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LAST CHANCE TO SEE 'THE LAST MALE GEISHA STANDING'

AND THE LAST FINISSAGE OF THE SUMMER

SATURDAY 22nd July

6.30-10PM

The multi-platform exhibition of male Geiaha and multifaceted artist Russell C. Brennan comes to an end with a bang with Saturday’s finissage with an end-of-show event + plus a bonus daytime tours by Russell C Brennan. The evening includes exclusive live performances from both his Psykick Holiday albums + poetry & supporting sets. Plus Holly Penfield giving a perfomance . The exhibition features many stunning photos, paintings and the new art form of Sensory Artworks, videos, books and more. ( performances starts at 7 pm

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LAST CHANCE TO SEE 'THE LAST MALE GEISHA STANDING'

AND THE LAST FINISSAGE OF THE SUMMER

SATURDAY 22nd July

6.30-10PM

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EXCLUSIVE BOOK SIGNING: Q & A by RUSSELL C. BRENNAN

of THE FUTURE LEGEND RECORDS STORY

13th of July 2023

6.00-10.00pm

As well as putting on a month-long photo/art exhibition of multiplatform artist & Geisha, Russell C. Brennan. He is also doing a book launch and signing of The FUTURE LEGEND RECORDS STORY.

As well as doing all the arts he has run a very influential indie record label that is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Exclusive album artwork is also part of the exhibition but there is also a paperback release about this pioneering label, its trend-setting and its innovative productions, plus the ups and downs of being an indie label.

He will be doing a talk about the label and the book, plus give an insight into the music business and do a Q & A. about that and other parts of his Geisha career.

He & Maiko will also perform songs from their brand new Psykick Holiday album 'Sensory Art'

There will also be a special guest opera singer performing on the night as a support act.

The Legendary Tony Wilson of factory records called Future Legend Records the definitive indie record label (It has even seen off many major companies) and is one of the last indies standing from the golden age of UK indie labels.

The national newspaper The Independent newspaper called Russell an Indie Production God and he has been nominated for Uk Record Producer of the Year and recently featured on the front cover of Songwriter International Magazine. he also has best selling pop trivia quiz book and is the author of the notorious book 'Music Business Bastards (How to do well in the music business without getting ripped off).

You can also view all the new photos, artwork & videos by Russell, so make sure you arrive early the event starts opens at 6.30pm

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Bookery Gallerie pleased to present:

The Last Male Geisha Standing

A Retrospective of the Multifaceted Artist Russell C Brennan

Saturday 24th June – Saturday 22nd July 2023

Private view and launch night

Saturday 24th June

Door open from 6.30- 10pm

plus

13th of Thursday July from 6-9.30pm,

A talk and Q&A as well book launch Both nights feature an exclusive live performance of his band Psykick Holiday's new album.

Russell C Brennan is a majorly fascinating Male Geisha, mastering the concept of the conceptual in all forms often setting trends and new genres, from his rich tapestry of words in his poetry, songwriting and novels, he is an innovative record producer with ‘Future Legend Records, with 400 releases of which we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary this with ltd edition record iconic record sleeves on canvas. Visual arts play a main feature in his career, working with photography and collaborating with abstract painters such as artist Aurélie Freoua developing and pioneering the genre of Sensory art

One word used a lot when seeing photos taken by Russell is 'Wow'. He is also known for having lots of Style, Stamina & Innovation.

But one thing that fascinates people most, is his status, the only male Geisha in the World.

Although incorporates many Japanese things into his look the word Geisha means Total Artist or Multi -platform Artist ). Russell does all the arts and has made an impact in them all.

All though he has exhibitions featuring his photography he has always wanted one that features multiple arts that he does. With The Bookery Russell has finally meet people with vision, willing to embrace this unique in a one of a month long exhibition.

Uniquely to it is also the 30th anniversary of his Influential record label Future Legend and so this will be incorporated into the exhibition. Many unique artworks will preview in the exhibition.

