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Latest News From The StudioStorm Thorgerson (1944-2013)The Directors of CCA Galleries are sad to inform you of the death of Storm Thorgerson (1944-2013), described by novelist Douglas Adams as ‘the best album designer in the world’.
The imagination and invention of Thorgerson’s work was legendary and his passing leaves a giant void in British art and design. His hugely successful career spanned five decades, and though he most famously worked with Pink Floyd, he also designed album covers for Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Led Zeppelin, The Cranberries, Muse, Black Sabbath, 10cc and Genesis to name a few.
Thorgerson’s style is immediately recognisable; he disdained the over-use of technology, preferring to keep his images as ‘real’ as possible by using straightforward photography. His visions were surreal and thought provoking.
‘I want our productions to tell a story. My goal is to invest a picture with ambiguity. To make people curious. To make them want to look again. I like photography because it is a reality medium, unlike drawing, which is unreal. I like to mess with reality…to bend reality. Some of my works beg the question of is it real or not?’
After an MA in Film and Television at the Royal College of Art, Thorgerson set up a design partnership, Hipgnosis, with flat-mate Aubrey Powell. Childhood connections with Pink Floyd led to Hipgnosis being commissioned to design the cover for the band’s second LP, A Saucerful of Secrets, in 1968. The originality and success of this work led to commissions from other bands, and the rest is history.
On his approach to creating album cover art Thorgerson said; ‘I listen to the music, read the lyrics, speak to the musicians as much as possible. I see myself as a kind of translator, translating an audio event- the music- into a visual event- the cover. I like to explore ambiguity and contradiction; to be upsetting, but gently so. I use real elements in unreal ways.’
Thorgerson’s 1973 design for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album genuinely merits that overused term ‘iconic’. It is considered by many in the music and design worlds to be the best album artwork of all time. The album itself is one of the best-selling albums worldwide. Other particularly memorable works include a giant inflatable pig floating over Battersea power station for the cover of Animals (1977), a burning businessman in a studio lot for 1975’s Wish You Were Here cover, and the endlessly repeating Ummagumma image of 1969.
Later in his career Thorgerson expanded into directing music videos, adverts and documentaries and, in 1987, after the Hipgnosis partnership came to and end, he founded Storm Studios. Following his death, Pink Floyd have described him as ‘a graphic genius’; but let’s leave the last word to Storm,
‘People pay me for my thoughts and my dreams. I think in that sense I'm very fortunate.’
LONDON ORIGINAL PRINT FAIR 25-28TH April 2013CCA Galleries will be exhibiting new releases this spring at the London Original Print Fair at the Royal Academy from 25-28th April. Among other artists (yet to be announced) CCA will be launching a silkscreen diptych by Dan Baldwin: TV Eyes/Happy Happy. The world's longest running specialist fair dedicated to prints opens at The Royal Academy of Arts, London on Thursday 25 April. Now in its 28th year, the hugely popular London Original Print Fair brings together some 50 exhibitors who specialise in prints by old and modern masters, including work by leading contemporary artists such as Gary Hume, Tracey Emin and David Hockney. Set in the Main Galleries at the RA, the Fair offers collectors and visitors expertise and variety. As always we will be sending our customers a complimentary ticket for this event. If you would like any more information please contact us on 01252 797201.
Royal Academy of Arts, Main Galleries Burlington House, London W1J OBD Thursday 25 April - 10 am - 9 pm Friday 26 April - 10 am - 10 pm Saturday and Sunday 27 / 28 April - 10 am - 6 pm VALENTINE ARTTo help you choose an artwork to give to your beloved this Valentine's Day CCA have put together a special pinboard of valentine works on Pinterest to help you make your choice. Click on the link below to see our selection and get some ideas! Find works ranging form romantic and whimsical to passionate and joyful by artists such as Sir Terry Frost, Sir Peter Blake, Joe Webb, Dan Baldwin, Antony Micallef, Maggi Hambling and Patrick Hughes among others. JANUARY NEW PRINT RELEASES FROM CCACCA Galleries is delighted to launch new limited edition print and lenticular releases from Sir Peter Blake, Joe Webb and Martin Richardson.
Sir Peter Blake- Appropriated Alphabets A new portfolio of twelve individual alphabets created or sourced from Blake's personal collection of printed ephemera. Appropriated Alphabets is available to buy as a portfolio set or individually. This portfolio explores Blake's love of the printed letter and his fascination with typeface. Each piece has an individual finish ranging from glazes to collage, embossing and metallic inks.
Appropriated Alphabets 12
Joe Webb- Absent-Minded, Antares & Love IV, Daydream, Mono
Antares & Love IV CCA is delighted to introduce British contemporary collage artist Joe Webb with our first four silkscreen publications. These four works apply exciting multi media print finishes such as diamond dusting, silver leaf and embossing, which make each print individual and compliment the artists’ hand-made collage philosophy.
