So today I walked into the office and it was a full house! And it was just as well because today was another one of those big meeting days. It was George, Jilke, Sophie, Longlong, Rashmi and Mario’s turn to perch around the a3 flipchart armed with ideas about the monetary aspect of the project but also to properly introduce Rashmi and Mario to the different stages of the artFix project, as the newest members of the team.
Across the 3-hours they discussed ideas about costs and revenues, as well as additional plans for funding towards the pop-up store, which is now due to open in June.
Otherwise, sunny Soho Square saw myself, Jilke and Sophie through our break, again, and reminded us that summer is on its way when we might even be able to take the office outside.
Today we’ve had a slight re-shuffle of the office as we welcome two new people to the artFix project! Rashmi, who will be joining the Marketing department, and Mario, who specialises in Project Management, are the latest to succumb to the attraction of the artFix concept and joined us on a full-time basis on Monday.
Rashmi (left) and Mario settle into the office
So work is continuing full steam ahead with the pop-up store little more than a month away from its launch! Exciting times. And there’s still room for a few more of you to get on board the project – make sure you support artFix via social media and by subscribing to our newsletter!
Ahoy there! Hope all my readers are having a pleasant evening.
Today in the office everyone was busy working on the internal deadlines we had made during discussion last week. In addition to the complex process of recruiting excellent visual and performance artists, other areas which the team are working on includ Marketing and Technology. The latter is particularly important when it comes to the way that art will be translated to the audience (all of you guys). So of course we want to make sure it is the best, in the sense that it provides you with the most interactive and immersive experience. If our aim is to bring the arts to the high street then this is a massive part of meeting this aim, I’m sure you will agree.
As well as this, Jilke and Sophie have been artistically sketching more possible designs for the store in May. Much of these designs have issued from their inspired trips across London. Last week both of them spent their field day exploring the eastern arts scene. As well as attending a number of commercial galleries they took time out to go to some quirky smaller café galleries. Needless to say, they came back brimming with ideas about how to make the artFix store a fresh and inviting sight for casual shoppers and art lovers across the city.
So make sure you stay tuned for more information about design developments – maybe I’ll even allow you a sneak peek into some of their work.
So today was a quiet day at the office. In addition to working on our individual tasks in preparation for the April store, we were flicking through arts pages on the Internet, on the hunt for a great way to spend an afternoon. It’s newly become a part of the artFix tradition that the team spends a day each week dedicated to exploring and experiencing events happening in London. It’s a great way for us to become more familiar with the city and what it has to offer but also take time out to immerse ourselves into the work of other individuals and organisations. So far, as you know, we have been to the Superbolt Theatre and art14, to name a few, and we’d love any suggestions of great events that you have been to in the past or know about happening in the near future. London is such a huge place with so much happening that it would be brilliant to have you guys there to show us around a bit! Have a great evening.
So today the office was packed with the team, all busy working away at their laptops and discussing keys issues which branched from previous meetings but also continued on to explore new topics. Discussion centred on the space for the April store itself and our collective visions for how we want it to appear. We’re all really excited to move forward and on to the next stage!
Skadi and George discuss
Later into the afternoon we welcomed Skadi, a friend of artFix, to the office. She also contributed her ideas toward the vision of artFix, although from a slightly different angle. Meeting with George, they spent a while exploring ways in which the ‘artFix experience’ could be extended to reach those who do not have such easy access to the high street, for example the elderly or disabled. This is important for us because artFix is a concept which has been developed with all sectors of the public in mind. We want to ensure that the arts are available to absolutely everyone so that everyone can benefit from the experience of engaging with its different forms.
Lunching in Soho Square
I think it was only fair that after all that hard work we got a chance to absorb the beautiful British weather – wasn’t it such a softly sunny day? So myself, Jilke and Sophie took a stroll down to Soho Square where we joined similar trios of office workers out on their break, watched a little kid chasing away the pigeons and spent a pleasant hour in conversation.
So this afternoon we conducted the second half of the meeting. Topics featured included design and technology, two hugely important categories which need to be thoroughly explored ahead of the April store . (I’m sure you will agree.) Zafeirenia replaced Ioanna to contribute towards the discussion and I can tell you that we definitely had a fair few exciting ideas bouncing around!
Too many options to choose from in fact – but I guess that is what happens when you are working in such a creative team. I’m sure that in the next couple of weeks we will be able to sift and sift again to finalise the cream of the crop and select those ideas that we know you will love!
So today we had guests in the office as production company Klein & Sons came to film a commercial about the ‘artFix Experience.’ Having already filmed across the Covent Garden area in the morning the team were welcomed to the studio space on the 6th floor to take the final part of the film before editing. And the work went well – energy was high and the floor was flooded with the brightest sunshine. We hope you are as excited as we are to see the finished product!
Klein and Sons filming in the artFix studio
The opportunity to make this video about the company was received as part of the reward for winning the London Entrepreneur’s Challenge in 2013 at UCL. This is great particularly as it gives us another opportunity to show you more about what we do and give you a greater reason to become involved, if you are not already.
So see you guys next week! Keep a look out for that happy row in your e-mail Inbox which says that you have a new update from me delivering your daily fix of artFix delciousness.