Apart from many of Russell's iconic, new available of Limited -edition photographic Canvas, Russell also debut as pioneering paintings genre called 'Sensory Art', this is achieved with established Abstract painter Aurelie Freoua (Often called The John Coltrain or Miles Davis of Abstract art). This is where they push each other buttons emotionally and sensually to jointly create a painting at the same time. 10 pieces have been done and are making their debut at this exhibition.Russell has also done a one off 4D art piece called 'Essence of Maiko' which also preview.

As well as being an innovative record producer (400 releases) Songwriter (70 releases) He also designs or takes photos for Future Legend Records releases. In the past his record sleeve were often called a work of art and many have asked about getting them on Canvas. So, to tie in with the record label anniversary, 10 of the most requested covers have been made into limited edition canvases, for the first time. (Only 5 will be available of each).

Russell is also in the Pioneering, Pop Noir, with the band 'Psykick Holiday, releasing their long- awaited 2nd album 'Sensory Art' in June and this will be available for the first time at the Bookery Gallerie, on Ltd Edition CD. Russell and Maiko will exclusively perform a selection of songs from the album for the first time anywhere at the bookery on the Opening night. Holly Penfield will also sing a song written for her by Russell and Maiko, will sing one written for her specially. That was releases as a solo single recently.

Russell releases book as well in June 'The Future Legend Records Story' about the history of the label and will sign copies on two occasion first on the 24thJune again on the 13th July. The last, few copies of his influential poetry book, will also be available and he may perform from that as well. A the special book signing of the new book, Russell will read a few passages from his books and do a Q & A from any of his books. Plus do a brief talk about being a male Geisha with Q & A, where you can book with Russell to do a special one hour Geisha experience exclusively for 5 people who want to book this (fee applies) You get a Sake of Tea experience and select from a list of stories you would like to hear about Russell's many adventures and be able to ask questions. As well as doing all the arts and pouring sake/tea Geishas other task at tea houses in Japan is to reveal interesting stories to their clients. It's rare for this to happen outside of Japan and even rarer for a male Geisha to perform this event.

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Bookery Gallerie Invites you to

‘The Phenomenal Female, Who am I.’

Finissage: Closing celebration.

Saturday the 10th June 2023

from 6.30-10pm

Exhibition will be finishing on the

Sunday 11th of June 2023.

(which will coincide with the Church Street Fair on that day)

We have a wonderful and amazing lineup of guest performers for you this evening, whilst looking at the artworks and refreshment.

On at 9pm:

Headlining the evening will be Pianist and composer, Tamara Barschak, brings you an evening of exquisite and uplifting music when she performs original music from her album “Kaleidoscope”.

Influenced by composers as diverse as Joni Mitchell, John Barry, Egberto Gismonti, Curtis Mayfield, Steve Winwood and Tom Jobim, Tamara brings her unique blend of folk, Latin, Funk, Blues and classical influences to the wondrous Bookery Gallery.

Accompanied by the superb Chris Maddock on sax and flute and the brilliant John Williamson on bass, the Kaleidoscope Trio invites you on a musical trajectory that spans time zones and geographical distances to serve up a delicious smorgasbord of musical delights for your pleasure and relaxation.

The ethos and ideas behind Tamara’s unique album are to do with synasthesia and the unique relationship between sound and colour. As a child studying piano under the wonderful and much admired Fred Lewin, Tamara learnt about the extraordinary links between colours and their corresponding tones. Her beloved teacher would bring out a black velvet back with different coloured squares and ask her to find the corresponding note on the piano. Sometimes Tamara would hit the mark and sometimes she wouldn’t.

Various artists throughout history have subscribed firmly to the highly spiritual and kinetic relationship of sound and colour, Kandinsky and Miro to name but two.

Tamara composes her music with various elements in mind; colour, light and shade certainly being highly present in her creations. Each composition on Kaleidoscope has its own distinct musical personality, and its colour composition. The music represents all the glorious genres Tamara grew up with and imbibed as a child and adult; folk, bossanova, blues, funk, classical, Latin and film music .

