This weekend we will be working in collaboration with East London Fawcett Group on one of a series of gallery tours aimed at auditing London’s representation of female artists from emerging through to establised Art institutions. The second of many rounds, the focus of the tour on Saturday is on slightly more established East London venues.

VV have managed to secure some free passes to Gillian Wearing at the Whitechapel Gallery for this purpose. The tour will be kicking off there with a gallery visit and a talk from us two. Sadly this part of the tour is already fully booked, but the rest of the tour kicks off at 2pm at Lond White Cloud and continue to White Cube Hoxton (Gilbert and George) and then the wonderful INIVA. No booking is required and this part of the revolution will be televised, so come join us all talk art and be part of what is to become a London wide audit gathering real and viable statistics about the true picture concerning the representation women in fine art.

For a full agenda, timing and addresses please join the facebook event here.

Also don’t miss Storm in a Tea Cup, Not so Popular and Girls Get Busy‘s PUSSY RIOT FUNDRAISER Sunday 22nd April. Amazing line up including Viv Albertine and Art provided by our very own members FOR OUR FREEDOM YEARS. Click here for more details on the event.

So ignore the drought and venture out this weekend

Over and Out

VVxx

Many thanks for all who came down to see us at WOW 2012 mid-March. Another inspirational event for a festival only in its second year of life. We are fantastically pleased that the WOW word is spreading with a WOW Baltimore happening this year and more WOWs across the globe springing up next year. And about time too.

VV have been mighty quiet of late, but with good reason we assure you…after a good year of promoting emerging female fine artists to our maximum capacity, we’ve needed a little time to develop our own practice.

Bex has embarked on an epic drawing a day project:

“Journalism and its manipulative impact on the psyche of the general public have long been a line of questioning in my work. In light of recent developments in Media representation and the on-going Leveson enquiry; the way in which news is collected and reported will change irrevocably. My latest series of work aims to document journalism in its current status. I will therefore be collating a body of work based on Media imagery throughout the month of March. Each day I will collect a newspaper and draw an image from one of the leading headlines. These drawings will be utilised to produce collages and the basis for large scale paintings.”  Bex Massey 2012

So keep an eye on the Bex Massey page for your daily news updates.

As well as this Bex is undertaking a residency at Central Foundation Girls School in Mile End. Quite literally sharing her practice working from images in the media, Bex has been working closely with an early entry GCSE cohort, teaching portraiture, drawing and painting techniques. Follow the links to her website and page here.

In the meantime El has be focusing on her MA in Art in Education in collaboration with the IOE and has an MA exhibition coming up at the end of July…more details v. soon. She is also working alongside artist Lucy Cash until July running the school side if the Whitechapel Gallery AIR project and planning another exhibition including some BTEC students. Again watch this space, check the ellie green facebook page for more details or check the Whitechapel website here.

Do let us know if there are projects YOU are involved with that you would like us to publicise!

A bientot

VVxx

Women of the World Festival 2012

VV are delighted to announce we will be at WOW 2012 festival at the Southbank alongside Storm in a Tea Cup London and the East London Fawcett Group. Come and find us in the marketplace where we will be (wo)manning an information stall.  So come and meet us face to face, talk about our aims for VV 2012 and discuss ways you can get involved (for more information about WOW click on the image below)

The Great East London Art audit: 

What is the ratio of male to female artists on display in our London galleries and exhibitions? Join the East London Fawcett Group campaign to discover the truth behind the representation of female artists in 2012. VV will be volunteering to take part in the first count in East London taking place on 1st March 2012 (first Thursdays). The results will be printed in the weekend broadsheets.

Email: zoesalexander@yahoo.com for more information and to register as a volunteer.

OH and finally…we’ve had many emails telling us that our widget for the VV membership form is malfunctioning. We will endeavour to get this fixed over the weekend, but in the meantime you can download the form here: New VV_Membership_form

Dear All

Many thanks to everyone who ventured out in the cold to see our latest members showcase. The Private view was incredibly busy and over the week the show was visited by over 300 people including two tours by London Art Universities.

To view the photographs from the PV and close ups of work follow the link:  http://wearevv.com/show-your-face-2012/

Read some reviews:  Amelia’s Magazine Cellardoor Magazine

Listen to our thoughts about the exhibition and emerging female artists on the Organ Art show on Resonnance FM.

Tune it tonight at 9PM to Organ Art on Resonance 104.4 FM!

VV co-founders Bex Massey and Ellie Green will be discussing the rise of VV in 2011, future projects and the forthcoming 2012 members showcase featuring the work of 29 emerging female fine artists opening this Thursday 26th January at Cultivate, Vyner street. 

Looking forward to seeing you all at the opening.

Very Best

VVxx

Check out these links for more information:

Organ Art on Resonance: https://www.facebook.com/events/202144829880629/

VV Show Your Face event: https://www.facebook.com/events/196336327122498/?ref=ts

Our long awaited members showcase featuring the work of some of the most talented emerging fine artists, set to make waves in 2012.

Including the work of 29 female fine artists, our 2012 members showcase exhibition is centred on the theme-the self portrait.

Featured artists:

Jenny Leonard, Agata Cardoso, Aimee Wilsher, Alice Cunningham, Angela Buffoni, Becky Boston, Bethe Bronson, Becky Gee, Bex Massey, Kerry Clark, Catherine Edmunds, Kerry Simmons, Emma Harvey, Faye West, Ellie Green, Gemma Donovan, Heli Luoma, Jennifer Maidment, Jenny Core, Kirsty Greenwood, Lesley Asare, Maggie Rose, Naa Teki Lebar, Lesley McDermott, Rebecca Farmer, Alexandra Smart, Sharon Reeves, Valerie Driscoll and VV.

