The Dilly

LUNATIC JOURNAL

2010-01-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

AS WELL AS THE NEW DILLY BLOG I ALSO AM PART OF THE LUNATIC JOURNAL...BOOKMARK THAT SHIT!

2009-12-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN...MY NEW DILLY BLOG (NEW & IMPROVED!) IS AT

http://thedilly.tumblr.com/
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http://thedilly.tumblr.com/
http://thedilly.tumblr.com/
http://thedilly.tumblr.com/
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http://thedilly.tumblr.com/

GOODBYE BLOGGER! HELLO TUMBLR!

OUR ENDS - THURSDAY!

2009-11-10T14:47:00.000-08:00

700 POSTS...TIME TO GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!

2009-11-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

NEW DILLY BLOG! BOOKMARK THIS SHIT!

NEW DILLY BLOG! BOOKMARK THIS SHIT!

NEW DILLY BLOG! BOOKMARK THIS SHIT!

NEW DILLY BLOG! BOOKMARK THIS SHIT!

NEW DILLY BLOG! BOOKMARK THIS SHIT!

THE FUTURE...

2009-11-02T03:59:00.000-08:00

So...lately I have had my time consumed by Chapter One gallery...but I am not letting the Dilly die - or all the projects i had running around in my head...so very soon, the Dilly will enter a new phase, v.2 if you will...and a major reboot...in the mean time i am writing for a very exciting new blog - The Lunatic Journal, and also of course the Chapter One blog!

stay tuned!

Stefan Marx Screenprint

2009-10-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

One of the cool things about doing this gallery lark is that its a bit like fantasy league football...i can daydream projects and make them into a reality...and one of the things i have always wanted to do was to release a Stefan Marx screenprint...and now i have (well along with the other Chapter One dudes)...the reason im writing now is that we are really getting quite low on numbers because they are a bit popular...so if you want one - nows the time!
To be honest, the photo doesnt do it justice - in the flesh, Stefans Tonite image is crazy - the purple/plum and neon pink is so fresh, and the detail of the faces is awesome.
GET IT HERE!
This blog is slowly turning into a chapter one blog, and i apologise, but at the moment its swallowing my time!!!

GENESIS

2009-09-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

WHOOP THERE IT IS! GENESIS CATALOGUE GONE DROPPED WITH DIE CUT COVER!

AND LONDON DONT FORGET!!! THURSDAY!!!

GENESIS

2009-09-08T03:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for all your support so far...and here is the fruit of our stressed labour...GENESIS!
So mark it in your diaries, tell everyone about it...and come down!
The work is going to be sick and we are also releasing exclusive signed prints by the legends known as Stefan Marx and Erosie...and a nice catalogue as well..so no excuse!!!
see you soon!

GENESIS at CHAPTER ONE
33 Marshall Street, London, W1F 7ET

BREAKING NEWS....CHAPTER ONE

2009-08-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

exactly two months have passed since my last blog entry...why? why have i been this slack? because i have been working with a tight crew on a top secret project that will hopefully change London...and i can finally let the cat out of the bag...

CHAPTER ONE

What is chapter one?

well...its a soon to open gallery in Londons Soho that i will be curating and running with three good friends. We have signed a lease for a minimum of 18 months, it has two floors and a little bit of space out the back and we are fully in it for the long haul...We are opening its doors at the end of September 2009, and we plan on making London interesting again...bringing the passion and old school skateboard shop vibe (somewhere where you can come and relax, hang out and get nerdy) back to what is frankly a street art / over inflated money orientated london art scene (although to be fair there are a few decent galleries around)...basically we want to let the good art come through...not the hyped bullshit...Chapter One is going to be a space to get the hottest zines, news and see the best artists and art...it will be the physical version of this blog and so so so much more - big things are in the pipeline!
keep your eyes peeled here for news and flyers...and i want everyone to come and say hi!

PS everyone who has sent me zines or emails....a thousand apologies if I havent replied yet but i have been stupidly busy! i know thats no excuse..so SORRY!

SICKNESS

2009-06-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

EROSIE

2009-06-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

1.HORROR VACUI
AMAZING ZINE...for me, instantly one of the best zines of the year (up there with the Stick It Mike Swaney so far...)...the non-stop powerhouse of greatness that is Erosie has dropped this zine with Sixpack...and if i had to sum it up into words (which is quite tough) its like a zine version of the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey...this psychedelic neon rainbow shows us a universe being formed, or what its like travelling to another universe...the beauty is that it can be whatever you want it to be, and for me its just stone cold awesome

2.Trespassers of the world unite.
Nelly Duff have teamed up with street art collective Toasters to do a group show...i went along to check it out & hook up with Erosie, and his canvas (to me) was the standout piece. If your around Old St, go to Kingsland Rd (opposite Catch) and check it out...i love seeing artwork in the flesh, rather than just through JPEGS and to see one of E's 'processes' canvases in real life was a real treat...some true Next Level Shit.
PS Will Barras piece fucking ruled too...

Zine Round Up - Patrick Griffin

2009-06-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

One of NYs finest recently sent me some fucking sick (in all senses) zines...

'Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day'
We all have shit days...and this is the xeroxed manifestation of all those days you've been caught drunk at work by your boss, cut yourself by accident with a knife, missed that last bus home or had a final argument with your girl...you might not like bad days, but you will like this zine.
Contrasting between a childhood recollection (dont know if its autobiographical) of a shitty day with Patricks trademark street/gutter level photography (with subjects from the deathly steps at the end of the Exorcist to a rainy day forecast), exposing all of lifes faces - even if its one of sadness or melancholy...another great Patrick Griffin zine.

SKULD no.1
This is a group zine featuring Charlie Wilhoit, Patrick Griffin, Will Boone & Mark Flood, and is pure deathly grainy xeroxed grime...this is the real deal fucking nasty stuff and its fucking so rad. I LOVE the dead bodies with contrasting thought bubbles...i love this zine, so good.

Zine Round Up - Martin Bell

2009-06-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

Martin Bell, Australias latest talent to be blowing up (serious...Australia is KILLING it at the moment...) was kind enough to send me some of his great zines he put out with his crew THE SERPS...Thanks Martin!

'Cowboys, Kittens & Vixens'
This is a collection of collages and stills of films (Buffalo 66, Paris, Texas) as Martin Bell explores Australian verncauar...especially looking at the romanticism of cowboys, car culture and western films...great stuff!
PS i think i've already blogged this on here before, but its so good i feel like i should do it again!

'Love you like you hate me'
Another Serps / Martin Bell banger...this time we see Martins collection of sketches that seem to show childhood inspirations - BMXers, robots, toys, hiding in teepees, pez dispensers...real good stuff...as usual

Last chance saloon for Kuniyoshi

2009-06-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

If your in London you really have to get yourself to the Royal academy for the last week of the incredible Kuniyoshi exhibition.
Amazing works that are still super fresh and inspiring today...Japanese prints from a master illustrator Kuniyoshi, his works shows fantastical stories and warriors in vibrant colours and patterns...the show is really fucking special and well worth the £9 entry fee...but hurry!