We are delighted to be performing at the Bookery Gallery, an art gem which is fast becoming a highly popular, stunning annd unique abode for eclectic artists to shine and showcase their talents. ❤️❤️🩵🩵

Let the Funk Shine people!!!

And

On at 7pm:

THE VALES are a song-writing partnership and live duo featuring Kirsten Morrison and Nev Hawkins.

KIRSTEN MORRISON is a singer, composer and violinist who has worked as a musician in several fields: performing her own songs, as an opera singer, playing in various bands Including The Lene Lovich Band and writing for film and TV programmes, as well as operas, radio plays and theatre.

NEV HAWKINS is a Singer Songwriter, music producer and performer from Liverpool. Living in London. He's a writer of foot tapping catchy songs and musings on life. Nev has produced music for TV, Film and Theatre.

And

Reciting her poems and who will be live painting is:

Aurelie Freoua is a French artist and performer working in London. Aurelie collaborates intensely with the Vortex Jazz Club, creating art simultaneously with improvising musicians using a similar sonic and visual approach. She has improvised live painting in response to music during The London Jazz Festival in jazz clubs and festivals. She curates and performs in multidisciplinary performances ‘Résonances’, merging visual art, music, poetry and dance. Alongside her paintings, Aurelie is a poet as well and will perform some of her poems with violinist Kirsten Morrison. Aurelie will also collaborate with pianist Tamara Barschak and will paint while she plays.

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The Bookery Gallerie is excited to present 31 female artists for a month long exhibition:

‘The Phenomenal Female, Who am I.’

Private View on Friday the 12th May from 6.30-9.30pm

The exhibition runs from Saturday the 13th of May to Sunday the11th of June 2023

(which will coincide with the Church Street Fair on that day)

A Finissage closing celebration will take place on Saturday the 10th of June,

These 31 artists will discuss and express how an individual female sees

herself from a global point of view, socially, culturally and politically.

They will explore how being female has shaped and

nurtured history around the world, through the representations of art at this present time.

As a female artist, there has been a vast wave of change effecting the

emotional, psychological and the physical and how this effected them creatively.

They will attempt to identify in the ‘Now’, entering into a new phase and era of seeing

society’s pressures in various different communities.

This exhibition is a chance for their unique voices to explore how they have come through the recent past from lockdown too its aftermath.

‘The Phenomenal Female, Who Am I’ will be exploring the Yin and Yang in us all.

It is an opportunity for us to immerse ourselves in the feminine world through the powerful energy and expression within their works.

Opening nights performers are:

Merry McCloud

Lady Synth

Meg Lee Chin

La Charawilla

Holly Penfield

Rude Mechanicals

Poets:

Alison Elliot

Jessic Lawrence

Michelle Barharie

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The Bookery Gallerie Is sad to see the end of the Inky extravaganza.

All About The Ink!

Which will been holding the

Finissage on:

Saturday the 6th of May

From 6.30-10pm.

Come and see for the last evening the great penmanship of the Inky masters of cartoons.

There may be music and a chance to get you favourite artists to inscribe a poster of the exhibition.

So do come along and partake in the evening with light refreshments.

Thank you

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An exhibition of contemporary cartooning and comics art. The show will be a cavalcade of inky splendour, hanging original works by over 20 cartoonists, alongside digital displays of works in progress, coloured finishes and short films. We hope to communicate the breadth of creativity bubbling away in the medium, with an emphasis on the British small press and overground comics scenes, from auto-bio to art to abstract, funny to creepy to thrilling, A celebration of the joy of people moving ink and graphite and colour around on paper, during an age where the screen is conquering every aspect of our creative lives, and AI is reaching for us all with its wonky malformed fingers. From amateurs to veritable ink royalty, it's all on the walls, the beautiful, the beguiling, the wistful and weird. Especially the weird.

