FARM:LONDON

RETAIL - 'How much food can we grow in a shop?' Was the question posed by FARM:London, a concept devised by Something & Son, an eco-social design practice. They aim to answer the question at 20 Dalston Lane, a derelict shop they have converted into London's first urban farming hub.

At FARM:shop you'll find exhibitions that change with the seasons and as nature takes it's course. For the opening you can expect to see the following:

- 'Aquaponic' micro fish farming
- High tech Indoor allotment
- Rooftop chicken coop
- Polytunnel

FARM:shop Dalston [illustrated above] has three main aims:

1 To excite and inspire Londoners to grow their own food, fabric and medicine
2 To create direct links between farms outside London with communities in London
3 To grow food commercially via a network of FARM:'s across London

If you've made it down to FARM:shop let us know what you thought of the concept/space.

joes[a]fiend

SPOTTED [VOL. VIII]

Whilst on my way to the studio to enjoy a glass of mulled wine and mince pie I spotted this billboard. For sure I did a double take, for a second I thought I had imagined it, but oh no! I've heard the saying, 'simple advertising, is the best advertising', not sure who said it, but it's true.

I spotted the poster on Bethnal Green Road, so I began to think 'is this a subversive advert for a new restaurant opening or something along those lines?' I dialled the number... it really is an advert for erectile dysfunction.

joes[a]fiend

TONY GILL

Idea Generation Gallery is showcasing works from the highly acclaimed British artist, Tony Gill. The striking exhibition, made up of a series of immense 8 foot high canvases and works on paper, forms part of the Concrete And Glass festival, taking place at numerous venues across Shoreditch.

The Curator of the exhibition Matthew Donaldson commented, “This latest series of work is quite incredible. When face to face with the vast works, the outburst of colour and expression is all-consuming as the magnetic energy subconciously draws you into the canvas.”

You can find the exhibition at 11 Chance St, London E2 7JB and will be running from 03.10.08 - 22.10.08 and entry is free, so there is no excuse not to check it out.

joes[a]fiend

SPOTTED [VOL. VI]

This Street 'Art' Valuer was spotted on Scatler Street, London.

joes[a]fiend

BELGIAN BANGERS

We’ve still not seen the documentary ‘Part of the Weekend Never Dies’ but have been meaning to for some time and this Friday [29.08.08], London’s best record store, Pure Groove, answers our prayers with an in-store screening to promote the release of this Soulwax treat on DVD.

To further our excitement, if you purchase the film from the Smithfield based shop you get a rather pleasing free screenprint poster of the artwork [pictured] in silver – tres beau! Check out Pure Groove’s nifty little website too – we love the free downloads. Also worth a look is Soulwax’s site for the doc – a great taster of what lies in wait next Friday…

Pure Groove can be found here:

6-7 West Smithfield,
London
EC1A 9JX

PFH Thompson

NIKE SPORTSWEAR PRESENTS… 1948

Besides the spectacular opening ceremony for the Olympics on the 8th August, another spectacular launch was happening in another corner of Beijing that day. The new Nike Sportswear line was previewed; featuring items such as the hi-top patent dunks in block colourways [reminiscent of the Also Known As x Nike iD 'wet paint' pack], and has since been launched across the globe in several new pop-up retail spaces dedicated to the collection.

joes[a]fiend check out the launch of the London chapter last Thursday, and was impressed by the temporary store located on Bateman’s Row in Shoreditch. The space is not just home to some fly kicks, but also graffiti artist Mode2’s twenty foot tall interpretation of some of Nike’s greatest Olympians.

The Nike design team have outdone themselves on the space - one half is a futuristic black and neon installation, and the other a mock gymnasium. Pull yourself away from watching the Olympics on TV and get yourself down there.

joes[a]fiend

SPOTTED [VOL. V] RE-WORKED

Some the local residents have re-appropriated the cup graphics from SPOTTED [VOL. V].

[G:LEAVE]

SPOTTED [VOL. V]

Spotted just off Brick Lane, London.

[G:LEAVE]

SPOTTED [VOL. III]

We spotted this reworking of London’s Oyster card by Neoexternalism in Aldgate East [London].

joes[a]fiend

WARHOL IS OVER!

Whilst pounding the streets of East London we came across these thought provoking posters by Amuti who, “specialise in buying and selling contemporary art, rare and first edition books, rock 'n' roll and drug literature, memorabilia and ephemera”.

It is an interesting campaign, as we have lived in an era where Warhol has been the benchmark for art, youth culture and anything slightly creative. Is this the first step of emerging from the Warhol shadow? How many times have the mainstream press waxed lyrical about Bansky being the new AW and how BoomBox was London’s answer to Studio 54..?

joes[a]fiend