Su Casa es mi Casa

2009-06-01T15:22:00.001-07:00

Now its time like this i wish i didnt have a fucking shit job and could jet off to cool shit around the world and experiance good stuff first hand...and this looks like an exhibition that needs to be experianced first hand - a complete takeover of a Barcelona flat, courtesy of some Barcelona friends and talented peers...awesome

JEPPE EURO TOUR

2009-06-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

The legend that is Thomas Jeppe, member of The Serps and author of Home Made Tattoos Rule, is coming over to CRUSH Europe...tell everyone, and if your around, you need to attend this event...gonna be amazing

NEU! Sam' Fran'

2009-06-01T15:14:00.001-07:00

Dilly fave Samuel Francois has got a new exhibition ...if your in France,near Thionville (how cool is that name) check it out
PS Samuel...is it the same Brel as in the legendary actor and singer?? he's a fan of your work?

Tom Hardy Bronson

2009-06-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

Saw the film Bronson the other night...fuck me...Tom Hardy who plays Bronson blew me away with his performance...its been a llooonnggg time since i was aware at how much the actor was giving a performance of a lifetime...if you can - see this film...

Heads up in the bargain corner...

2009-06-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

Amazon sometimes has mad bargains, and i picked this essential book up for £7.50 the other day but now its gone upto £12.50...so if you havent got it yet - pick it up now at a good price!

YES!

2009-06-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

Been waiting for this for a llloooonnnngggg time...

LIKE LIPSTICK TRACES
EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH HOSTED BY COLETTE - PARIS

FROM THE 2 TO THE 20 OF JUNE 09
COLETTE - 213 rue Saint-Honoré - 75001 Paris - France

HELLO, 2009
AUTHORS : AURÉLIEN ARBET AND JÉRÉMIE EGRY
ARTISTS involved in the book :
AROE - C.B.S - DUMBO - HONET - KEGR - O’CLOCK - OS CURURUS - RATE - REMIO - ROCKY - SCAN - SMASH - THE E.R.S
OFFICIAL RELEASE 15 JUNE 09
EDITED BY DOKUMENT PRESS & HELLO
TO ORDER THE BOOK : WWW.DOKUMENT.ORG
ISBN : 978-91-85639-20-5
MORE INFORMATIONS : WWW.LIKELIPSTICKTRACES.COM

Pete Fowler

2009-06-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Got this in the mail from Pete Fowler...always putting on great Psych nights..

'Quick heads up on our next Psychedelic Jamboree night at the Big Chill Bar off Brick Lane on June 10th.

We are happy to announce that our very special guest DJ for the night is none other than Gruff Rhys from
Super Furry Animals. Expect Turk Psyche sevens and obscure spaced out international AND domestic treats.
Also confirmed for our August 12th night is the lovely Fred Deakin of Lemon Jelly and Airside fame who put out
one of the best compilation/mix CD's last year called Nu Balearica. This CD has had some heavy rotation at
Monsterism Towers so expect some galaxial discoid and what ever else he decides to bless us with!
The July 8th guest has yet to be confirmed but we'll let you know as soon as we get that nailed.

all the beast and see you there,
Pete and Jon
(Big thanks to Richard Norris for playing his amazing selection at the last night)'

New IZ Rock zines!

2009-06-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

The legend that is Joseph Allen has dropped two new IZ rock zines...love Jonathan Zawada (he does the presets design)...so looking good!

Piotr...round 2

2009-05-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

TTC gallery and my mate Piotr? A NO BRAINER...its gonna be good!

SHAPES 02
Piotr Łakomy
29.05 - 26.06 2009
vernissage 29.05 2009, friday 17.00 - 21.00
TTC Gallery Asger rygs gade 5 kl. KBH. V. Copenhagen Denmark
www.TTCGallery.com

Claire online

2009-05-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

One of Londons best bookshops (if not THE) have finally gone and got a proper website...but do go there in person as its one of the last spots that actually has an amazing (if slightly cramped!) personality you need to experience

AWESOME

2009-05-21T15:38:00.001-07:00

Saw this on Sixpacks Blog...looks fucking AMAZING...

can someone pay for the awesome Will Sweeney to do a 'Heavy Metal style' feature length film please?
For some reason the promo reminds me of this...

Tal-R at Victoria Miro

2009-05-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

One of my personal favorite contemporary artists is without hesitation the mighty TAL-R...and he has a new show at the Victoria Miro gallery...

FUCKING HELL JSBJ!

2009-05-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

Fucking HELL!!! !
That is not photoshopped....that actually could be the biggest book ever made! This is insane! Not only does the size blow me away, but you KNOW that the pages here undoubtedly feature awesome images....god damn!!!
Do you reckon i could read it with google earth?

Aurélien Arbet, Jérémie Egry, Marco Barrera, Nicolas Poillot
3360 pages, Hard cover, Black and white. printed in France
SOLE EDITION
Currently exposed at Galerie Kamchatka - 23 rue Charles V - Paris 4ème

Better off Dead...

2009-05-13T15:51:00.000-07:00

...are back with a new zine, and only £2! Get it HERE

Pen & Pixel interview

2009-05-13T12:19:00.001-07:00

If you read this blog then you hopefully know how much I genuinly LOVE Pen & Pixel...and now theres a great interview surfaced. Catch it here.

POWERBASTARD PEEK

2009-05-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

As announced 2009 is the year POWERBASTARD PUBLISHING is born, a joint venture between me and James Pearson Howes.
Very very soon (next week?) we will release the first POWERBASTARD PUBLISHING release...a set of 3 x signed A1 James Pearson Howes Xerox prints on coloured paper. There will only be 20 of these sets for sale, at a credit crunch friendly price of only £20 (worldwide postage included)...so super limited, high quality and very very awesome...so keep checking back for the headsup
PS image below is a close up of a larger image (NOT FINAL IMAGE)

Brue Killers

2009-05-09T11:09:00.001-07:00

Skateboards just got better...what is this evolution in deck design??? new shape? new materials? No. Something more essential to any self respecting skater...a bottle opener built in to the deck...
Thanks to Chimp for the link!

Automatic Books

2009-05-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

Great shit brewing in Venice on the zine front...graveyards and Japanese Rockabillies? How do they know me so well???

Automatic Books

Cum KK

2009-05-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Cum was a collective that came (no pun intended) out strong a few years ago in the hey day of streetart, blowing up and working on porn pictures for the streets...i never really paid much attention but having caught up with what they have been upto in the last few years via their website, i have to say they have turned into something very awesome and i feel like a schmuck for missing out!...dirty, grimy, messe-esque...i love what they're doing...
The reason why i rediscovered their work is that they have just opened a new exhibition in East Londons KK Outlet and i have to check it out asap...and if you cant make it, i suggest checking out their website asap...

TECH NOIR

2009-05-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Rory from Crystal Vision sent me this...its a short film he made from last year...TECH NOIR!