Artists so far involved, in no particular order, include Rachael Ball, Hunt Emerson, Lucy Sullivan, Bryan Talbot, Krent Able, Ed Pinsent, Sarah Gordon, John Paul Milne, Jason Atomic, Sean Azzopardi, Oscar Zarate, Fraser Geesin, Kate Charlesworth, Shaky Kane, David Hine, Douglas Noble, Julian Hanshaw, Jenny Robins and Mark Stafford, with more to be confirmed.

We will launch with drinks and such, on

Saturday 8th April

6.30pm-10pm

And conclude with a finissage party on the 6th May, with musicians and performers in attendance. There are plans to host a panel discussion on the state of cartooning and cartoonists during the show's run.

Please get in touch with any enquiries.

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The Bookery Gallerie is very excited and pleased to introduce to you a month of immersive investigation :

‘Into the Unknown’

Dematerialisation and construction in the life of a multi-media

Artist.

Show runs from 4th of March - 1st of April 2023.

This will be an interactive experience for the participants to get involved with the artists' working ideas, philosophies and methodologies, by actively taking part in a live opportunity to create and play with the idea of creating Book Art, learning to archive what is being created through scanning, documenting, manipulating form and restructuring creatively the vision of the book and the freedom to alter knowledge in a personalised way.

The backdrop of this play of information, will unfurl over the month ahead with archived material being played on multiple monitors showing video footage and photos captured over many years.

We invite you to the beginning, with a musical opening and light magic performances and refreshments.

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The Bookery Gallerie is very excited and proud to present our 2022 winter exhibition:

'These Momentous Times'

The exhibition will run from:

Friday 11th November until Thursday 12th January 2023 .

We at the Bookery Gallerie would like to invite you to a very special night by artist and speaker Iona Scott.

LIGHT, ARTIST TALK

Thursday 1st of December

Doors open at 6.30pm Talk starts at 7pm

Iona, will discuss with us how light and colour exist in the hypnotic and pulsating world of phytoplankton, of which Iona has explored through an exquisite medium, to take on the form by representation, through the mastery of 3D sculpture.

Iona Scott will talk about her work Discosphaera. Discosphaera Tubifera is
a type of phytoplankton - incredible tiny lifeforms, invisible to the human eye and yet responsible for producing approximately 50% of the oxygen on our planet.

Through her Plankton Light Sculptures, which are linked to a virtual representation of their magical world, Iona Scott invites you to learn more about the importance of phytoplankton through visual and sensory experiences, guiding you on a seamless and mesmerising journey from our world, through the threshold, into the submarine realm.

The Bookery Gallerie is very excited and proud to present our 2022 winter exhibition:

'These Momentous Times'

The exhibition will run from:

Friday 11th November until Thursday 12th January 2023 . Do scroll down for more details.

We are, this coming Monday, the 28th of November, delighted to be hosting a musical evening:

'WILLIAM BLAKE

ANGEL OF REVELATION'

Event starts at 7.15pm door from 6.30 pm

“I have conversed with the Spiritual Sun; I saw Him on Primrose Hill”

William Blake

William Blake Fellowship takes us behind the scenes of the famous quote of Blake’s Vision on top of Primrose Hill, engraved in stone edging there today.

With a blend of storytelling, recital, song and dance the performance brings to life William and Catherine as they labour, love, laugh and live their everyday artist lives in 18th century London.

Leading the cast is Tim Bruce award winning actor, narrator and baritone, with Francesco Bucci, Carol Robertson, and musicians Devdut Scialo and Shanti Dahmus.

Come see Russell C Brennan's artwork in 'THESE MOMENTOUS TIMES' exhibition showing now.

