Afridiziak Gifts and Occasions Winter Fair 2012

Alexandra Galleries will be exhibiting at the Afridiziak Gifts and Occasions Winter Fair at The Drum Art Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 1 December 2012.

Since 2010, Afridiziak Gifts and Occasions shopping events have attracted quality exhibitors showcasing the finest selection of merchandise including children’s toys; books; hair/beauty products; jewellery/accessories; art, greeting cards; clothing for men, children and women; and seasonal food and drink. Many of the items on sale have been naturally/organically produced and handmade.

Now in its third year, the organisers of Afridiziak Gifts and Occasions will be holding its first Birmingham fair at the popular Drum Art Centre. This unique shopping event brings together independent retailers and entrepreneurs selling culturally inspired gifts you won't find on the shelves of local high street shops or department stores and gives shoppers the opportunity to pick up inspiring gifts which ooze creativity.

This year the organisers have chosen the Sickle Cell Society as its official charity and we will be donating a third of proceeds taken on the door from this event, and at the London event the following weekend, to the charity Kalpna Patel, Sickle Cell Society.

The Afridiziak Gifts and Occasions annual Winter Fairs are a chance to treat yourself and pick up something special for your loved ones too.

• The first 50 shoppers will receive a complimentary goodie bag.
• Sample some Afridiziak rum cake as you browse the stalls and take in the vibes.
• Blaze It Up Entertainment spinning an eclectic mix of tunes to keep you feeling festive.
• A special solo performance from Abigail Kelly – Soprano.
• A workshop on The art of Head Wrapping by Sister E.
• Food will be on sale.



Exciting changes at Alexandra Galleries

During the coming months Alexandra Galleries will be making changes to its website. We have listened to your feedback and taken on board your comments and will be focusing on bringing you a smaller but more exclusive range of limited edition prints and original works. We will emerge with a collection of new and exciting artists alongside your existing favorites.

  

We will continue to feature a selection of your favorite open edition prints by local artists such as Alvin Kofi and Carol John, and will bring you their new work as they become available. These changes will take place during the coming months so keep an eye on our website for further developments.

A collection of our discounted posters and African American prints can now be found on our ebay website, recently opened to offer you better value pricing for popular titles. Please visit our ebay shop to find black history titles, music and cultural posters and those hard to find prints that are no longer being published or that have been dis-continued. Keep re-visiting our ebay shop as we add new titles and expand the range. All the items listed on ebay are New (unless otherwise stated) and DISCOUNTED. Stock will be limited so don’t hesitate if you see a Joseph Holston, WAK or Paul Goodnight print at crazy prices – it’s probably the last copy in stock.

Alexandra Galleries have been dealing in black art and representing the work of artists from the diaspora for over 20 years, you can feel confident that when you shop with Alexandra Galleries, you are purchasing art from a well established organisation that strives to ensure the highest level of customer service at all times.

Lorna Graham exhibits at the Dugdale Centre, Enfield as part of London Borough of Enfield's Black History Month celebrations. Lorna took part in our 2010 group exhibition, Sisters in Spirit, alongside Dionne Ible, Munirah Olton, Cezanne and the late Jennifer Lewis plus other female artists at The Original Gallery in Crouch End. Lorna is a talented self-taught artist who works predominantly in acrylics. Her recent exhibitions include the Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Ponders End, last summer's Unity Art Fair and the 2012 Edmonton Festival. Exhibition runs until 28 October 2012.

Ken McCalla celebrates African Heritage

If you missed artist/sculptor Ken McCalla's open house exhibition, part of the 2012 Wandsworth Artists Open House festival, here is another opportunity to view his work, this time on Sunday 28 October 2012 at the Brockwell Gallery in Herne Hill. Meet Ken, a founding member of Better than Good art group, at this private viewing and see his unique figurative work which will be on sale.

Recent framing assignments

How to Write an Effective Artist Biography

An effective artist biography (bio) is necessary information to have as part of the artist’s presentation to any viewers and interested parties of their artwork. A well written and composed artist bio serves to help a reader to connect to the artist and to the artist’s artwork.

An artist bio, when written and created correctly will provide the reader with a greater understanding as to the artist’s art, the artist’s motivation for creating their art and finally it will provide a guide or a means for a viewer to interpret the artist’s art. In these terms, the importance of an artist’s bio cannot be stressed enough!

What should be included in an effective artist’s bio?

1. Anyone or anything that has influenced the artist’s artworks.

2. Any education or training in the field of art.

3. Any related experience in the field of art.

4. A summary of the artist’s artistic philosophy.

5. Any artistic insights or techniques that are employed by the artist.

6. A short description of what the artist would like to accomplish with their art.

The following are some helpful hints on how an artist can create an interesting bio;

1. Keep the bio structure short, concise and to the point. A rambling disjointed bio will only confuse or lose the reader all together. Always write the bio in the third person (as if someone other than the artist is writing the bio).