Church of the open tab

2009-05-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Steve Powers aka ESPO has dropped another in a long line of great installations...Pics here

Piotr Lakomy 'Shapes'

2009-04-27T14:15:00.001-07:00

Piotr Lakomy, aka king of Pirogi, just sent me images of his dope looking show in Poland - 'Shapes'...Piotr is a DUDE and if you are in Poland, like what you see - go check out the show! Nice one Piotr

"Shapes"
Piotr Łakomy
23.04 - 10.05 2009
vernissage 23.04 2009, thursday 6 PM

Galeria BWA
al.Niepodległośći 19
65-048 Zielona Góra
Poland

HOLY SHIT!

2009-04-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

OK OK i fucking LOVE it when i see people that i love taking their shit to the next level...and i blew my wad when i saw the new Stick It zines...7" record sleeve sized zines of Mike Swaney and Merjin Hos...two of my mates dropping some serious printed HEAT...Serious...i know i fucking hyperbole everything on here, but these need to be bought if you got working eyes...i mean come on, two of Europes hottest making beautiful books...what more do you want (perhaps my Stick It zine too?)...COP THEM HERE UPDATE looks like you cant get the Merjin Hos on Stick It (Sold out?)...

Zine Round Up

2009-04-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Heres some zines ive been lucky enough to be sent even though i havent blogged in fucking ages...thats a bad lesson for life - do fuck all and get rewarded!!!

1. 'Hollow girls' by Lonny

Pinkyvision press 001... the first output from Brighton based Pinkyvision press...and yes, if you havent guessed it already, its run by the papercut wizard and Hull legend Pinky (winner of coolest hair three years in a row...)...but this isn't his own artwork, but a collection of fantastic prose by his awesome Wife, Lonny.
Now, i'll be honest here, I have never been a fan of poetry. I studied A level English Literature, so i like my words, but with poetry i just dont get it, we dont get on...like dogshit on velour, we aint bed buddies...I've tried, but i can never enjoy or understand poetry...however, this collection of poems is worlds away from most poetry ive been exposed too - its honest, down to earth (i.e not pretentious and easy to read), funny, warm, brutally honest and also reads like lyrics to the best punk album never recorded. This is the kind of poetry i wanna read more of...rather than pretentious musings about a fig leaf on an ocean or some bullshit, its really involving, sweet and generally awesome...this is the kind of shit they should make kids in school read to get into poetry, not some commie bastard.
Sorry if i sound like a poetry hater, but i guess i am a little, but this zine definatly turned me round and got me loving the poetry in this zine...wow, well done Lonnie! more please!
PS with this and the Serps latest release, its awesome that the self publishing world is turning to the written word...

2. Dave the Chimp 'Celebrity Poetry', 'Lives of the Painters in prose' & 'Love Bites'

When Dave is not destroying fotolog haters, skating round berlin or doing this or this, he also does awesome comic strips - as often seen in the always essential free Stool Pigeon.
Recently he sent me some of his hilarious comics which he casually knocks out - which always KOs me...the amount of one liners he comes up with, and puts out is staggering...as ever funny, inventive and awesome.

Run Jarvis Run

2009-04-24T05:35:00.000-07:00

Regular updates to come....

Onwards from akqa on Vimeo.

'Nobody told me there would be days like these' by Amanda Maxwell

2009-04-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

The one thing I love about the Serps press is that it always surprises me…but at the same time, it doesn’t. Everything they’ve dropped so far always surprises me in regards to subject matter – from homemade tattoos to up & coming Australian photography, and now short stories… the common thread running through all the titles is greatness.
When I first saw that 'Nobody...' was released by the Serps I really didn’t know what to expect – I mean, from photo books to literature? A bold move, but also a great one…but what was it like? What is it about? Who is this author and what is her writing style? I had no idea what to expect, but I was curious as fuck, and after all, if its got a Serps logo, its got a seal of quality…
For those who don’t know first hand about self publishing a zine, book or curating an exhibition, its not often about money making, but about a great amount of passion and belief in certain works, and the feeling of duty to release something great to the world at large….and with this rattling round my head, I was wondering what ol’ Thomas Jeppe (captain of SS Serps) was playing at with this release – I mean, what was it about this author and these stories that motivated him enough to put it out? Well the only way to find out was to read the damn thing…and that’s exactly what I did.

I finished it, start to finish on one train journey.

Usually if you finish something quickly you feel cheated - like watching a gig of four songs, or paying £45 for an xbox game, only to clock it in three hours…but this is one of those rare exceptions…I finished this book so quickly, that it was a testament to the zeal and enjoyment I had tearing through these pages…loving each story, each character and situation…I was tearing through it like a vegetarian ripping into a Bacon sandwich after years on the Vegetarian life…I actually became the shitty cliché seen on most book covers - ‘so good I couldn’t put it down!’. I fell in love with this book, and have passed it round to friends, who have loved it as much as me, and also read it in one sitting…a good sign!

But what the hell is it?

Well to put it in basic terms – it’s a collection of 15 short stories, about growing up, unrequited love and disappointment. These tales are written in a style that is like having these stories told to you by a great friend, after having a few beers in a pub, and like all the best pub conversations or jokes, you only need the briefest lines of info to get you hooked.

Acid Wash jeans, Surfing, Fish & Chips, Cat Power, Booze, Parties, tree house fumblings, switchblade stabbings, the word ‘Douche’, grey days at a beach, bullying, lesbian tendancies, shitty mattresses, heart attacks, unrequited love, the feeling that the best of life has passed you by…if these words or situations sound familiar or interesting to you, then get this book. If you want to read stories that are honest, funny, sad, raw, addictive, carefree - then get this book. If you want to read a book so true and lifelike, that you scratch your head in disbelief that these are apparently fiction, then get this book. If you want to read a book to fall in love with, then get this book.

Serps gone done it again

Patrick Griffin

2009-04-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

Patrick Griffin, is one of my favorite artists in the contemporary New York art scene. From unleashing chrome on the streets of the big apple, creating large scale replicas of vintage enamel badges through to documenting life through a lens and making zines, he is the kind of creative jack of all trades that i like and admire...no one trick pony bullshit stopping at this station.
Recently I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of his latest zine 'You may be sweet and nice but that wont keep you warm at night' and a copy of Frenemies 3.
'You may be sweet...' is a large a4 sized photocopied collection of photographs, occasionally buffed out by technicolor post it notes (a nice new trick in the zine world)...and the images inside contrast the obviously fake models pearly white smile on the cover - these photos, are at times optimistic, but they are also sad and lonely...as well as fun and real..basic elements that make up living in the modern city (be it NY or London...or Paris or Barcelona etc)...all in all good shit as usual from Mr Griffin!
Frenemies 3, his earlier zine, is the same deal - a collection of his street level life photographs...but all the time these images fresh and exciting...yeah we've seen drugs and dead animals before...but when somethings done well, its still good.
If you can get your hands on these zines, i cant reccommend these highly enough...i love personal views into peoples lives, for the good times and the bad..and if you too like life too without photoshop or regards for morals of a polite society...then get these!!! and if you cant get these, then get over to tiny vices asap and get his book...remember his name, you'll be hearing a lot more soon as he blows up

Oh the horror...Erosie

2009-04-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

The ridiculously talented Erosie has dropped a great show in Grenoble for Sixpack...check his blog for more

Naive painting by Anatole Jakovsky

2009-04-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

Picked this little gem of a book up the other day from a second hand bookshop, and i thought i'd share a few of the works from within with you here...dont forget, if you ever have any cool books you've found that you would like to show to the world - email me! (ledilly@gmail.com)

Is that a Chris Johanson next? No....!