So today in the office we have been carrying on working hard, developing our press lists and contacting various organisations. Discussion also continued from yesterday with regards to new ideas that we could implement in the pop-up store, opening soon. The once orange walls are slowly being take over by sheets of white a3 and the desks are getting more colourful as mind maps are taped up with blue, red and green gel branches. So we’re moving along nicely.
Jilke (left) and Sophie (right) at work
But just as the office is getting more full it is balanced by things in short supply. As well as the supply of coffee, printer paper also ran out just at the time when we were in the middle of printing a few pages – another thing to add to the ‘to buy’ list. But that’s what’s great about working on Oxford Street – all our needs are met on the doorstep of the office which is great because this allows us to get on with our work to meet yours.
Yesterday I told you about some fantastic visual artists who are taking part on Friday so today I am going to tell you about 4 performance artists who will be showcasing a variety of different performances throughout the night. I can guarantee that they will keep you talking long after the event has passed.
Anne-Sophie Cochevelou – A performance/ design artist whose work is both visual and performance (see yesterday’s entry for her complete biography)
Jordan Birch – As a stand-up comedian, Jordan has performed in literally some locations, entertaining crowds of up to 40. At 26 years old, his withered cynicism and misplaced anger make him a refreshing change from enjoying yourself. Imagine Russell Brand having a baby with Stephen Fry. That’s not the kind of comedian Jordan Birch is, but wouldn’t that make a great sitcom? http://www.jordanbirch.com/
Jordan Birch
Nate Maingard – Nate is into lyrics, sustainability, romance, photography, music, travelling, community, local and organic produce, hugs, writing, poetry, reading, listening, surfing. His songs are about the deeper journeys we all experience as humans trying to make sense of this life we have been given, this minuscule drop in the ocean which still feels so incredibly precious to us. He has been playing guitar, writing songs and appearing on stage since 1998 and has been playing as a professional musician since the beginning of 2011. http://natemaingard.com/
Nate Maingard
Shanara Ali – Shanara is a storywriter. The idea behind The Story of Alex came to her on a trip to Aberdeen in August ’13. Visiting the old city or town in her opinion was always a welcome relief from real life as everyone who has lived there or still lives there knows about the bubble, the bubble that protects you from the real world where everything is rather scary. Every Alex she has met has been ridiculously good looking but definitely aware of that. Her Alex is the opposite. Having grown up hideously ugly he has no social skills but his heart is perfect. Although God does eventually bless him with good looks, its his years of solitude through no fault of his own that define who he is. She thinks he might just be her favourite…..
So, from today until the event on Friday the team has decided that it would be a great idea to introduce you to the artists we have participating in the ‘artFix Experience.’ I know that I have been excitedly updating you with the daily progress that has been happening in the office. I guess it’s our first event so everyone is rushing around and hyperventilating as a result of trying to make sure that it is the best that it can be. But now I’m going to stop…and give you a small insight into the talented people we have on board. I already provided you with some information about the fantastic artists we have taking part from Debut Contemporary; now I want to tell you about 6 more visual artists whose work is really exceptional:
Adrian Scicluna – In his paintings, Adrian places images from different sources onto the same picture plane to piece together a new form of landscape. He plays with notions of absence and presence, being and place, a kind of vacant reality yet very physical attachment and possibility. The canvases touch upon human desires and needs. www.adrianscicluna.com
‘A to B’ by Adrian Scicluna
Amanda Tomasoa – Amanda has gone through enough in life to know how it feels to be repressed and the euphoria of being set free. Among her professional artist tools, Amanda enjoys using a humble piece of plastic scraper to add that extra dimension of paint to her art pieces. Bold in colours, rough and rugged in shapes, deliberately done to look like life, she embedded stories to them… hidden figures of people living in the city, road signs depicting the speed limit, detours, frustrations, confusion, the respite and the beauty despite what life throws at us. amandatomasoa@gmail.com
‘Love in Roma’ by Amanda Tomasoa
Andrew Lambeth – Andrew lives at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, in England and says that there is an atmosphere, and a light you just don’t find anywhere else. He tries to re-create this in his work, as he feels the wolds lends itself wonderfully to his impressionist style of painting. http://www.saatchiart.com/Andrew.Lambeth
‘Water, Light, Life’ by Andrew Lambeth
Anne-Sophie Cochevelou – Specialises in performance and design art. In a cabaret style, including movements, dance mime and 4 songs from French and English old music halls, she explores the concept of relationship through the angle of queer performance.
Damian Wojcik – Damian specialises in photography and collage. Through his art he invites us into surreal world; a world of beauty but also the dark side of emotions and a society dominated by materialism, consumerism and sexuality. www.damianwojcik.com
‘Disaster’ by Damien Wojcik
Elizabeth Williams – Elizabeth is a representational painter in oils and acrylics on linen, board and canvas. Her work includes seascapes, landscapes and Still Life in a wide spectrum of colours. Elizabeth paints in wide range of genres (not to be stereotyped) and has sold her work on commissions, to private collectors and to individual clients. www.elizabeth-williams.net
‘Corn and Poppies’ by Elizabeth Williams
I hope this has whet your appetite for everything art – especially our event! Add a cup of coffee and cupcake or two to the evening and you can imagine why interest has been so great. So make space in your diary and enjoy a Friday evening well-spent on 28th February.
Look forward to reading about more artists tomorrow and meanwhile, if you have a spare minute, have a read of what 3D Artist Magazine had to say about us via Facebook.
The co-leisure experience 