Pre-Christmas Preview at Matt Ford's Studio.

The Three Graces. (Above) On Sale for £40.

Hi All,

You probably haven't heard from Firecracker Fashion for quite a while and this might be our very last post.

Matt has been busy designing a brand new shiny website/online store, the accompanying blog and refurbishing the working photo-studio into a lovely new show room for his (and a few other artists) original work.

We will be having a fabulous launch party for that, as well as an exhibition and new collection  to go with it, early 2013.  For now though we have decided to open up to the public for a very, very sneaky preview of the studio. 

If you would like to see the space and maybe pick up a last minute Christmas bargain,  come along this Thurs, Fri and Sat, 1pm-8pm. Unit 2A, 36 Seel Street Liverpool. First floor in the same building as Cafe 36. (Look out for the signage below.)

We have put a 20% off on all artwork (up to 60% off on certain items).

Some original fine art prints from  £35 to £200. However, if you're not looking to buy gifts, the studio is still open to come and have a peruse around the artwork. We have over 30 original  pieces from 3 of Matt Ford's solo exhibitions, illustrations by Laura-Kate Draws and screen prints by the Blue Coats Jen Fenner.

P.S. Prosecco and mince pies will be on hand!

Any questions please go to www.facebook.com/Theartshowpresents

UNIVERSAL - Death Love Sex & Self. (Preview).

An Art Exhibition by Matt Ford.

28th Sep- 2nd Oct 2012
11am- 6pm.
The Photographers Studio.
No1 Victoria Street. Liverpool.

It will be the follow up event for the Liverpool stop of the Sacred Buddhist Relics World Tour (22nd Sep) at The World Museum.

This is a showcase of some of Matt's boldest work to date, includes vibrant screen prints on a new grand scale.

Limited edition and original artwork will be available to purchase on the Private view, 28th Sep. Email Matthewrichardford@hotmail.com to request free tickets to this event.  

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UNIVERSAL-Death Love Sex & Self.

Michael Smith Buddhist Event Coordinator cites,

“Ford has chosen to strip down and develop the idea of how the underlying message of the Buddhist philosophy still has as much purpose and meaning in today’s society as it did when it began. His new work for this exhibition puts aside usual religious iconography; his take on the brief we have given him, reflects his personal idea of the universal message of this philosophy.”

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Highlights from his first solo photography exhibition in 2010, “Fashion Outside the Capital," are now on permanent display in The Museum of Liverpool.

Ford’s first art exhibition, THE ART SHOW (A/W11), showcased his debut collection of silkscreen prints, titled The Love Collection. Performances included live music from rock band Cocabelle and fabulous Burlesque routines by the divine Millie Dollar.

The second, THE ART SHOW (S/S12), was dubbed the unofficial launch to Liverpool’s First Art Month. The show curated by Matt and Lucy Bryne from dot-art.com, showcased the work of three Liverpool artists, including two new collections of work by Matt, innovative depictions  of Liverpool’s Iconic Architecture and The Bruise Collection that delved into the psychology of domestic violence.

Matt’s work from The Art Show (S/S12) attracted high octane celebrity buyers and was internationally televised on Sky Atlantic's, City Secrets, featuring his interview with Hollywood star Alan Cummings. Live performers at the show included nationally renowned vocal ensemble, Sense of Sound  and DJ sets from Cant Mix Wont Mix.

Ford’s credentials as an image-maker include over THIRTY magazine covers.

His work for Liverpool fashion brands such as Phillip Armstrong, Kirsty Doyle and Benna Jewellery has been seen in the likes of Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Grazia. 

Ford has also generated a catalogue of cultural work including key advertising images for Liverpool Pride, The Design Festival, Leap Festival, Sound City, The Shiny New Fringe Festival and the past and forthcoming Vogue Ball.

Some of the work from this forthcoming exhibition, UNIVERSAL, will only be seen in Liverpool once before being shipped to a ground breaking new gallery in Beijing. 