Marcus Oakley

2009-04-05T11:35:00.001-07:00

Marcus Oakley has started a new blog to show images that he likes or is influenced by...check it here!

and as a bonus he has put me onto this site of Wendy Carlos...queen of electronics!

THERE IS STILL COPIES OF THE DILLY ZINE OF MARCUS OAKLEY SKETCHBOOKS AVAILABLE

Exhibitions to catch...

2009-04-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

French

Jim Lambie at Sadie Coles

Group show featuring Marcus Oakley and Chrissie Abbott

PicaPica

Viagrafik

WHA' GWAN?

2009-04-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

APOLOGIES FOR THE SOUND OF SILENCE ON THIS BLOG (IS THAT A TUMBLEWEED BLOWING PAST?)...THIS BLOG AINT DEAD!!!!
THE REASON FOR LACK OF UPDATES IS BECAUSE IM HAVING STUPID STUPID STUPID FIGHTS WITH MY INTERNET PROVIDER...SO NORMAL SERVICE SHOULD RESUME AS SOON AS I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM SOMEONES ARSE!
SO SORRY IF YOU EMAILED ME / SENT ME SOMETHING - THEY WILL ALL BE FEATURED AS SOON AS I CAN!
PS THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS JOKE!

JSBJ - Taxis pleins, Taxis vides...pt2

2009-03-10T14:18:00.001-07:00

I dont think in the history of this blog I have deliberately blogged something twice...but in this rare exception, it is something i needed to do.
A week or so ago i got an email from Je Suis Une Bande De Jeunes in regards to their new book...and so I blogged the pictures they sent me...so far so good...but then i finally got my hands on a copy and i just had to write about it again...I felt i had criminally undersold such a great great book.
You see, to see just JPEGs from an email doesnt do this book justice (and im sorry thats all i can offer here!), it doesnt reflect the quality, detail, depth or vividness of the printing...the JPEG of Jeff Rians spot on introduction doesnt have the same impact in JPEG format as it does when you have this giant, thick and wonderful book in your hands, waiting to be enjoyed ...so you see I had to rectify my previous post, and really try and impress how awesome this book is to you all.
Looking at the constant opposites of nature vs urban, this is how photography books should be - thoughtful text, spot on layout and design, great production values and most importantly fantastic images. Thick with pages and ideas i cant recommend this highly enough.

Bebmo George Monograph

2009-03-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Bebmo George, to me, is one of Londons brightest new talents and this timely, beautifully produced (and ridiculously cheap) monograph book from Kingsland Rds Art Vanderlay imprint, shows just why he is someone to keep a close eye on...fantastical works, ranging from airbrushed landscapes/visions to simple spot on graphic design, Bebmo is a unique talent and this book is a must have, if just to save your embarrassment later when he is huge and ebay taunts you with high prices for this...CHECK IT HERE
PS sorry for the shit scans!!!

Valerie Phillips

2009-03-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

As if dropping the best show at Dreambagsjaguarshoes ever wasn't enough for one week...shes only gone and dropped one of my favourite looking websites ever...CHECK IT HERE

Some awesome shows...

2009-03-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

The ever awesome Erosie in Grenoble...

The ever awesome Michael Swaney curates in Barcelona

The ever awesome Mudwig Dans in Bristol...

The ever awesome Mark DeLong in NYC...

Amazing...

2009-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Having been to Ikea this very morning i am gutted i didn't have one these amazing pieces of camo....fucking great.
Grapevines buzzing about Maharishi closing its doors in London town...kinda poetic that this comes along like a great credit crunch version of Mhi....
PS nicked of Mysterious Al's blog l@@k r@re...

Urban camoflage

London!

2009-03-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

This thursday! Get to this to support the always awesome Valerie Phillips...i'm afriad i dont know Gemma Booth's work but thats another reason to get down there on thursday night to cause a Kingsland Rd roadblock!

Raspberry magazine

2009-02-22T06:11:00.000-08:00

Im a lucky motherfucker...out of the nowhere i get an email asking if i wanted a copy of Raspberry magazine issue 2...a magazine i had never heard of before..and after my reply, a few days later i got a copy in the post... and as soon as i got it out the envelope i instantly had a big shit eating grin cemented on my face...me and Raspberry magazine was truly love at first sight!
Hailing not from the lower east side but good old London town, it showcases the best in street photography...yes it has all the cliches of graf and general urban decay...but when its done good - its good, and when its fucking great - its fucking great... and this is as good as it gets.
Great design (already in the lead for cover of the year - if i ever do a best of the year list...), great photography (is that Barry mcgee and amaze?), great layout (cool new use of borders), great printing...and in a satisfyingly awesome big size, Raspberry 2 is awesome. Perfect? almost!

So where do you get it? i believe the great Claire De Rouen spot on Charing Cross road but other than that try Raspberrymag@gmail.com. Its in an edition of 50, so hurry because you dont wanna sleep on this...Raspberry magazine you dropped a stone cold classic with issue 2...the Dilly salutes you!

Mike Swaneys latest installation masterpiece!

2009-02-22T05:51:00.001-08:00

Chapuisat

2009-02-22T05:38:00.000-08:00

Got this in my inbox today....

"hello everybody,
the chapuisat brothers are looking for extra brothers.
we have many projects all year long, starting now!

its good work and hard fun!
its not for everybody and its not your everyday job!
we pay, not much but we do!
and this includes bed, food, travel and more.
if you are interested or if you know somebody who might,
please contact us via the website.
http://chapuisat.com
take good care,
the chapuisat brothers"

So... if you want to work with two amazing people (honestly -two of the coolest people you will ever meet) on amazing projects then give them a line... look at work below and tell me that doesnt look fun...Cool people, cool work, great art being created...sweet!!!

Nuria

2009-02-22T05:23:00.000-08:00

My good friend Nuria is having an exhibition at Turbo Galeria in Palermo Buenos Aires...if your lucky enough to be in Buenos Aires (!!!) then make sure you check it out....Nuria is awesome

JSBJ

2009-02-22T04:48:00.000-08:00

The ever on point JSBJ finally release a printed product that us mortals can cop a copy (before the printed zines they made were done in super super limited editions)...so make no delay and click HERE to secure yourself something special

Dilly zine 06 - Marcus Oakley Sketchbooks

2009-02-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

The first Dilly zine of 2009 is ready!

Marcus Oakley...his personal sketchbooks from 2003-2008...what more can i say???

SPREAD THE WORD AND GET IT HERE!

Japanese Rockabilly RULES HARD!