Martin Richardson- David Bowie, Marilyn, Dearest Darkest Heart, Felix Behind Bars.
David Bowie (Experimental Portrait) CCA is delighted to present four limited edition lenticulars by Professor of Holography Martin Richardson. The Lenticulars are made using proprietary print software and a special lens material, otherwise known as a micro-lens. This combined with other optical components create a 3-D moving image called a lenticular. In the 1850's a marked step in solving the complicated problem of detailed LONDON ART FAIR 2013CCA Galleries is delighted to be exhibiting at this year's London Art Fair from 16-20th January at the Business Design Centre Islington. Visit us on STAND G3 to see new print releases by Sir Peter Blake, Joe Webb and Martin Richardson, original paintings by Dan Baldwin and Donald Hamilton Fraser, and a selection of print works by Barbara Rae, Brad Faine, Sir Terry Frost, Bruce McLean and many more. We look forward to seeing you there! Find more information about London Art Fair at www.londonartfair.co.uk Tickets can be purchased on the day or you can request free visitor tickets from CCA by calling us on 01252 797201. Opening hours: Wed 16 January Thus 17 JanuaryThurs 17 January Fri 18 January Sat 19 January Sun 20 January ORDERING ARTWORK IN TIME FOR CHRISTMASOrdering an artwork as a Chistmas gift? In order to guarantee delivery in good time, please note the below deadlines for ordering online: Framed artwork: Monday 10th December (dependent on framing materials being in stock). Unframed artworks: Monday 17th December. Merry Christmas from all at CCA Galleries! CCA Art Bus is taking part in the Lord Mayor's Show 2012CCA Galleries is delighted that once again the CCA Art Bus (a mobile gallery and work of art in itself designed by pop artist Sir Peter Blake) will be taking part in the LORD MAYOR'S SHOW this Saturday the 10th November. This prestigious event has beem taking place for nearly 800 years and is one of the world's best loved pageants. In this special year for the UK it will be a great celebration with with over 6500 people and hundreds and floats and vehicles representing the best of British taking part. The procession spans 3 1/2 miles from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice. The Art Bus will be full of artists, CCA employees and guests celebrating contemporary British printmaking and in particular the 80th birthday of Art Bus-designer and national treasure Sir Peter Blake. If you are in London come down and join in for a great family day out, you can also catch the live coverage on the BBC.
MULTIPLIED Editions Fair at Christie's South Kensington 12-15th OctoberCCA Galleries are delighted to be taking part in this year's MULTIPLIED Contemporary Art in Editions Fair at Christie's South Kensington from 12th-15th October 2012. Entrance is free and we look forward to seeing you at STAND 20. We will be exhibiting new editions from Sir Peter Blake, Barbara Rae RA, Dan Baldwin and Barry Reigate. Now in its third year and still the only art fair of its kind in the UK, MULTIPIED is an annual fair showcasing the very best contemporary art in editions by leading artists and bright new talent. For more information call us at the studio on 01252 797201 Christie's, South Kensington 85 Old Brompton Road London SW7 3LD Opening times: Friday 12th: 9am-7.30pm Saturday 13th: 11am-7.30pm Sunday 14th: 11am-6pm Monday 15th: 9am-5pm Peter Blake 80th Birthday Exhbition Continues at TilfordIf you missed the Peter Blake retrospective last month at the Mall Galleries and the Royal Albert Hall, fear not- the exhibition continues at our Tilford studio. Come and see Blake's silkscreen and digital prints in the flesh and benefit from talking to the knowledeable CCA staff. The exhibition features rare, new and famous prints. And as we store all our editions on site, if there is a piece not on show that you would like to see, we can bring it out of storage for you.
The studio is open Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm or by appointment at evenings and weekends. To locate us see the about us page. Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2012The Summer is upon us which means another Royal Academy Summer Exhibition! This year CCA Galleries are delighted to have had four of our artists selected for inclusion: Dan Baldwin, Brad Faine, Tom Phillips RA and Barbara Rae RA. These works have been selected from over 12,000 submissions. 2012 is the first Summer Exbition for Dan Baldwin- and what a thrill for a young artist to have work hanging in the hallowed halls of the Royal Academy. His piece Cyclone has been selected.
In contrast both Barbara Rae and Tom Phillips are Royal Academicians who regularly show at the Summer Exhibition. This year, Rae had three works on show: Vaucluse, Dead Sunflowers and Seafence.
Vaucluse Tom Phillips celebrates has 75th birthday with two prints on exhibition: Lolita and After Henry James, as well as some original work.
After Henry James Not Our Type Darling is the work selected for master printmaker Brad Faine this year.
Not Our Type Darling The Summer Exhibition continues until 12th August. For more info visit: www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/summer-exhibition-2012/ |












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