Talks and readings will go on through out starting with a Talk on the 23rd November from 6.30-8.30pm:

A WORLD EXCLUSIVE TALK AT THE BOOKERY GALLERY by the

Innovative multi-platform artist & the world's only male Geisha, Russell C. Brennan, who will be doing an exclusive book signing of his new Limited edition Poetry book 'When Your Soul Begins to Glide' at The Bookery Galley. As well as the signing he will be performing works from the book, talking about his journey into poetry & doing a Q & A about his mind-blowing career in all the arts where he has made a significant impact and an insight into what a male Geisha actually is.
His photography/artwork also features at the gallery along with over 40 other great artists & there will be a guest appearance from his favourite poet (Maiko) as well.
Russell C. Brennan is an award-winning poet. Many poems have found their way into the 70 songs released worldwide. Others featured in his two limited edition Poetry/Lyric-Photo/Art books 'Voyeurs Welcome Vol.1 & 2 that have sold out and changed hands for tens times their original price.
With many new poems looking to bursting to life from his pen lately, 2022 saw him embrace poetry more than ever before with a series of live poetry concerts throughout the year with these getting a great reception and affecting many emotions of those who witnessed his words. So it seemed high time for a limited edition poetry-only book
His themes vary from social commentary, humour, erotica, autobiographical, love, loss, sci-fi and fantasy to some that defy category.
As a songwriter, John Lennon's last-ever manager Bruce Replogle (who also did PR for Paul Weller & Ray Davies) called Russell one of the best songwriters of his generation, particularly in the lyric department. Russell appeared recently on the front cover of Songwriter International magazine and his lyrics were cited as a major reason (many of them started life as poems.
Although he is very much a cult figure who shuns the mainstream you'd be surprised just how much he has influenced many arts from the shadows, particularly in music where he has had over 400 releases as a record producer and started new music trends & genres. The national newspaper The Independent even called him an Indie Production God and he has been nominated for UK record producer of the year before. He is also the editor/writer of an influential cultural publication 'Dedicated Follower' & Saatchi art called him an artist of recognition and this has resulted in many photo exhibitions.

The Bookery Gallerie is very excited and proud to present our 2022 winter exhibition:

These Momentous Times

The exhibition will be on for a 2 month period from:

Friday 11th November until Thursday 12th January 2023.

There will be an Opening Event on:

Thursday 10th of November Doors open from 6.30pm. Music starts from 7.30pm and continues until 10pm.

For this we have a line-up of musical artists compered by Aaron Barschak.

Musicians:

Merry McCloud

Russell C Brennan

Holly Penfield

La Charawilla

Yellow Violin Man

A separate Private View will be held on:

Saturday 12th of November

Doors open from 6.30pm until 10pm

There will be better access to viewing the exhibition, as there will not be any performances this evening.

We have happily invited 42 artists to participate in this exciting exhibition. They will be sharing, in their individual ways, what the title invokes in response to our recent and current times.

It is a chance to interpret their views and thoughts on these times and to assess what they may signify and mean to them and how their various and different works can connect with viewers' own journeys and reflections.

We have been coming through Covid and the end of the Queen Elizabethan age towards a possible new dawn, a reset and new beginnings.

The following words can perhaps be used to describe aspects of the exhibition's title for artists and viewers to portray and explore:

Reflection, contemplation, new beginnings, coming together, creativity, frustration, anger, isolation, joy, power, energy and determination.

These and other thought provoking words may help us focus, emphasise, creatively engage, digest and adapt to our phenomenal and momentous times and move into a future of, very possibly, profound changes. Hopefully this exhibition will guide us moving forwards with versatility, intelligence, and acceptance to the ways we can adjust emotionally and physically to the challenges ahead.

We will be hosting talks, events and workshop which you may wish to attend over a two month. Please do check the website.

The Bookery Gallerie is pleased to invite you to our latest exhibition .

DISTORTIONS: PORTRAITS IN INK

By August Lamm

Tonight

Finissage 24th of September 6.30-10.00pm

Exhibition opens : From the 21st of September- 1st of October 2022.

Private view, Talk, Book launch and signing:

21st of September 2022.

From 6.30pm Talk at 7.30- 8.30pm, signing till 9.30pm.

August Lamm is an artist and writer from New England, holding a degree in art history. Her work explores the ancient art of Crosshatching, studying and gaining inspiration from the great engravers and master printmakers such as Dürer, Rembrandt and Goya

'CROSSHATCHGING in PEN & INK' is August Lamm’s first book, and the only book devoted solely to crosshatching. The book begins with a history of the technique, and culminates in an extensive practical guide. Subjects include anatomy, portraiture, still life, architecture, and more. Using a combination of fine art examples, illustrations, and step-by-step tutorials, August guides the reader through the entire drawing process from preliminary sketch to finished piece.