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For more updates please Like The Art Show Presents Facebook page. 

Please check out some of Matt's previous exhibitions if you want to know what to expect.

The Art Show SS12- New Liverpool. (For the Inaugural launch of Liverpool's first Art Month.)

The Art Show AW11- The Love Collection. (For the Liverpool Design Festival.)

Fashion Outside The Capital. (For the Liverpool Design Festival.)

The Vogue Ball- Twisted Fairytales. At Camp & Furnace.

Image Matt Ford.

Twisted Fairytales: Let Your Darkside Out to Play.

LIVERPOOL’S AUDACIOUS VOGUE BALL RETURNS FOR A

THIRD SPELLBINDING YEAR!

____________________________________________________________

Following the massive success of ‘The Death By Glitter’ Vogue Ball in 2011, renowned dance company House of Suarez returns to announce that their award-winning Vogue Ball is back. It will sashay into its new home at Camp and Furnace, Liverpool on Saturday 6 October 2012 and tickets are on sale now! 

Once upon a time in 2010, a renowned Liverpool choreographer and lifelong Vogue fan named Darren Suarez dreamed up what has now become the stuff of fairytales. The Vogue Ball is a dance event like no other in the UK – where club culture meets high art and Vogue teams (known as ‘houses’) come together from far and wide to compete for dance supremacy, wearing creative costumes that are often as lavish as Cinderella’s ballgown!

This year’s event will take on a Twisted Fairytales theme as it returns for a third spellbinding year, bringing its debauched magic to Camp and Furnace, turning the city’s most happening new venue into a catwalk spectacular reminiscent of 1970s/80s New York (the home of the Vogue dance style) at its most glamorous. Since its inception House of Suarez has irrevocably shown that it is a force to be reckoned with in the events world, with the Vogue Ball winning ‘Best Annual Event’ at the Seen Awards in 2011.

The Twisted Fairytales Vogue Ball asks its princes, princesses and evil queens to display a similar fierce attitude through the artisan performance battles. Dancers will strut, pose and sashay their way through tales of old, bringing them slap bang into the 21^st century.

This will be the most outrageous and extravagant vogue ball to date, and audiences are in for a spellbinding display of all our favourite fairytale characters releasing their inner diva, hosted by the annual father of Liverpool’ Vogue Ball Rikki Beadle-Blair, who promises to leave audiences wanting more!  

The evening will reveal the premiere of an amazing new work from House of Suarez artistic director, Darren Suarez. "From Disney to Diva" brings theatre and vogue styles together again, this piece will see some original company members take to the runway as well as some new ones. The award-winning vogue ball will certainly be one of the most opulent and diva- esque evenings of 2012.

Darren Suarez, Artistic Director of House of Suarez said: ‘I can’t wait to bring Liverpool its biggest Vogue Ball yet in such a creative new venue. The talent showcased in the past 2 years has been incredible and I think this year’s theme will bring even more spectacular results from competing houses, inspiring them to bring their most magical moves. I am really looking forward to showcasing the new work from House of Suarez, From Disney To Diva. It will be an incredibly glamorous evening for everyone involved, where performers and the audience can escape to a fantastical fairytale world.’

For the 3rd year running the House of Suarez and renowned Liverpool image maker Matt Ford have collaborated to create the Vogue ball's sleek signature look. Ford's work has been used to promote many other high profile Liverpool cultural events including The Liverpool Design Festival, Pride, Homotopia, Sound City, LEAP, Chibuku and most recently Liverpool's Shiny New fringe theatre festival. His exhibition for this year’s Liverpool Art Month will be featured on the forthcoming Sky Atlantic programme City Secrets.

Don’t expect a fairytale ending at this year’s Vogue Ball, more a one night only trip to a castle of decadent and twisted happenings where the Cinderellas, Snow Whites, Belles and Beasts of Liverpool will be able to exhibit their seedy and seductive night moves on the UK’s most messed-up catwalk show.