2009-02-16T05:35:00.001-08:00

Peter Bjorn and John "Nothing To Worry About"

Altermodern at the Tate Britain

2009-02-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

Recently many people have slept on the Tate Britain, overshadowed by its hyped partner - the Tate modern. The Tate modern spoils us with blockbuster shows and (sometimes) quirky Turbine hall installations...while the original Tate, Tate Britain, seemed kinda sleeping or dormant in Pimlico, fading away.....The last time i went to the Tate Britain was for the Peter Doig show, and as a venue it seemed like it was fading into blue rinse land (lovely vistas for the grannies)...but this weekend everything changed...this weekend Tate Britain knocked it out the park and visually showed that it still could fuck you up with the best of the other major institutions...in fact it felt more inspiring and representing the now and the future than any other space right now in London (with this show - not as a whole)....why the change? Altermodern.
GO GO GO GO.
There. thats it...this blog post could finish now...really...GO...its not life changing, revolutionary or the best modern art show ever seen in recent times in London, no way jose...no its just a fucking great show that is huge and well worth the £8 entry fee...There are a few OK so-so pieces, but there are some amazing pieces...in fact many!
Many critics rightly point out that there is too much work, but i didnt find it uncomfortable....and in a way its a back handed compliment...theres too many interesting pieces here? thats a good thing!!!
I was really inspired and invigorated with this show...and its just a shitter that theres no photography or widely available pictures released so i cant show you my personal highlights....but if you want to kill an afternoon (or day...) go and lose yourself at Tate Britain...two big fat Dilly thumbs up.
PS also goto the drawing rooms to check out the David Shrigley pieces...and behind the Altermodern theres a giant Bamboo installation....and the sixties pop art collection by the shop...oh shit man...i might go back!

Follow the nosebleeds..

2009-02-11T12:23:00.001-08:00

Mark Mulroney drops AN AWESOME SHOW...

Frederic magazine

2009-02-11T12:11:00.001-08:00

Misaki Kawai, Mat Brinkman, Matt Lock, c.f and Shoboshobo...well thats a list of some of the best artists today...FACT...well, they have all contributed work to a new magazine...pretty essential huh? well add even more rad artists and you know that mag is gonna be got....what magazine? some hip downtown mag? hell no! straight outta France motherfucker!
FREDERIC MAGAZINE

EYE PRINTS..

2009-02-11T12:04:00.001-08:00

Saw these on Jiros Ying Yangs blog (told you in an earlier post to bookmark that shit!)...looks like the ever awesome EYE is doing some screenprints...oh shit would i like to get one of these!

FUCK OFF!!!

2009-02-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Went round to my girlfriends house the other day, and her flatmate had bought this for ebay in the future...but i still couldnt believe how fucking far all this shepard fairey shit is going....FUCKING STOP IT! I DONT CARE!!!! HE DID NOT CREATE A MASTERPIECE BY WHICH ALL FUTURE ART WILL BE MEASURED. HE HAS NOT CHANGED THE RULES OF ART FOREVER....ITS A FUCKING CHEAP ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR TAKE ON A STOLEN PHOTO...ENOUGH ALREADY! HAVE WE REALLY NO MORE GOOD ART TO CELEBRATE OR DEBATE??? HELL NO!....ARGH! FUCK OFF!!! THERES AMAZING ART BEING MADE! LETS MOVE ON PEOPLE!

As if i wasn't annoyed at how far this five minutes of fame had lasted, i read the back of this sellout piece of fucking shit tat...

HOLY...FUCKING....SHIT....can you crawl up anyones anus so much by words alone? i think the benchmark has just been sent...am i reading this right? does that say what i think it says? im sorry...is this Jesus we're reading about or Shep Fairey?
From reading that you think that Shephead might have created something more important or historic than Obama himself...has he fuck...

whats left to say?.....FUCK OFF! If it wasn't the property of someone who i like, i would have burned it down and then shat on the bubbling plastic...hows that for an enduring image?

OK....he is undeniably a killer on the streets...no-one can argue how much he puts up...but can everyone PLEASE got off his cock please? PLEASE? ENOUGH ALREADY!!! everywhere i look he is there or someone is butt rubbing him - artsites, news sites, magazines...everywhere! GO AWAY NOW!

Stepping down from my soapbox...

Better off dead Vol.1

2009-02-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

Still smarting from their last KO release (Raid Pace), The Better of Dead crew drops this, issue one in what i hope will be a regular title.
Straight outta London town, this zine showcases Jackson Pierce White, Lewis Wright, Guy Gormley, Jack Bechtler and Phoebe Collings-James talents with a camera...with them all dropping great spreads showing that each artist comes correct with a different style of photography- which is super refreshing in this day and age.
Beautifully printed, and in a number of 60 editions, if you wanna get a copy i guess contact the crew via their website.

their website

Pablo Cots X Ecko

2009-02-10T04:53:00.003-08:00

VOD

2009-02-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

Photos are up of the Veterans of Disorder takeover at the Liege street art festival on the eternally on point LAMJC. Work by ERS members Mon Colonel, Spit, Rvo & 2Shy.

Ass, Ass, Titties, Grandmas,Ass & Titties

2009-02-04T10:29:00.001-08:00

Good looking zine here...

Old London town one saturday afternoon...

2009-02-03T12:57:00.001-08:00

Last saturday i was at a loose end so i decided to go and check out some shows on in London...

1. Unveiled:New art from the Middle East at The Saatchi gallery
This popped two cherries - the first time i had been to his (Saatchi) new space on Kings Rd (First impressions? fuck me he's rich ) and the first time i had been to a contemporary middle eastern art show. My verdict? i liked it!
Going in with absolutly no expectations or knowledge on middle eastern arts, i was kinda non plussed as i was neither nervous or excited...probably like most of the visitors then, and therefore a good reason why this show had to be put on...the contemporary middle eastern art scene is exciting and next to nothing is known about it in the west...put that down to politics and the often irrational fear / paranoia for anything connected to muslims and islam... i dont know...but this show helped highlight the good art currently being produced there and help prove to many that there is more to the middle east than cliches like suicide bombers, dubai opulence and oil fields burning over US troops.
There are paintings that remind me of Chris Johanson or David Shrigley (Tala Madani), giant naturalistic catherdral installations, rubber oil spill maps, an amazing room full of praying tin foil ghosts, burnt out collages, clever takes on women and housework and Sara Rahbars cool Middle eastern take on the stars and stripes...so, there is a lot to see and enjoy, but if thats not enough, they also have the one exhibit i wanted to see from the previous China exhibition (that i missed) - geriatric world leaders buzzing around on mobility scooters...