The launch event for Crosshatching in Pen & Ink will include an author talk and a book signing. Copies will be available for purchase at the event. Attendees are also welcome to bring in their own copies to be signed.

DISTORTIONS: PORTRAITS IN INK

This collection of ink drawings frames visual distortion as a catalyst for introspection. What happens when a face becomes unrecognisable? Is this a loss or a liberation? Through glass, water, screens, and other prisms, each subject is pushed to the very limits of recognition. The result is at once familiar and unnerving, logical and impossible: an artistic record of the eye seeing itself.

1st Anniversary event

Sorry for the last minute notice.

This is to everyone who knows and has been a part of Bookery Gallerie.

We would like to say a big thank you for passing over our threshold, by celebrating

our First Anniversary of this lively community platform for artists, musician, writers, and thinkers alike. There is a wonderful evening planned, filled with the magic and music and the spoken word with refreshments.

We hope you can join us.

Friday 12st August 6.30-10.00pm.

Rosey | Bookery Gallerie

We at the Bookery Gallerie would like to say thank you and are happy to announce to all the volunteers who helped build up the infrastructure and support to a level of a real collective bond. Thank you to our artists, curators, poets, writers and the live performers such as the singers, musicians and mime artists and many more and also to our amazing compare/MC, They have all come together like magical beings in many ways and forms, to give birth to the Bookery Gallerie. Their support has given an energetic explosion and pulse for us to help keep the momentum going for our first year since we opened on the 21st and 22nd of July 2021.

Thank you again.

Thank you too for believing in our experimental ways and the quirky and, eccentric presence

in presenting all our 118 artist who have graciously lined the Bookery walls with more to come this year. We wish to warmly welcome the public to join with us in our admiration for them at The Bookery. They have shared and constructed our shelves as a transporter and portal making new ideas possible along with immense mental stimulation.

The gallery honours the life and breadth of all the artists and the ways they have invited us freely to drive and explore with expansive minds, through a multiple of different mediums, from photography to sculpture. and painting and videography. Thank you all.

The Graphic Novels of Mary Talbot Exhibition runs now from the 11th of June finishes on Friday 15th of July 2022.

The Bookery, wishes to invite you to come along to our end of show will be on the:

Finissage

Friday the 15th of July 2022

6.30-9.30pm

This fabulous, informative and iconic exhibition, which ends on the 15th of July, with music, conversation and the last chance to Purchase the inky pages of Bryan Talbot, Alwyn Talbot and Kate Charlesworth. Refreshments provided.

The Bookery Gallerie is tremendously excited to present to your original artwork from the graphic novels of Mary Talbot, featuring the works of cartoonists Bryan Talbot, Kate Charlesworth and Alwyn Talbot. We are transforming the Bookery Gallerie walls into a landscape of collaborative joy in keeping with Mary Talbot's illustrated novels. so come along and for an evening of music and refreshments.

This evening will be dedicated to the ongoing collaboration of two creative minds, combining the expansive reach of Dr Mary Talbot's writings and the brilliance of Bryan's graphic storytelling. Together they have co-created thought- provoking graphic works that combine novels, memoir and historical biography such as Dotter of her Father's Eye's, Sally Heathcote, Suffragette, The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia and Rain.

This evening will be hosted by Mark Stafford and Aaron Barschak , which will be on Zoom. For full details see in the events listings.

A fascinated looking at the author and illustrators practices around storytelling with Mary Bryan Talbot, Kate Charlesworth and Alwyn Talbot.

