Folie à Deux: The End of the Beginning

Yesterday evening the doors closed on Folie à Deux’s first ever exhibition. Three weeks, three sales and 186 visitors later, it was everything we dreamed it would be – and more. Although we felt a tinge of sadness taking the works down, the overriding emotion was one of satisfaction in a job well done – and a huge sense of excitement about our future dreams and projects…

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in making the exhibition possible: all of the artists and performers, everyone at Utrophia, everybody who came along to see the show, Zannah and Madeleine for their sterling service invigilating in near-Arctic conditions, Jane for social media guidance… we simply couldn’t have done it without your support and enthusiasm.

For now, we are taking a short breather, but we will be back soon with news of an exciting project that we hope you will all want to get involved with – so keep an eye on this blog, befriend us on Facebook if you haven’t already done so, and sign up to follow us on Twitter (FaDgallery).

See you soon for more adventures.

Chris  – Clara

Giulia Ricci and Judith Lyons discuss their work at Utrophia

Over the next two Sundays Giulia Ricci and Judith Lyons will be discussing their work with us at Utrophia Project Space. The discussions will be free and informal with accompanying tea and cake. Here are the details below. We hope you can make it!


The Tactility of Order: Giulia Ricci in Conversation with co-curator Clara Cowan

Sunday 21 November 2010, 15.00, Utrophia Project Space

Giulia and Clara will discuss her interest in ordering systems, what influences lie behind her use of patterns and why she loves to do Sudoku before falling asleep.Currently featured on the front-cover of a-n Magazine and on show at the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, Giulia Ricci was also shortlisted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize in the summer 2010. Ricci is fascinated by patterns and their systems which she explores through various repetitive processes, primarily drawing on paper. She is also interested in various aspects of science and mathematics such as chaos theory, but her work is also intimately bound up with, and born of her experiences, background and cultural reference points. These include not only the famous mosaics of her home town of Ravenna, but also the rural patchwork of fields in the countryside of Emilia-Romagna where she grew up - what she calls the 'man-made geometry of the landscape'.

The Art of Cameraless Photography: Judith Lyons in Conversation with co-curator Christopher Adams

Sunday 28 November 2010, 15.00, Utrophia Project Space

Judith Lyons and Chris will be discussing the art and history of cameraless photography, the technical ingenuity of these pieces and the influences behind her work.

Currently leading cameraless photography workshops for Shadow Catchers: Cameraless Photography exhibition at the V&A, Judith Lyons is also on show at the Rich Mix in Shoreditch as a part of Photomonth and in the summer gained a four page article in Amateur Photography Magazine. Lyon's cameraless photographs come from two series where she takes plant and flower specimens as her subject matter. Her series A Different Nature comprises images of plant components that have been deliberately deconstructed, recombined and further transformed using inks and dyes. Creating hybirds that are unnatural and botanically flawed, they raise questions about contemporary society's relationship with the natural world and the increasing genetic modification of plant species.

Folie à Deux opening night: I have this strange kind of feeling and I just can’t place it

Seven months to the day from when the idea of Folie à Deux first occurred to us, we’re pleased to report that Thursday’s private view was a roaring success. Capacity crowd, amazing food, great music, a barnstorming performance from Mauricio Velasierra and his band – and three works sold. We couldn’t have wished for more, and before anything else we want to thank everyone involved in making it such a great evening: the artists, performers, Madeleine our DJ, Jane for hleping with social media, Keith Roberts for his sterling service in helping us to hang the works, everybody at Utrophia for their help and amenability, and everyone who came to support us and entered into the spirit of Folie à Deux. You all played a part in making it a memorable – and for us, emotional – night. It’s been quite a journey…

Giulia Ricci and friend

Mauricio Velasierra and his band

 








Kicking off at 7pm, the evening wound down around 10.30. It was great to have a focal point to the evening, provided by Mauricio’s ‘edible soundscapes’ experiment in which cubes of spiced melon, delicious and fiery rice and potato balls, and popping candy ice cream were interpreted musically. 

'Edible soundscapes' kicks off

Guests enjoying popping candy ice cream

  
 

The week leading up to the opening was lots of hard work – we were down at the gallery after work every evening painting and cleaning the space, and unpacking and placing the works, with only nosebags of Bombay mix attached to our faces to keep us going! As the works arrived, it quickly became clear that the exhibition was going to be something really special and, whilst all very different, our feeling that there was some indefinable thread connecting all the pieces on some level proved to be correct.

If you haven’t made it down yet, hope to see you there soon. If you have, please spread the word. And don’t forget to check out the accompanying events by keeping up to date with news on our Facebook page – we have a free folk evening coming up on 20 November; Giulia Ricci will be talking about her work with Clara on 21 November, and Judith Lyons with Chris the following Saturday. We’ll also be open late on the final Friday of the show (27 November) as part of South London’s monthly art trail ‘Last Fridays’ – so see you then if not before…

Chris and Clara

Countdown to opening night of 'I have a strange kind of feeling and I just can't place it'.

Monday night before the big opening, it's freezing in London but we are hard at work applying a last coat of paint to the exhibition space and getting ready to hang the artists works.

There has been significant coverage in various art blogs , and press most notably Giulia Ricci is featured on the front page of A-N magazine .

Hope everyone can make it on Thursday night, the doors will open at 7.30pm and we hope to have a fun filled evening of art and music. We look forward to seeing you all there. 


If you are looking for a pre-opening drink or snack there is the Amersham Arms, easy to spot with the massive Take Courage neon sign out front right by New Cross Station and the Royal Albert pub also on the way to Tanners Hill.

Other nearby stations include Deptford Bridge, St John's and  New Cross Gate, if you need any hints or tips on getting to South London just ask us on the Facebook page. Take Courage North Londoners its not as scary down south as you might think .


Cheers 


xxx