2. Dan Colen at Gagosian
I like Dan Colen. I think yes there's hype, but like Dash Snow i think he has the talent to back it up. Look at the work he's already produced - a recreation of his old flat wall covered in posters & paraphenalia, his stone monuments, his bubblegum and bird poo canvases, his large disney smoke paintings, his joint show with Nate Lowman, NEST...well boys got talent for sure...so i was looking forward to this...but it just didnt do it for me...one large canvas, and a free zine that basically i think was pretty shitty...yes i read the work notes, and yes i know what he was doing and saying, but i was dissapointed

3. Andro Wekua at Camden Arts centre
Saw his Nieves zine, and copped one of his books ('if there ever was one'), so i was looking forward to it. The critics slated it or covered it with a shrug, but hey, fuck em i like him. From an aesthetic point of view, i thought it was cool. I think his collage work close up aint grade A, but i still liked a few of the pieces, and i liked the sleek yellow construction inside the old victorian room. The girl on the bike (his trademark) seems to be like marmite...of friends who've seen it, half hate it half like it....if you go let me know what you think!

4. Jonathan Messe at Stuart Shave modern art
Jonathan Messe...what can be said that hasnt already been said? to me he is the fine art worlds version of early Venom albums - heavy metal with a close punk influence. And like punk or heavy metal you might not agree with everything made but you still thank fuck they are around. I didnt like the show (and my girlfriend thought it was very shit) - especially the cum/vomit paintings, but its still more interesting than a million shitty banksy wannabes. Im still gutted i missed his performance at the Tate turbine hall a while back...

5. Peter Blake
First time i've ever been dissapointed by Peter Blake. He is a genuine master of collage and pop art, so him working with vintage Venetian prints? sounds great to me...what was it like? boring, repetitive, predictable and everything else i wasnt expecting and that is the opposite of good....

6. Voodoo at Riflemaker.
This show stinks...literally. My overriding memory of this show was me stopping myself being sick...twice. On the ground floor is a giant slab of wax that smells just absolutly fucking disgusting, and downstairs there is a 'scent maker' which basically stunk like a giant piece of rancid turgid shit. Its really not a good look when my main thoughts of a show is that i kept on having to stop myself wretch....the art? the presentation? awful. I like William Burroughs dream machine, some black and white photos in the basement and Gavin Turks sculpture, but everything else? either rubbish or forgetful (including a Dash Snow collage - and i like Dash Snow)...I like the Riflemaker gallery, and they've had some real good shows on, but this stunk..in all senses.

7. Portrait prize at National Portrait gallery
I met up with my girlfriend as she wanted to go ...so it wasn't on my agenda this show, but i liked some of the entries...BUT there was a hell of a lot of filler...and if you read between the lines there, you would be correct if you thought i hated 90%... the vast crowds made my visit super unpleasant - i mean you would look at a work and then step back but and realise you've suddenly been surrounded by a sea of sweaty people...It was SO claustrophobic and stressful - so much so I really hated being there and therefore couldn't enjoy the work due to the crowds...BUT there were a few pieces i liked...

8. Dispersion at ICA
Dispersion is a collection of artists who deconstruct and remix found images. There are seven artists, mostly working in video art but i'm not a fan of video art...what i did enjoy a lot was Henrik Olesen and Anne Collier.
Henrik Olesens work documented and presented a fascinating art history lesson looking at homosexuality and gay artists. Olesen focused on the secret history, the history that had been covered up or whitewashed. Some of the points were quite sad and shocking, while other case studys were funny and humourous...it was a great, clever, absorbing and educational piece.

The other artist whose work i really liked was Anne colliers photographs, which were compositions of other objects (usually posters). BIEN MERDE!

Bidoun magazine

2009-02-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

the other day i was in Borders and was flicking through the magazines when i came across a title i had never seen before - Bidoun magazine. For some reason i picked it up and was instantly hooked.
At the moment its fair to say that (in the UK at least) there seems to be a waking up to the contemporary middle east arts scene (currently courtesy of Saatchis latest exhibition), and Bidoun is a great magazine dedicated in covering this scene.
To put it honestly and bluntly I knew nothing of the scene, the artists or what was being made. In my uneducated mind i presumed it was all heavy on the political, but upon finding this magazine i found out that i loved what was being made, and what also surprised me was how equal to the modern art scenes of London and New York the middle east is. Now i know that sounds really stupid and naive (and it was), but that was just how i thought...its just i guess that i never expected the work to be so good, and there to be so much.
The thing that i love about this magazine is that i read nearly every article. It has been a long time since i didn't skip any articles in a magazine, as everything was fascinating, educational and well written ... as such this magazine is amazing value (£5) as it lasted me hours! From Vegan Islamic punks from SoCal (Vegan Reich), growing up in wartorn Beirut, Slavs & Tartars art collective, Kanoon and much more. Before i would never have exposure or knowledge of any of that, and i think that its crazy now in hindsight! so much goodness being made now and so much to catch up on, as there is such a rich history im excited to explore.
I find Bidoun really exciting...its a no filler magazine, that has opened my eyes to a hugely exciting scene and culture, and its now a title i will track down every new issue with excitement...and if you ever heed my shitty words on this blog, if you ever have a spare fiver and are near Borders, cop this

One of the deciding factors in Bidouns initial purchase was this article. A few years ago a psycho muslim terrorised Washington DC by hiding in the boot of his car and shooting strangers. When he was in court (after his capture) he spent his trial drawing, and here is a nice spread of his teenage style drawings. The article is engrossing, yet scary, as his life story from slums to islamic idealist via the film of the matrix and his absent parents is very interesting

Some more pages...

Stoke Newington represent!!!

Snowman

2009-02-02T06:44:00.001-08:00

Its snowing here in London, everything is shut and everyones having fun in the snow...so heres what i made with my mate...

Martin Bell

2009-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Martin just sent me this picture of his installation piece from the Batteries not included exhibition (see flyer in a previous post)...as ever - great shit ...nice one Martin!

Madrids 'Montana Sagrada'

2009-02-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

attatched is the flyer for the first 'Montana Sagrada', Madrids newest creative night out. Organised and run by (and for) Madrid creative types (including well known names), it offers loud music (punk, psych, krautrock etc) as well other aspects of live performance (poetry etc), and creative projects - zines, visuals etc Basically a great great night...if your in Madrid make sure your there!

Cool Shit

2009-02-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

www.drewbeckmeyer.com/

YINGYANGS BLOG

2009-02-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

Jiro has got a new blog...so go check it for your daily dose of internet goodness...

Lumphammer

2009-02-01T16:04:00.000-08:00

No Lumphammer Lovebites is not a hair metal band from the eighties but a show at the great Concrete Hermit featuring Mudwig Dans and Kate McMorrine -a friend of Paul Ashley Brown. PV 5th of Feb...so pop down!

Ann Toebbe

2009-02-01T16:03:00.001-08:00

Liking the work of painter Ann Toebbe...reminds me of a fifties child illustrator or some vintage Disney backgrounds...good stuff!

Paul Ashley Brown

2009-02-01T15:48:00.001-08:00

There is nothing better than loving something and that something getting better all the time...and of course im talking about the talents and zine output by the super talented one man printing industry, Paul Ashley Brown.
Recently he was kind enough to send me three of his latest offerings, that i just had to share here...

