London design duo CUSTHOM are curating an exhibition of tactile posters, exploring the use of digital embroidery as a unique and expressive form of drawing in support of ART AGAINST KNIVES.

CUSTHOM have been working closely with the digital embroidery industry in the UK, developing this distinctive stitching and drawing process, as seen in their signature embroidered wallpapers. The result is digital precision, capturing the delicacy of line either by thread or fine line pen.

A select group of designers have been invited to submit a 2D design to be translated via stitch or mechanical drawing onto paper, using a ‘hacked’ digital embroidery machine.

The designers have been chosen from disciplines spanning fashion design, illustration and graphic design. With each studio being asked to submit a design that captures the essence of their practice, the final exhibition encompasses an exciting array of work. The designs on show will hold coherence in colour, being limited to bright red, azure blue, sapphire and bright white. With colour and paper size as the sole restraints, the possibilities of digital embroidery process will be under the spotlight.

All the designers with work on show have been hand picked by Jemma Ooi and Nathan Philpott, the duo behind CUSTHOM. Those confirmed as showing include the in-demand stylist, art director and prop maker Fred Butler, selected for her approach to making, composition and use of materials. David Longshaw, illustrator and writer for Vogue, creator of the infamous Maud and whose output spans fashion and accessories alongside illustration, writing and animation. The illustrator Paul Blow, admired for his humour and distinctive drawing style. Graphic designer and typographer Andre Beato and the illustrator and animator Giedre Domzaite whose work was seen in the 2012 Olympic stadium during the opening and closing ceremonies.

The exhibition ends next week so make sure you get down to the Print House Gallery this weekend to check it out! A limited edition run of each poster design will be available to buy, framed and unframed, through the gallery and online with 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Art Against Knives.

Introducing our artists:

Elton John – Bennie & The Jets

HAIM – Better Off

Jessie Ware – Still Love Me

Laura Marling – The Beast

Nas – The Don

Nick Drake – Rider On The Wheel

and Public Enemy – Harder Than You Think

With the support of Talenthouse, we are inviting artists and designers from all over the world to submit their own visual interpretation of the seven tracks. If chosen, this design will be made into a vinyl cover and feature in an exhibition of  the 700 sleeves. Only one of each design will be produced.

All 700 one-of-a-kind vinyl covers will feature in the London gallery space of the UK’s independent creative agency, Mother, in April 2013. On Record Store Day – 20th April visitors are able to take a bit of the exhibition away with them as all of the unique vinyl will be available to purchase. However, none of the buyers will know who created the sleeve or which song it’s for, until they have parted with their cash – the secret lies within!

Join our Facebook group for updates and for more information please visit www.secret-7.com or contact hello@secret-7.com.

ART AGAINST KNIVES recognises that is not only a unique opportunity for the creative world, but will ensure that every aspect of working with Secret 7”, Universal Music and Talenthouse will provide valuable experience in a variety of creative roles for the young people that ART AGAINST KNIVES works with. From apprenticeships and work experience opportunities through to helping to design the website and making a video for the project which you can watch HERE

More information about the project and the seven new host artists and tracks will be announced later today! In the meantime check out our Facebook for some clues ….

Art Against Knives went down to Gola’s flagship store on Carnaby Street last month for the launch of their Born in Britain London event. Gola hosted a live auction of a selection of the one off pieces donated in support of Art Against Knives.

Here’s Shanice’s review of the evening: “It was an amazing turnout, so welcoming and colourful! It was great seeing the inspiring designs created by emerging talent. The store was packed out with people and all the creations, it was such a positive urban vibe with great music to compliment the theme of the event.

It was exciting being in the room when the live bidding was happening on some of the customised shoes! Although Life Flow’s design was not up for auction on the night it was a great opportunity to be part of such a creative project.”

Life Flow’s customised Gola classics, along with the rest of the designs are up for auction NOW so make sure you check out some unique designs made especially for Art Against Knives!

Click HERE to take you to the Facebook Auction – Happy Bidding!

Shanice Tobiere

This weekly workshop is an opportunity for the Art Against Knives team to get to know some of the young people in Barnet, with a hope to providing creative skills and opportunities for young girls.

Shanice attended the sessions, hosted at the Rainbow Centre in Dollis Valley. Here’s what they got up to…

“For the first session, I thought about interesting patterns, colours and nail designs that would be good visual inspiration for the workshops. Using these examples, along with their own ideas the girls created their own designs. These were drawn onto nail templates creating a before and after effect to see the transformation. We explored these designs  using simple patterns like polka dots, creating a fade and adding gems to the designs.

This first session was an intro to basic hand and nail care, how to look after and grow healthy nails as well as developing techniques of how to prepare nails properly, and tips like applying a base coat onto your nails before applying colours, to avoid nail staining.

In the following two sessions everyone was encouraged to put their thinking caps on and discuss ideas for their dream nail bar. There were also some very artistic designs being made, as we experimented using nail pens. Lots of creative patterns were painted from french manicures to festive Christmas designs and even trying to use more detailing with lettering.

