never thought you could get hooked into becoming an obsessive collector, KidRobot could very well change that. Add to your creative radar if it isn't on there already, this brand calls the shots for top notch innovation and creativity. Starting off as a collection of plastic toy figures (a lot cooler than it sounds) KidRobot has expanded into apparel, canvas art and accessories, merging the worlds of urban street trends, fashion and Pop Art. New product launches and artist collaborations keep me wanting more, despite the slightly hefty price tags. 

Took  a few photos of the KR flagship store in New York when i was over there in January - loved this wall art, wish it was in my bedroom.