For more information about the artists check out the membership lounge: http://wearevv.wordpress.com/members-lounge-2/

We have curated a show that is not only breathtakingly beautiful; but which also examines the way in which female artists perceive themselves, and the darker undertones therein.

So please do come along, show your face and your support for VV members and their endeavours.

Private view between 6pm and 9pm on the 26th January 2012.

Or if you can’t make the opening night, then from Friday 27th Jan until Wednesday 1st Feb, 11.30am until 6pm.

Gallery opening times:

Friday- Sunday 11.30-6PM

Mon and Tues By appointment only.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/196336327122498/

Cultivate Vyner Street: http://www.cultivatevynerstreet.com/ShowVV.html

Map:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?ftid=0x48761cddac324e31:0xa3e5559f8da2b98&q=E2+9HE&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.538968,-0.069137&spn=0.000027,0.000043&t=m&z=15&vpsrc=0

Update needed! Thanks in advance to all the fantastically talented artists who have submitted their work to SHOW YOUR FACE. We’ve been inundated with submissions and the callout doesn’t close until midnight tonight! If you want to be part of what seems set to be a stand out show in the heart of Vyner street, send in your New VV_Membership_form and submissions to wearevv@gmail.com  sharpish!

VV

ART IS FOR LIFE

Come and visit the space as VV co-founders Ellie Green and Bex Massey will be exhibiting in the final show of the year at Cultivate which will run right in to 2012.

ART IS FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS…

Private View December 20- Late night opening Christmas party private view, 6pm-9pm

Show runs until Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 6:00pm

So come and celebrate a successful year of VV with us

Warmest ones, VVxx

Tune in  to Martina Mullaney‘s show at 6.30 pm, Wednesday 2nd November to hear our discussions on all things Arts, ladies and East London.

Topics include:

Recent feminist activity around the east end.

Future feminist activity and the East London Fawcett Group march on the 19th November 2011.

The emergence in the last couple of years of women’s collectives/groups (including VV) and why now?

How to form a central network-is this a new movement or just the next wave?

And what it is like to be a woman working in a male dominated industry.

Image: Bex Massey 2011

What: ‘SHOW YOUR FACE‘

Where: Cultivate, Vyner street, London, E2 9HE

Theme: Self Portrait.  Medium:  All

Last Thursdays:  PV Thursday 26th January 2012

Exhibition runs:  Friday 27th January-Wednesday 1st February 2012.

“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.”

Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954)

Dear VV members,

We aim to provide a platform for emerging female fine artists; as they are a highly underrepresented and often over-looked group.

Our 2012 members showcase exhibition will therefore be centred on the theme-the self portrait.  In so doing we aim to curate a show that not only highlights your artistic talents, but that also examines the way in which female artists perceive themselves.

We cordially invite you to SHOW YOUR FACE*.

Submission deadline: 12pm 11^th December 2011

Notification of success: 8^th January 2012

How to apply:  Applications should be sent to: wearevv@gmail.com

Subject heading: SHOW YOUR FACE

Attach a JPEG of the work(s) and a brief statement about the work(s) (max 150words)

Dimensions:

Up to 30cmx40cm:  £10**

Above 30cm x 40cm:  £15**

Maximum size for a piece:  85cm x 75cm***

Applicants may submit more than one piece.

Payment will only be requested from successful applicants.

Place in exhibition only guaranteed once monies have been exchanged.  Payment will be received via Paypal.

*This call for submissions is open only to VV members.  If you are not yet a member of VV you should download the FREE New VV_Membership_form  and return it via email (to wearevv@gmail.com with jpegs of your work before making your submission.

**Please note a fee applies to successful applicants only – VV is a not for profit organisation and all monies go to the rental, invigilation and private view costs.

***Negotiable only in exceptional circumstances

Think not of our silence as a lack of activity, VV have been mighty busy behind the scenes plotting our next moves and are now ready to announce some of the very exciting things happening this artistic autumnal season.

ELF (East London Fawcett Society) are having their first event discussing women in the arts in Bethnal Green this coming Wednesday and we are delighted to announce that Ellie Green (co-founder of VV) will be on the discussion panel. The link to their blog site and the facebook event is below and we would love to see you there:

http://eastlondonfawcett.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=264501626915122

IRAN_Bex Massey- Graphite on Paper - £100 - one off price - for Little Benefits, Cultivate, Vyner Street

Little Benefits – Cultivate, Vyner Street

On Thursday this week VV founders Bex and Ellie will also both be exhibiting at the ‘Little Benefits’ show at the inspiring Cultivate on Vyner street. Cultivate is a space very close to our hearts as it aims to be an inclusive space giving artists the opportunity to show their work without having to go through traditional commercial gallery routes. This particular show aims to pay the rent. All work on show will be on sale for less than £100, with the gallery taking ZERO commission. Epic.

See below for links to the Cultivate website and the facebook event invite:

http://www.cultivatevynerstreet.com/

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=300021716678737

SLEEPWALKER_Ellie Green- Silver Gelatin Print - £40 - Little Benefits, Cultivate, Vyner Street

And finally – Call for submissions and other news for November – January will be released  next week – SO watch this space! VV xx