John Jones Welcomes The House of Fairytales

John Jones are excited to welcome the House of Fairytales print portfolio to their Projection space. The collection showcases 23 international artists who have produced a series of images inspired by folklore, fairytales and mythology. John Jones has collaborated with The House of Fairy Tales to create a series of beautiful frames that respond to each individual print within the series.

This unique collection was launched at The Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy in April 2008. Over two thirds of the edition is now housed in permanent collections all over the world including The Tate Collection, The National Museum of Wales, The New Art Gallery Walsall, The Government Art Collection and The British Airways Collection.

Established by the artists Deborah Curtis and Gavin Turk, The House Of Fairy Tales is a child-centred artist led project which draws on an extensive team of artists, performers, writers, educationalists, designers, musicians, film makers, dreamers and philosophers to create magical, parallel worlds where learning is play and play is directed learning.

Modern Moral Matters - Exhibition by Richard Hamilton

The Serpentine Gallery in London are currently displaying Modern Moral Matters; a series of artworks by British artist, Richard Hamilton.

The exhibition will feature installations, prints and paintings all based around the subjects of international politics, riots, terrorist acts and war. By displaying the political works of Hamilton in a fresh light, the exhibition seeks to examine the impact that changing media has had upon the way conflicts are reported.

Modern Moral Matters, also explores how Hamilton uses and reuses found materials, particularly photographs. A key example of this, Swingeing London, is housed in the John Jones Contemporary Art Collection.

The piece is part of a series of 10 different incarnations of the same press image, that of Mick Jagger and Hamilton’s then art dealer Robert Fraser’s arrest for drug possession. Reproduced as an oil painting, screenprint, etching, pencil, pastel and watercolour these will be in display beside the other works until 25th April 2010.

For more information on the John Jones Art Collection click here.

The Shoebox Art Auction

Last night The Kids Charity held an auction at the Haunch of Venison in Mayfair, selling over 40 works designed by some of the world’s leading contemporary artists. Damian Hirst, David Bailey, Marc Quinn and many others were asked to recreate their childhood bedrooms in a shoe box, mirroring a previous exhibition in which 125 children created their own shoebox rooms. The results ranged from true to life recreations (Daisy de Villeneuve) to “the room I wanted” (David Bailey) as well as more abstract interpretations (Zaha Hadid). A full list of works can be found on the Shoebox Auction website.

John Jones were delighted to be involved with the event, designing a unique way to display and protect the works of art, some of which sold for over £20,000. Our framing consultants created an elegant Perspex box which has a low reflective surface, protective glazing and sits on a smooth white tulip wood base. All proceeds from the Shoebox Art auction will go to supporting at risk children. For more information on our framing click here.

John Jones Artist in Residence Mariana Heilmann

Entry 3

Week 2 at JJ was mostly about working on my commission, Wave of Peace II...
At first I felt that it would be like crossing a never ending desert when I saw that huge area to cover.....no matter how many hours I put in, it seemed like I was not progressing AT ALL. As the week went on, I started to see that indeed I was covering ground, and the beauty of the way the light plays on the surface began to show.

Physically Wave of Peace is a tiring piece to make and a few times I was forced to change activity in order to not exacerbate pinched nerves and an achy back. The muscles in my hands also were pushed hard...

I took a visit to the Metalwork department where they make beautifully polished Aluminium and Brass frames. Paul, who himself is an artist and makes the most amazing robots and lamps out of discarded machine parts, (when not at John Jones) was very generous in his help and enthusiasm about what I am doing during his breaks. (Look at his website www.mechanical-alchemist.com ) At the end of one day, Paul and his two colleagues came like the ‘Three Kings’ to my studio bearing marvellous gifts of bits of soldering rods, metal filings, old polishing wheels and metal frame off cuts.

Today a photographer came from REX and took photos of my Blade Studies for some possible press....

Everyone at John Jones is extremely helpful and friendly. Italo, who is a HUOMO UNIVERSALE has put great lighting in the studio, set up shelves for me and set me up with two great working tables.