All are fantastic and are worth getting...hit him up at his email to get them - paulashleybrown@googlemail.com

Browner Knowle 3
In a letter to me Paul said that this might possibly be his last issue of Browner Knowle due to poor sales which is one of the saddest things to hear as this title keeps getting better and better (in every aspect - printing, illustration, story). If i was rich i would buy out his entire print run...but sadly im not! So in a weird fix, buy a copy (for only£2!) to support and keep great underground british comics alive, but also buy a copy to make sure you get one in case he does cease this soon to be classic title.
Again, its a collection of tales from Bristol city and a sense of melancoly runs through every panel, illustrated by great draftmanship.

Laurie Bird
a print run of 25, and only 4 left for sale so be quick if you want to catch Pauls homage to this actress who starred in 'Two - Lane bricktop' and committed suicide. She was also a photographer and girlfriend of Garfunkel....again, awesome - stylish, sombre, beautifully drawn and presented...

Jetsam
A mixture of outakes if you will, panels, thoughts and sketches that didnt make it in Pauls other zines..again you know someones talented when their 'b list' stuff is more interesting than half the other shit released by 'established' names...

Kev Grey

2009-02-01T13:52:00.001-08:00

Kev grey, long time UK monochrome graf and tattoo king has finally dropped his first book! At £7 (plus p&p) its a fucking bargain, so head over to his website (www.kevgrey.com) to grab a copy!

Paperback world domination continues

2009-02-01T13:33:00.001-08:00

Slept on this one but its worth showing anytime...the fantastic London based Paperback magazine went to Japan to launch issue 2 with some live painting...hit their website up for more images and details, and if you havent copped a copy track one down
Paperback magazine

Random Mp3 - Black Lips 'Short Fuse'...from their soon to be released new LP '200 million thousand'

Comic Geek Post

2009-02-01T13:00:00.001-08:00

I like comics...i aint no giant nerd where I can recall every single crossover Marvel ever dropped (300?) and i have never got personally offended by a film adaptation of a beloved comic ... but like most of you (i guess), i grew up with comics and have never really fully turned my back on them..nor would i want to! With the Watchmen film coming out very very soon i guarantee the worlds media will be over saturated quickly by the Watchmen hype machine and it is because of this i want to recommend a new series my friend has lent me, because it is very very good...THE BOYS.
Written by Garth Ennis who scripted the excellent Preacher, it is dirtier and less comic-book-as-literature than the Watchmen...but it straddles the same plot angle - looking at superheroes in a realistic way, de-throbing and de-mystifying them.
Here the superheroes are coked up, prostitute killing, caligula heirs, incompetent at solving superhero problems (in a parallel to 9-11 the superheroes are so shit they make a plane crash into the brooklyn bridge, killing thousands of innocents, paving the way for future world invasions....) . If you have read Preacher you know what to expect....its very violent, very humurous, and a strictly adult orientated series that is a real treat to read and a title that instantly hooks you in to this new, and familiar world.
Its panels are not explotative or focused to the 12 year old virgins in comic shops, as you might expect when i tell you its full of sex, gore and heavy swearing..but, its not, its aimed at 20 - 30 year old cynics that like comics...the people who grew up on superhero comics but with age find the idea of men in tights laughable and huge gaping plotholes at every turn.
So when the Watchmen hypes drop, forget the artwork (not my cup of tea) , and drop knowledge to all those new found comic converts ("yeah ive been into watchmen like forever")and point them in the direction of THE BOYS...
THE BOYS ON AMAZON

Watch this and tell me your not there...(warning - shit quality)

Random MP3 - Jackie Chain ' Hustlin' DIPLO REMIX

Batteries not included...

2009-01-22T04:46:00.000-08:00

Looks like a killer show from some from some Dilly Amigos..

2009

2009-01-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

This year you will see more zines and good shit from the Dilly imprint, and to kick off the new year heres a sneaky peak at the first zine of '09....the artist is still a secret, but the zine is a rare look at his sketchbooks from 2003 - 2008, and its gonna be awesome! Its off to the printers this week, so it should be back with me in a week or two - stay tuned!

Dreambags

2009-01-21T12:06:00.000-08:00

keep an eye on dreambags this year- they have some real big shows happening, and thisone looks like a must not miss...

The Joyful bewilderment of buying artwork...

2009-01-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

In this age of the financial 'credit crunch' everyone is after a bargain, and over at the Joyful Bewilderment blog they are offering all the works from the super great Rough Trade show...theres some big names at low prices (god i sound like a furniture advert)...so check it out if you want a bargain!
TJB

double take

2009-01-21T11:51:00.001-08:00

Is this photo real? if so, the bearded dude from Justice looks like a prime Weird Al Yankovic...

OZ

2009-01-21T11:32:00.000-08:00

As usual Australia is somewhere i want to be...especially Schwipes Dont Come gallery...here are two recent shows that I think looked good...
Todd James
Pictures nicked from Supertouch

Big A Little A
Pictures nicked from Rockers NYC Blog

TRASH 5

2009-01-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Latest issue of the always great Trash online zine has dropped and features Dilly faves Joe83 & TVRBO among others....
DOWNLOAD HERE

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE....GIRL SKATEBOARDS

2009-01-17T07:42:00.001-08:00

WOW...nearly everyone i know is looking forward to Spike Jonzes take on the Classic where the wild things are film...and it looks like our first true glimpse of the monsters are coming out on Spike Jonzes Girl skateboards....

HAHAHA

2009-01-14T11:39:00.002-08:00

David Cerny, a Czech artist is causing a bit of a stir in Brussels as he is installing his latest commissioned artwork at the European court building....the problem with it? He has created a giant model kit of European countries, and each piece is a country, and each piece/country is represented by stereotypes...so Bulgaria is represented by a toilet (a Turkish toilet in fact...), England isn't even on there - as we are seen to be staunch critics to Europe, Romania is a Dracula theme park, France is shut down due to strike action and the Netherlands seem to be sinking under a flood with only Islamic towers above the water....needless to say everyones going apeshit in Brussels and i think its great... MORE HERE

NEW REGULAR COLUMN - BOOK PICKS

2009-01-13T15:45:00.001-08:00

Part of my new years resolution was for this Blog, and to make it better...to post more regularly and to add new columns...and VOILA! Here is the first of them!
BOOK PICKS!
I am a printed matter nerd - books, zines, magazines... i fucking love em...and im guessing if your on this blog you might like zines, art, books etc as well...so what this column will be is a showcase and glimpse into peoples personal art book libraries, a look and celebration of art books they love, and why.
There will be two Picks - one is a personal favourite book that might be rare, that you might have to hunt around to get a copy...and the second pick is a book that is highly reccomended and that you should be able to get quite easily (with links provided)...make sense? I hope so! I also hope you like it and if you feel inclined please leave in the comments sections about anything you'd like to see on this blog and/or your own book picks...OK for the first one, i picked the closest book nerd at hand - ME!

Pick One - Classic
Andromedary SR1
by Hans Stempel & Martin Stempel with illustrations by Heinz Edelmann.
1970.

