Finally we have some solid data to back up our suspicions that women in London are hugely under-represented in the Arts. We tip our hats to the wonderful ELF girls for their hard work and dedication. Lets get to work VV girls. VVxx

Great East London Art Audit

All eyes are on London this weekend, as Frieze Art Fair 2012 showcases the best the art world has to offer to members of the public and art collectors alike. As part of our campaign, we have taken this opportunity to audit the galleries exhibiting at this year’s Frieze as part of their wider investigation into gender inequality in the art world, ahead of publishing our annual survey in April 2013.

The ELF audit team have analysed the list of artists represented by each of the international galleries exhibiting in the commercial section of this year’s Frieze and have collated the following results from the data gathered[i]:

27.5% of the artists represented at Frieze Art Fair 2012 are women

(excluding collaborations and taken from a cumulative total of the amount of women represented by each gallery)

1.5% of the galleries represent less than one third male artists, 67%…

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March – A solo show by Bex Massey

Yes Folks 

We’ve been busy but ….VV are officially BACK in ACTION. 

We’re kicking off the wonderful autumnal London fine art season with the launch of VV co-founder Bex Massey’s first solo show at A-side B-side Gallery. This artist-run space, home to amongst others VV member Tinsel Edwards, will play host to a 2 week exhibition.  

‘March’ A Solo Show by Bex Massey

‘This months top five must see’
Whitechapel Gallery and Time Out October First Thursdays: http://www.firstthursdays.co.uk/art-events

Private View: Thursday October 4th 6-9pm

A-side B-side Gallery
5-9 Amhurst Terrace
Hackney
E8 2BT

SHOW DATES:
Exhibition will run 5th – 14th October, last day Sunday 14^th October
Opening times: Thurs – Sun 12 – 6pm & by appointment
www.facebook.com/AsideBsideGallery
@Aside_Bside_

‘Rebekah’ 130 x 130cms

‘March’ is a solo show by Bex Massey.  Massey utilises graphite, oils and installation in an overtly figurative manner in order to spark discussion around journalism and its’ manipulative impact on the psyche of the general public.

Massey has exhibited internationally and this will be her first solo show in the UK.

Massey’s work is based on current affairs, social issues and the way in which they are documented by the media.  ‘At present we are bombarded with so much unfiltered information that crucial issues are overlooked.  Likewise we view such a plethora of depressing imagery and shock tactic headlines – we have become almost dehumanised to an individual’s tragedy.  With such a volume of statistics and crude data being continuously thrown at us – is it just easier to overlook the harsh reality of the facts? Too frequently we are told what to think, feel and do.’
(Massey 2011)

Journalism and its manipulative impact on the psyche of the general public have long been a line of questioning in her work.  In light of recent developments in media representation and the iminent verdict of the leveson enquiry; the way in which news is collected and reported will change irrevocably.  This series of work aims to document journalism in its current status.  As part of her residency at Central Foundation Girls School, she collated a body of work based on Media imagery throughout the month of March.  This ‘Drawing a Day’ project became the basis for large scale paintings, installation and collage.  Massey’s mismatching of imagery and text, coupled with scale and peculiar portrait crops, creates alternative headlines, enabling viewer to become editor.

http://www.bexmassey.com/

VV really hope to see you there! 

In other news, we are now open for another round of member applications, so send us an email with some JPEGS of your work, a brief resumé and website details and we will see what we can do for YOU! 

 

The membership application form is available to download from the widget at the right of the screen!

ELF gallery tour

Dear all

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

WOW festival 2012 / Bex Massey Residency

Dear all

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

ELF research and WOW 2012

Dear All

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

Reviews / Show Your Face 2012

 

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.

 

Resonance FM Organ Art

Dear all

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

SHOW YOUR FACE @ Cultivate Vyner street JAN 2012

VV are proud to present SHOW YOUR FACE

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: https://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

Cultivate, Vyner Street

Dear all

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

 

 

 

Resonance FM

VV are delighted to announce that we will be on Resonance FM in the morrow.

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