The Bookery Gallerie is delighted to present an exhibition about the works of Dr Mary Talbot, an academic who has turned into a graphic novelist, writing in collaboration with artists Bryan Talbot, Kate Charlesworth and Alwyn Talbot, some of whose work is on display. Her novels have ventured into memoir and biography, firstly contrasting her own younger life with that of the daughter of James Joyce, Lucia, in the Costa award winning work Dotter of her Father’s Eyes with art by husband Bryan. Then on to the life of Sally Heathcote, Suffragette’ which explored the travails of Sally, a composite character caught up in the birth throes of feminist activism in the Edwardian era, with amazing detail and powerful energies racing throughout, this time brought to life by Kate Charlesworth's expressive ink. With The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia, Mary drives home the strength of one woman, Louise Michel. Set in 1871, the year of the Paris Commune, it was a time of revolution and ruin richly evoked by Bryan's two-colour art. Then Mary and Bryan co-created their latest, but not last novel Rain, with its environmental and climate issues under discussion weaving in and out of the expressive and changing landscape vistas Bryan created to accompany Mary’s words. Aside from the novels, Mary has collaborated on shorter pieces. She stepped into the world of SF with Kate Charlesworth with their contribution to IDP2043 and created a short strip with son Alwyn Talbot for Cross: A Political Satire Anthology. She has also worked again with Bryan on ‘Make Germany Pay!’ in Traces of the Great War and with both Kate and Bryan for Here I Stand, an Amnesty International anthology.

Enjoy the show.

'SHAMANS TURNED MASQUERADERS'

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHIARA CONTRINO

EXHIBITION ON FROM 21ST APRIL - now on till the 8TH May 2022

Finissage evening for Chiara Contrino 8th of May 2022, 6.30-9.30PM

We at the Bookery, would to invite you to come along to the last evening of Chiara Contrino's fascinating exhibition, with reception and to talk to the artist too. Her book is now on sale, which shows photographs from the exhibition.

It will also be the last chance to see the amazing video footage of carnivals and festival by the renowned anthropologies Giovanni Kezich too, which runs long side Contrino's Photograph's.

Chiara is fascinated by the events and practices around folklore which she has found flourishing in many parts of Europe over the last decades, the strength of these tradition which has seen out the hostility of the ottoman empire, the church and communist regimes.

LAUNCH EVENT: ALTER US PUBLICATION / NOT THE END OF US Date: Thursday 5th of May 18 – 22hrs Publication Description: Alter Us is an emergent London-based multidisciplinary collective that attempts to question and offer solutions regarding our contemporary context. The collective’s concerns relate to the challenges we encounter in a world impacted by humanity including sustainability; dis/connection; individualism, capitalism and inequality; and the relationship between nature and new technologies. The collective aimed to find solutions to face the Anthropocene. To counteract contemporary arts practice, where the individual ego of the artist prevails; the name “Alter Us” was selected to highlight the ego of the collective over the individual ego. The collective was founded on November 2018 as a non-hierarchical organisation without rules. It has worked almost as a social experiment, to understand social dynamic’s flow. There was no entry requirement to belong in Alter Us, rather than wanting to participate. Monthly meetings have been held since. After the pandemic hit on 2020, meetings changed to an online format. The collective has organised talks, panels, exhibitions, performances, online events among others. This publication is the last Alter Us project which compilates all the activities organised together. Rather than an ‘end’ this publication comes across as a ‘long goodbye’ which seeks to open new collaboration opportunities. Read more about Alter Us: https://www.terechad.com/alter-us Tickets: As the publication is being funded by the artists of the collective, the group would like to sell drinks and the publication during the event to recover the money invested. Of course, that the earnings would be shared with the venue. (The venue will get the 15% of the sales / Eventbrite fee needs to be considered) EARLY BIRD: - £7 Publication + complimentary drink - £4 complimentary drink SALES ON THE EVENT: - £10 Publication - £5 Drinks (tokens for complimentary drink) *People can attend to the event without pre-booking tickets Itinerary: 18 – 22hrs - 18:00 – 18:30: Reception - 18:30 – 18:45: Opening speech (Alter Us member) - 19:45 – 19:00: Break - 19:00 – 19:30: Teresa Paiva performance (performance format tbc early April) - 19:30 – 20:00: Break - 20:00 – 20:15: Closing speech (external review/ tbc) - 20:15 – 22:00: Drinks & socialising

'SHAMANS TURNED MASQUERADERS'

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHIARA CONTRINO

EXHIBITION ON FROM 21ST APRIL - 5TH MAY

Finissage evening for Chiara Contrino 8th of May 2022, 6.30-9.30PM

The Bookery Gallerie presents the Magic and rituals of Bulgarian and Romanian folkloric festivals through the art of photographs by Italian born, London based artist Chiara Contrino, in her solo exhibition.