And they all lived happily ever after...

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

TWISTED FAIRYTALES – Vogue Ball 2012

Venue: Camp and Furnace, 67 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BY

Date: Saturday 6^th October 2012,

Time: Doors 7pm, Show 8pm

Tickets £15*(Book before 1 Sept all tickets £12.50*)

How to Book:

Box Office: 0844 8000 410* Online at www.ticketquarter.com*

or in person at the TicketQuarter, Queens Square, Liverpool*

(*Subject to booking fee).

Tickets on sale: Monday 9 July at 9am.

(THIS IS STRICTLY AN OVER 18s EVENT ONLY) 

The Shiny New Festival- Liverpool's Fringe.

The Shiny New Festival is a new fringe organisation for the City of Liverpool. Bringing the best up and coming acts for one week in local venues, the festival is a showcase of the future talent in performance art whether it be drama, comedy or magic.

Festival branding by Matt Ford. 

Artwork taken from his silk screen print on wood piece titled 'Divided Self'.

Shiny New Festival Line-up:

Monday 16th 


The Comedy Trust presents Stand Out Under 18’s Comedy Club 7pm (2 hour show) £3
Caimh McDonnell The Art Of Conversation (stand up) 9.30pm £8/£6 Edinburgh Preview


Tuesday 17th 

Saving Grace (Play) 6 30pm £8/£6 Totally Ninja (Comedy Magic) 8pm £7/£5 Edinburgh Preview
The Clap (Sketch Comedy) 9.30pm £7/£5 Edinburgh Preview



Wednesday 18th

Weave (Play) 6pm £8/£6
Saving Grace 7.30pm £8/£6
Jollyboat 9pm £7/£5 Edinburgh Preview



Thursday 19th

Weave 6pm £8/£6
Totally Ninja 7.30pm £7/£5 Edinburgh Preview
Jollyboat Musical Comedy 9pm £7/£5 Edinburgh Preview


Friday 20th

Weave 6pm £8/£6
Saving Grace 7.15 pm £8/£6
Jollyboat 8.30pm £7/£5 Edinburgh Preview



Book Tickets at The Lantern Theatre. 

Reiss clothing shoot for Man about town Magazine.

Reiss Liverpool One. 

Photography Matt Ford.

Styling Ellie Gregory. 

The Art Show SS12. New Liverpool. Post show round up.

(Art Show SS12 VIP invites)

Matt Ford, Blacksoup, Daniel John and John Whitelaw (the four Artists).

Alan Cumming's, Matt Ford & Millie Dollar.

What a night!

The cities art lovers flocked to Camp & Furnace on May 3rd for The Art Show SS12. With four Liverpool artists exhibiting, an amazing performance by Sense of Sound, a legendary set by DJ's Cant Mix Wont Mix, plus the welcomed interruption by the 10 strong Sky Atlantic film crew (filming the new show, City Secrets, presented by Alan Cumming's) the event was hailed a triumph.

An hour before the venue was officially open one piece, Bruise in Red, had already been sold to a Norwegian Musician. This swiftly followed by the sale of my (Matt Ford) Inkblot test cards (See Below). The full set of nine went to Philip Armstrong and Tony Burke, the Liverpool fashion designers famed for designing dresses for Gaga, Katy Perry to name but a few.

Other highlights in the exhibition included Illustrator Blacksoup's graphic novel style visions of Liverpool being taken over by robots and more specifically in this shot Godzilla. Check out the other two artists work on their links at the top. 

A great start to Liverpool Art Month, Check www.liverpoolartprize.com for more events in the programe.  

A massive thank you to all the Magazines/Blogs for The Art Show SS12 press.  

(Bruise, commissioned by Seen Magazine in their new re-launch colours.)

Seen Magazine- Feature and cover in issue 8 and a feature in issue 9.

Full page feature in His & Her's Magazine. 

The Liverpool Echo. 