2. Try to write the bio differently 2 or 3 times and then have someone with good writing and communication skills proof the various bios and help you to pull them together into one great bio (there will be different aspects of each bio that are written better than the others).

3. Get an artist(s) who you respect and admire to read your final version and make any suggestions to help improve the final bio. Does this bio reflect you as a person, as an artist and does it accurately describe your art?

4. Finally, after any changes are made as described above, have someone who is an expert in spelling, grammar and sentence structure review and make any necessary changes to the bio.

Keep your bio up to date with any new work, influences and experience that may have changed you, your art and your artistic perspective. Make sure that you have an appropriate and up to date image of yourself that is included with your bio. Also, update the bio on any other websites and art forums where you post and show your artwork as well.

An effective artist’s bio will not sell any art for an artist but it will be information that an artist will need to provide to any interested person and also, it is necessary information and is required for the overall sales process.

Tribute to artist Jennifer Lewis

When a good friend and colleague passes it’s wise to take some time to reflect.

To remember the times you shared and the moments that gave value to the friendship you had with them.

In this time our thoughts lie with the artist “Jennifer Lewis”. We would like to acknowledge the contribution she made to the Black Arts and the wider arts community. Jennifer was small in stature but in no means was her size a reflection of the influence and legacy she left.

Those close to her and who had the privilege of working with her knew of her warm enigmatic personality. You would also come to know that this beautiful soul came with a gift that was a unique and a special complete God given gift.

Through her work we saw the beauty she saw in life and in the world in which we live. She shared with us her own inner world and insight, blessing the many diverse audiences with every creation she made. Regardless of the form it entered into this world, her work would somehow remind us of how blessed we are.

Jennifer was very private on her thoughts on spiritual matters. But it is evident in her drawings, paintings, sculptures, jewellery designs, occasional indulgences in fashion and animation, that a deep spiritual energy is always present.

Working with different cultures in our community over an impressive career despite the barriers she faced as a Black Woman artist, she always had a determination and professionalism that very few could rival. With this determination she moved effortlessly, as if by second nature, from one medium to another creating astounding works of art for one who chose unconventional training routes. She came with such talent that gave her the skill and techniques needed to over-come the problems she faced in the different projects she took part in regardless of the discipline.

In the time she spent with us we all can smile in the memories we have of her. Let us celebrate an inspirational life, artist and the works left by this wonderful woman.

God bless you Jennifer our dear friend and colleague.

Alvin Kofi (artist)

The art of Justin Bua

The DJ

Celebrating Urban Culture:
 

For over a decade, artist BUA has been making a mark on popular culture with his unique style of Distorted Urban Realism, single-handedly spearheading a new genre of art.

To view Bua's collection click here.

Alexandra Galleries

17 Hayes Lane

Beckenham

Kent, BR3 6QS

Phone: 020 8249 5807

Email: Contact

Be inspired, dine, enjoy art & conversation

Better than Good will be hosting a series of talks where guest artists will be invited to explore the subject of the human figure and demonstrate how it is used in their artistic discipline to express and promote their people and its values.

To launch the Figure Black series, jewellery maker and designer Ehwunah, and dance/choreographer H Patten, will make the first presentations.

The first talk takes place on Thursday 29 March 2012 at 6.30pm at the Veranda Restaurant Cocktail Bar & Art Gallery where guests will be treated to dinner by the in house Caribbean chef prior to the artists’ presentation. A Q&A session will follow.

Tickets cost £25.00 per person (includes dinner) and will be on sale from Wednesday 7 March 2012. Spaces are limited, so hurry to avoid disappointment, the last event at Veranda was a sell-out. betterthangoodart@yahoo.co.uk for a booking form today.

BTG is a collaboration between Alexandra Galleries, Yahw Arts & Kofiarts

Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Jamaican Independence in 2012

Full Colour A1 Map of Jamaica
Special features include

• Island parishes & towns
  
• Full national anthem
• Jamaican flag
  
• National pledge
• National flower - Lignum Vitae
• National fruit - Ackee
• National bird - Doctor bird
  
• Jamaican coat of arms
• Size 33 x 23.5in
• Only £3.99 (plus p+p)

• Order your copy now!
  

Kevin Williams (WAK).........Inside the studio

The first in a series that gives you a glimpse into the studio's of Alexandra Galleries featured artists.

In this short interview US artist Kevin A Williams, better known as WAK, talks candidly about the Love Series, his first mainstream prints which went on to become one of the best selling African American print series in the United States.

Taking Her Back (featured left) still remains his best selling title in the UK.


View interview




Taking Her Back by WAK