Chiara has had the great privilege of being allowed to be present, witness and to have documented the intriguing and fascinating photographs exploring the costumes which feature in her work, from frightening masks to heavy bronze cowbells worn by the performer, which create deafening noise in the villages to chase out evil spirits with performances of auspicious fertility rituals in exchange. These practices can be traced back to the agrarian cults in the ancient Rome and even further to primordial shamanic religion.

The photos presented in this exhibition are part of Chiara's work in progress on the winter traditions of carnivals, which she hopes to resume when the pandemic will allow travelling more freely.

This exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue of the photos with introduction by Giovanni Kezich one of the world's leading experts on this subject, whose fascinating research , 'Carnival King of Europe' has been a great inspiration for Chiara's work.Giovanni will be giving a lecture at the exhibition opening night.

Chiara studied painting and photography in Perugia, Italy, graduating in Fine Arts before moving to the U.K. in 1995.

Believing that photography can be a very effective way of capturing the incredible variety of the world as well of expressing her own thoughts and emotions, in her work she seeks to reach a balance between documenting and interpreting reality. In so many occasions photography has been for her a kind of passport, a great tool for exploring reality and for entering in contact with others.

In the year 2000 Chiara started photographing Gipsy horse fairs in Great Britain and Ireland, where English Romani and Irish Travellers, against all the odds, are keeping alive their traditional culture of horse breeding and horse dealing.

Since 2005 Chiara has been working with the community of Tamils here in London, just on her doorstep. Chiara documented rituals, traditions and life stories of the Sri Lankan refugees. This work resulted in several exhibitions and a photo-book, “Voices of the Diaspora”.

Chiara also has been an in-house photographer at the Camden People Theatre and at the art space and ' The Shunt Lounge', London.

In recent years she has been exploring winter festivals and masquerades in Eastern Europe, interested in folklore, popular customs and religious rituals, has prompted her to travel to several European countries, perhaps in search of something she feel is missing in the modern world.

Chiara's latest project, presented in this exhibition at the Bookery Gallerie, is the returned to her favourite media, black and white film, which also allows her to do her own printing in the darkroom.

I also would like to thank support of Firak di Bello, visual and performing artist, for his brilliant ideas, time and advice.

Bookery Gallerie is tonight holding a Finissage for the final evenings event for Paul's solo exhibition.

‘A Spaceship for the Imagination’.

Paul Friedlander is an extraordinary explorer of light and form stretching the boundaries of mathematical equations and bending them into colour and light, by pushing waves into a mastery of other worldly shapes and etherial figures.

You will be transported into a realm of calculations transformed into visual landscapes and undulating forms of Friedlander’s acrylic light artworks.

Along with the static pieces, there is a dancing kinetic coloured light waves sculpture, at the back of the gallery, so preparer to be amazed.

There are also multi-media screens, sequencing through Friedlander’s collection of around 20,000 photographs and videos documenting earlier work. Where the physics mind collaborating with the artistic, brings together the hypnotic through to the exquisite. We do hope you enjoy the journey.

Paul Friedlander was raised in Cambridge on a diet of relativity, cosmology and contemporary art.

One time aspiring cosmologist and interstellar propulsion expert, inspired by kinetic art and psychedelics, he metamorphosed into stage lighting designer, scientific artist and light sculptor.

His work has been shown on four continents and more than twenty countries.

Contact Us: bookerygallerie.com

Bookery Gallerie

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Contact Us: bookerygallerie.com

Bookery Gallerie

Hours

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