The Metro Newspaper. 

Daily post. 

Teafortwotalk

Inout Magazine.

www.creativetimes.co.uk

Purple revolver.

Open Culture. 

Liverpool Print Makers Blog. 

Liverpool Live. 

Liverpool Vision. 

Seven Streets. 

Kin. Connecting Liverpool Creatives. 

Art Council/jobs.

Domesticvilolence.co.uk (In reference to Ford's inkblot tests).

The History of Art and Museums. LJMU.

The List. 

(Some of the 42 works on display)

My back catalogue of artwork will soon be available on dot-art.com

Matt.

Death By Glitter. Behind the scenes of the shoot.

A kids paddling pool, 100kg's of play sand, 11 tubs of glitter, some baby oil and a naked guy on your studio floor. The Tuesday afternoon we shot the Vogue Ball 2011 poster was like a Blue Peter episode gone a bit wrong. Or right, some might say.

The plan was to make a guy look like he had been found dead in some freak and glamourous accident involving far to much glitter. Darren Suarez (Vogue Ball creator in the pic below), you've out CAMPED your self again!

Step One - Oil the model.

Step Two - Lighting check.

Step Three - Make sure your model is comfortable, this may take some time.

Step Four - Sand. Lots of...

Step Five - (The icing on the cake). GLITTER!

Step Six - Pack down the package. Careful now.

Step Seven- Get the shot.

The rest is history (and a few other photoshop brushes).

Words & Pics Matt Ford.
Art Direction Darren Suarez.

The Next Vogue Ball poster shoot is coming very soon... :)

Artist. John Whitelaw.

Drawing inspiration from Liverpool’s heart demonstrates the passion that floods from his work; ‘What has happened, what we, as a city, have been through. What Liverpudlians are all about, our culture’ Whitelaw tells a story. This inspiration which fuses history with a renovating art scene shows Whitelaws answer to the obligation of Liverpool’s art month; ‘It’s necessary to keep things fresh and challenge the old ways’. His work is a passionate mixture that takes inspiration from street art, to the buildings its displayed upon.

The use of language provides a unique texture and shape and with exciting new prospects of collaborations with poets and song writers there is the construction of a whole new dimension. Whitelaws work incorporates not just art, but the personality of a city firing up attention; Liverpudlians are romantic, visionary, creative and extremely funny and I think this is what’s getting noticed.

Words Samantha Elms. 

Whitelaw will be showing his collection along with 3 other artists at 

(Matt Ford & dot-art present)

The Art Show SS12.

Thurs 3th May. 7pm At Camp and Furnace.

For more info visit the Art Show facebook page. 

Artist: Blacksoup.

The work of Blacksoup stumbles in to accidental humour, robots clinging to the liver bird, and a clash of detail with simplicity. And could only ever be found in his mum’s garage.

(Blacksoup at work)

The question of robots seems only simple when the images are flashed before your eyes and a sarcastically delicious reason for it as ‘my ex-wife used to say I was a robot, so maybe that planted a seed.’ All of a sudden the creations show industry, dockers, labour, a Liverpool regaining its identity; ‘To me that helps give the city a character, so it's not just a place full of buildings but it has its own distinct personality.’

Blacksoups work has you peering at the sky, leaning round corners, wondering whether we could really find robots lingering on Bold street, behind the cathedral, immersed in the river. Taking the unlikely to the sky line of the Mersey painted and portrayed a thousand times.

 His creations, go beyond an image, they capture the ‘energy’ of Liverpool, allowing us to decipher what it’s all about, believing that we ‘are clever enough to make up our own minds’, allowing for all to capture a bit of that ‘tongue-in-cheek’ nature that throttles upon contact.

Words Samantha Elms. 

Blacksoup will be showing his collection along with 3 other artists at 

(Matt Ford & dot-art present)

The Art Show SS12.

Thurs 3th May. 7pm At Camp and Furnace.

For more info visit the Art Show facebook page.