ISABELLA BLOW: FASHION GALORE!

We've had this exhibition marked in our diaries for so long now and we are so excited to go and see it as Isabella Blow was such a massive character and inspiration who came to life though her work and style. 

If you don't know about Isabella Blow she pretty much kick started careers for fashion designers, models and photographers throughout the 1980's as well as becoming one of the hardest working editors for many publications. She discovered and nurtured talents such as Alexander McQueen, Phillip Treacy, Sophie Dahl, Stella Tenant and well known for her artist collaborations with Steven Meisel and David LaChappelle. 

Isabella Blow is recognised by her outstanding and outlandish sense of style. She is an icon in the fashion world and earned that title by working hard in her home town of London before moving to New York in 1979 and working alongside Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Tally for US Vogue. There was such a huge movement going on in Fashion and Art at this time and Isabella started moving in circles with the likes of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat putting her in the middle of the art world, subsequently incorporating this influence into her style. In 1986 Isabella moved back to London to go on to work for Tatler and then onto British Vogue. In 1997 she became Fashion Director for Sunday Times Style and then back to Tatler as the Fashion Director. 

She is known as the muse for Alexander McQueen and Phillip Treacy and many more but even though it may have looked like she was living the dream Isabella suffered silently with depression for years and later in life was diagnosed with bipola disorder and then ovarian  cancer. She was also a subject to the ugly side of the fashion industry when after discovering so much talent and working hard to further other peoples careers she was left behind. 

The story behind her wearing such extravigant headwear was "to keep everyone away from me.. They say Oh, can I kiss you? I say, No thank you very much. That's why I've worn the hat. Goodbye. I don't want to be kissed by all and sundry. I want to be kissed by the people I love."
After many suicide attempts towards the end of her life Isabella sadly died in 2007 at a weekend house party at Hilles surrounded by the people who she had worked with and loved over the years. 

This exhibition is a celebration of her work, style and life lived through clothes. Curated by people who knew her best and has inspired over many years. We recommend anyone who enjoys fashion and has a soft spot for unique style that inspires a generation and will never be imitated. 

ISABELLA BLOW: FASHION GALORE! 

SOMERSET HOUSE 

NOVEMBER 12TH 2013 - 2ND MARCH 2014

BUY TICKETS HERE

WWW.WEARECOW.COM

Tom J Newell Exhibition

If you are ever around Sheffield, London, Nottingham, Manchester, Leicester and many other areas around the UK and Ireland you may have bumped into some of Tom J Newell's artwork at some point.

He does get around and to say he began his Illustration career by drawing up gig posters for his old band and finished his first Comic from his bedroom. We think he is doing pretty well with a growing fan base and work produced for magazines such as Dazed and Confused and Juke, as well as continuously completing commissions for record covers, posters, prints, t-shirts, books, tattoo designs and just about everything else you need drawing up.

This Thursday 6th June Tom J Newell will be showing a selection of his work for an Exhibition at The Old Sweet Shop. Filling both rooms with a collection of previous work along with a group of brand new original drawings from the on-going project to illustrate the '72 Spirits of Solomon'. Tom has done a new print with the help of  Dan 'Phlegm' at Dan's home print studio available to buy at the event. With sponsorship from Kraken Rum and an after party at The Broadfield pub with Tom himself DJ'ing as well as his other favourites it should be a great evening.

Find out more information on the event at The Old Sweet Shop's Facebook page here.

We will make sure COW Sheffield are going down to support this and maybe pick up some original drawings for ourselves! Make sure you don't miss out..

COW's Weekend Recommendations

It's here again.. If you're stuck for ideas for things to do this weekend or maybe just can't get the motivation to leave your house as the cold drawers in closer, here are a few suggestions from us all here at COW!

NOTTINGHAM

Piero Gilardi Exhibition - Nottingham Contemporary
Starts Saturday 26th January - 7th April
Maybe you are looking for something a little more laid back and would like to be one of the first to view the politically and environmentally important 60's artist Piero Gilardi's work at the Nottingham Contemporary. The show exhibits his early, interactive and realistic sculptures showing slices of nature made of carved and painted foam. He would encourage people to interact with his pieces and have them lie on, sit in, picnic on and even wear them but now the pieces are too fragile for that kind of interaction but can be pleasantly enjoyed around the space.

"Gilardi was always the most politically engaged artist of the Arte Povera scene. In the late 60s, at a time of great political turmoil in Italy, he left the art world altogether, becoming a “creative facilitator” of street theatre and demonstrations for a range of radical causes – workers’ revolution, the antipsychiatry movement, radical youth groups, and the rights of indigenous people around the world. This work took the form of making sculptural props and choreographing actions, practices he continues to this day. Often based on satirical cartoons, Gilardi’s agit prop objects, like his sculptures, are executed in his favourite medium: carved and painted foam."


BIRMINGHAM

Django Unchained @ The Electric Cinema
Selected Times until 31st January
If you haven't already been to see the most talked about film release of the year so far, we suggest you go straight away to watch Django Unchained. Directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz expect to see Trantino's own version of American history. The Electric Cinema is Birmingham's treasure being the oldest working Cinema in the UK and has been open since 1909. It has had a bit of a facelift since then and you will not be short of home comforts while enjoying your movie with luxury sofa seating, waiter service and a full bar to enjoy.

"Django Unchained does what all Tarantino films do best and pluck pieces from across cinema's long history and whirl it up into a violent, witty and hugely ejoyable piece of post modern entertainment. Tarantino delivers and Django Unchained is no exception.

MANCHESTER

The Soft Pack @ The Soup Kitchen
Friday 25th January - 7.30pm
An American four piece from San Diego perform post-punk revival and garage-rock style indie. If you like a bit of guitar based, lyrical dance around then we highly recommend you go and watch these.

SHEFFIELD

The Sheffield Vintage Fair
Saturday 26th January - Sheffield Town Hall - 12pm-5pm
Vintage, Vintage, Vintage... Just when you can't get enough the Sheffield Vintage Fair is on at the Town Hall with a grand selection of the finest UK's Vintage Mens and Womenswear to Home ware, accessories and jewellery. This is a Sale Special and we are hoping to go and pick up a few bargains with the last of our Christmas money!

LONDON

Jueregn Teller: Woo! Photography Exhibition @ ICA
Started Wednesday 23rd - 17th March
Anyone who follows or has an interest in Art, Music and Fashion will know the greatness of Juergen Teller and his raw photography style. He as shot some of the most influential icons of our generation and continues to capture a raw honesty of his subjects. He has shot for many publications and became mostly well known for his work with  i-D magazine and The Face in the 80's and 90's. His most famous images ranging from the wonderful Vivienne Westwood sat completely naked at 68 years old, the beautiful young Kate Moss with pink hair (before Bleach arrived) and the more recent stunning Celine and Marc Jacobs Campaigns.
The opening has been and gone with stars, friends and fans such as Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney there to show their respect for the photographer but it is open for a couple of months and I know a lot of our COW staff are making their way down to London for this one.

We hope you all find something to do and have a great time. If there is anything going on in your area that you would like us to know about keep us posted!

COW x