Dr. Sketchy's relaunch @ Proud - Mon 27 Oct

London's only burlesque drawing event, Dr. Sketchy's, relaunches this month at Camden's famous photographic gallery and bar, Proud Galleries.

A unique take on the idea of live drawing, the principle of Dr. Sketchy's is to: "comb London to find the most beautiful burlesque dancers, the most bizarre circus freaks, and the most rippling hunks of man". You then get to draw them for three hours. Interspersed with this are crazy contests to win art supplies and other prizes.

Dr.Sketchy's was started in New York in 2005 by illustrator and performer Molly Crabapple, and has since spread to 57 cities around the world, including London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo, and Melbourne. There are UK branches in Brighton, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Dr. Sketchy's London was started in December 2006 by lingerie designer Ruka Johnson and has been running in various London venues ever since.

Hosted by cabaret performer Dusty Limits, the relaunch night features a Halloween themed burlesque performance from UK Burlesque artiste, Leyla Rose.

Dr. Sketchy's @ Proud, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH
Monday 27th October. 8pm - 11pm
Advance tickets: £8.50
On the door: £10 / £8.50 (with student ID)
Suggested dress code: All Hallow's Eve

For more information visit: www.drsketchylondon.co.uk

New exhibition from Twinkle Troughton - 7-19 Nov

Running from 7th-19th November at the Evil Gallery in Shoreditch, "Never Shall Be Slaves?" is a solo show of new paintings by cult artist Twinkle Troughton.

Following on from her last solo show - "Cor Blighty" - in late 2007, Troughton has continued with the theme of Britishness, but her work now shows a darker direction. The paintings in this new collection contain elements that in a way we are all slaves to, such as the media, fast living, drugs and material goods. Troughton wishes to make us think about our fixations with accumulation and consumption as well as the way we treat each other.

Born in Coventry and raised in Leamington Spa, Twinkle Troughton moved to London to study fine art and received her BA in 2001. Over the last few years she has developed both her technique and her trademark of bold and bright, slightly surreal paintings which, whilst paying homage to the pop artists of yesteryear, also conjure up nostalgia for a Britain which has seen change at an ever-increasing rate over the last decade.

With commissions from the likes of Damon Dash and Howard Marks under her belt, as well as being shortlisted for the Celeste Art prize in 2006, Twinkle Troughton is a name to watch out for. She is currently represented by the Stella Dore Gallery on Brick Lane and exhibits frequently in London as well as throughout the UK and Europe.

Never Shall Be Slaves? @ Pure Evil Gallery
7th November - 19th November 2008
Private View: 6th November
108 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH
Opening hours: 10am-6pm or by appointment

For more information visit www.stelladore.com
or email twinkle@twinkletroughton.co.uk

Pop Art @ The Gagosian Gallery

To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Pop Art movement, The Gagosian Gallery on Britannia Street in King's Cross is currently hosting an exhibition entitled "Pop Art Is..."

Though worth visiting just to see Roy Lichenstein's famous "Art" painting from 1962 (see picture below), there are many other important and interesting works from more than 40 artists in total. And there is no excuse to miss this, as admission is completely free.

But hurry, as the exhibition has already been open for a month and finishes on 10th November.

For full details visit:
http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/britannia-street-2007-09-pop-art-is/

Jamaican label art website launched

A great new website has just been launched dedicated to the Art of the Caribbean record label - jamaicanlabelart.com. It is the brain child of two respected reggae collectors who are regular contributors to the Blood and Fire reggae message board.

Check out the website here: http://jamaicanlabelart.com/

For more information contact: mike@jamaicanlabelart.com or Ian@jamaicanlabelart.com