This is my mums book (although now its 'found' its way onto my shelves), and i've been looking at it since i was a kid (and some might see some subliminal / not too subliminal references in my work because of this early influence). My mum also had Norman Mailers 'The faith of Graffiti' (aka watching your name go by)...so my mum is mad cool, and absorbing these books from the age of around 6 has had a steep impact on me.
Many people will compare this with The Yellow Submarine, and with good reason....Heinz Edelmann...one of the most visually important and distinctive late sixties illustrators (along with Glaser, Peelleart, Aldridge and crumb - to name a few), who did the illustations here, and also The Yellow subamrine. Candy coloured rainbows, Spatz shoes, awesome animals, Art Deco influence...all his trademarks (and through influence the cannon of sixties illustrators) are here and dripping with coloured paint.
printed in a mix of full colour and black and white, these large pages instantly take you on the best space pyschedelic trip you will encounter this side of 2001. Every page is amazing, striking, beautiful and fantastical. One of those books that taken me on a mind trip for twenty odd years, and i have a feeling it will never be too far from my side (hopefully) for the next twenty years.

Robert Crumb Sketchbook Volume 1 (1964 to mid 65)
Available here

I think there were 9 volumes of sketchbooks released, and each are essential, not just for Robert Crumb fans, but also for fans of great illustration. I add volume one as a representation of all nine, and i also had to put this here as they are fastly dissapearing and therefore the prices (if you can grab them) are increasing, so if you can get any, get them now!
Robert Crumb is one of the greatest illustrators of our time, and part of his success is due to his constant sketching...im talking everyday day...for him, it is not just a job, or even a passion, but a neccesity...and all nine volumes show Crumbs style evolving and its interesting to see major characters and themes shine out...this volume shows his fascination with women, automobiles and it shows his first renderings of Fritz the Cat.
I think that Crumb is a great artist to study for all inspiring illustrators as he shows how easy and difficult it is to construct something complex or beautiful with what is essentially black lines...so basic - white paper, black lines...awesome. Also, going back to the point of his constant drawing...its inspiring and crazy to see so many books with so much width of themes, complexities of images (from detailed pieces to minimal sketches) and style...to see someone evolve so much and to create so much work...and then you read the covers and see that it all happened over such a short period of time...all because he was always drawing

ZINE ROUNDUP

2009-01-13T15:21:00.001-08:00

These have a Bristol theme...

1.THE UNIVERSAL
I believe its an edition of 50
by Egs, Pinky & R.Maurice
Pinky hooked me up with this cool zine that was made in conjunction with The Universal exhibition in Bristol by Pinky, Egs & R.Maurice (who some of you might know by his other alias Gassius...). Its a small zine that i loved, but it didnt half make me sick with envy that i missed the show.
If you know any of these artists, then you know what to expect - full on factor 12 mind warping neu age pysch...this zine is loose and fun, and it perfectly suits each artists styles...heres hoping there'll be more shows and zines!

2. THE END
edition of 50
by BLC (Black Lung Crew)
Recently i got an email from a dude called 'Ed' in Bristol.
He asked me if i wanted a copy of his zine...needless to say the answer was an instant YES...and this is the result...another reason to show that UK photography zines are in rude rude health.
A nicely printed black and white collection of abstract and minimal everyday images - people, patterns etc...it is great. Not much is known other than i got sent it by a dude called Ed, it is marked by BLC...but i do wanna see more!

PIGXOTE

2009-01-13T15:14:00.001-08:00

Harmony Korine...Love him or hate him, however you feel - i Love him...and Nieves has dropped a new book of his - a collection of his photographs of television pictures...if you like this you should cop the latest issue of Purple too as there is a very good free zine of similar work...and if you like Harmony, you dont need me to tell you that you need his new book of zines - but if you do need me to tell you...go get it!
HARMONY X NIEVES

FUCK YEAH MESSE!

2009-01-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

THIS HAS GOT ME EXCITED! I LOVE ME A BIT OF MESSE...

SOME RELATED MESSE GOODNESS...

Lucky Joe

2009-01-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

Lucky motherfucker, Joe Allen is working with one of my heroes Todd James on two shows in Australia, but also, hes just posted a short interview up over on SlamxHype with him

Jag Bags

2009-01-13T14:38:00.003-08:00

DreamBagJaguarShoes and its sister site The Old Shoreditch station is holding two shows showcasing two Dilly favourites, and two names high on the 'ones to watch out for' list...Rhys Coren and the Nous Vous collective.
If you are about,then be at the Old Shoreditch Station 15th January (7pm+) for the Rhys Coren opening (which should be a right royal pissup)..and then Dreambags Thursday 22nd January for Nous Vous' opening.

RIP Ron

2009-01-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

2008 is now dead, big business art will crumble with the credit crunch, its time for the real talent to storm the barricades - as Supertouch blog perfectly summed up 'hair metal is dead, its time for punk'... the new year festivites are over, the hungovers survived (and i hope you all had a good time)...so now its time for 2009 and the focus on making it the best year ever!!! The Dilly is back and will be in rude health and i have some awesome things lined up to balance out the silence on the zine front...i've been planning and plotting - waiting so that now things will be regular and better rather than my 2008 track record of starting and stopping shit due to being BROKE...anyway...i was geared up and pysched to hitting up this blog HARD tonight but sadness took over and i dont feel like blogging now as news has reached me that the great and now late Ron Asheton is dead.
There are some bands or musicians you can take or leave,but for me the stooges are a band i passionatly LOVE to death, and so the passing of the maker of many of my all time favourite riffs is dead...well to me its a very very shit day...
OK so the weirdness was quite forgettable but with their recent reformation it was nice to see them getting their just time in the limelight (the other stooges, not iggy - hes always been around)...and so i would have loved to have seen the stooges more times live as were still a phenomenal force live and i personally would have loved to have seen if he could top 'no fun' or 'i wanna be your dog'...he probably wouldnt have but at least there was a chance...
Also dont forget he was part of the awesome Destroy all monsters, which are well well well worth looking up if you get a chance (and get the pictureboox book 'Geisha this')..a greatly overlooked art collective that would be huge if they were a current group.
RIP Ron Asheton
PS normal arty farty blogging tomorrow

KING SHOT

2008-12-02T05:07:00.000-08:00

Jodorowsky is up there with Anger as one of my favourite directors, and after the re-release of El Topo and Holy Mountain last year it seems he has stirred up enough interest to get a new film made!!! KING SHOT!
never a fan os Santa Sangre, but his early films are amazing...so i have great hopes for this..

for those that havent tasted Jodorowsky, heres the trailer for Holy Mountain...

Rachel De Joode

2008-12-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

Magical, Absurd & Surreal is how Rachel De Joode describes her fantastic photographic work and thankfully thats exactly the kind of art that blows me away.
Like a bolt from the blue, i was drawn into her visual world via her website, and as a fan of artists who completly build and shape their own worlds by their work, it was instant goodtimes...if you want to do some exploring of her mix of fantasy and fashion.....CLICK HERE!

Pinky Vision

2008-12-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

Fresh shots from Pinky who was in Bristol for his group show 'Universal' alongside fellow inner space travellers R. Maurice (aka Gassius) and Egs...the flyer is a few posts below and the main image screenprint is high on my wish list!