This week we are going to fine tune the skills we have developed and try and create even more complicated designs….

If you would like to get involved in this project, or want anymore information drop us an email at hello@artagainstknives.com

The Nail Bar is a weekly workshop taking place every Tuesday from 4pm – 6pm @ The Rainbow Centre, Dollis Valley.

Shanice Tobiere

Earlier this year we collaborated with Pamphlet  -  a new platform for artists and organisations to communicate to the public. You might remember when we installed our reproduction of Dali’s Persistence of Memory image on the wall of an East London street, instead of a gallery? This month,  Pamphlet are re-imagining the gallery space within the context of the street again, this time by taking over a laundrette on Bethnal Green Road! The exhibition will feature submissions from established artists, creatives and the local community, in response to theme of heartbreak, posted on to the laundry walls.

We will be setting up shop on an ironing board selling Heartbreak presents including an EXCLUSIVE soap designed by Tracey Emin, T-shirsts and Christmas cards. Originals and prints will then be available to purchase from the ART AGAINST KNIVES GALLERY. 

Many items have been produced exclusively for Art Against Knives by some of Britain’s top designers this is one fashion auction that no fashion lover can afford to miss!

Amongst the lots up for grabs will be an iconic Christopher Kane ‘Galaxy’ dress, stunning hats and headpieces from Philip Tracey and Bernstock Speirs, exclusive leathers from Todd Lynn, dresses from Richard Nicoll, Giles Deacon and L’Wren Scott plus footwear from Rupert Sanderson and Nicolas Kirkwood.

Items will be listed HERE and on their dedicated eBay store (http://www.stylesequel.com/shop/charity) bidding is open now and auctions will run for 10 days, ending on 10th Dec.

Style Sequel’s founder Emma Allen says “We are overjoyed to be hosting this auction on behalf of Art Against Knives, a charity who we have great respect and admiration for. To be able to offer our support through selling some of the most wonderful pieces of fashion we have ever seen is a true honour”

Designers have been selected for a series of limited edition Christmas cards, which will be for sale on the evening and are also available to purchase from WWW.ARTAGAINSTKNIVESGALLERY.COM.

The Picture Project launches this year in collaboration with ART AGAINST KNIVES. Full proceeds from the auction and sales of Christmas cards will go to ART AGAINST KNIVES to fund creative projects for young people most at risk of gang culture, across London. One design in the collection has been donated by Kayode Thomas, who participated in one of our creative workshops earlier in 2012 and has continued to work with ART AGAINST KNIVES to develop his employable skills and design portfolio.

Image courtesy of Quentin Jones

This will be a unique opportunity to buy exclusive pieces and support young people across London. You will have the chance to take home original artworks and packs of Christmas cards donated by leading artists from just £8.  Expect Christmas vibes and tunes from Real Gold, Work It and other Guest DJ’s.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS: Marc Quinn, Rankin, David Wilson, Polly Morgan, Alex Hoda, Saloni, Quentin Jones, Tom Beard, Work It, Duffy Jewellery, Man Like Me, Ian Bruce, Laurence Owen, Silken Favours, Patternity, Rose de Borman, Valery Pannetier and Kayode Thomas.

We hope you can join us! RSVP@ARTAGAINSTKNIVES.COM

Cards are available to purchase from WWW.ARTAGAINSTKNIVESGALLERY.COM

HELLO@ARTAGAINSTKNIVES.COM // WWW.ARTAGAINSTKNIVES.COM // WWW.THEPICTUREPROJECT.CO.UK

Iconic Gola Classics footwear and bag styles have been customised by up and coming designers, artists and musicians, who have been selected by Gola’s student ambassador team, which will be auctioned off for AAK.

We asked some of the talented young people that we work with at Art Against Knives to customise a pair of trainers. Shanice finds out what they have to say about their design….

What have you decided to design on the products? And why have you chosen those designs?

“We have all decided to create a footprint design which Luke had drew, we then transferred it onto the back of shoe using stencils and used the Art Against Knives stamps to design the shoe box with.”

“The bottom of the shoe is about walking in my shoes, leaving a mark, leaving a positive step and taking a positive step into the future. That’s what the Life Flow brand is about, positivity and looking to the future…”

What has inspired you to do those designs? 

“We didn’t really want to do the usual. We wanted to start something unique as no one really designs underneath trainers as much and so we all thought that it would be a good idea and went for it really.

Life Flow used their creative thinking to customise all elements of the shoes. They even stamped the outside of the shoebox! “It’s about thinking outside of the box! We wanted to spread a positive message, and to us AAK represents positivity perfectly.”

Now that you have taken part in this project would you say that it is something which you would like to do in the future perhaps?

“Definitely! We really enjoyed the challenge!”

AAK would like to say a huge Thank You to all the artists and designers that have contributed to this project, we’re so excited to see all the designs!

The Gola auction will take place on Thursday 29th November at their flagship store on Carnaby Street. For more info click HERE Hopefully see you there, ready to bid on some unique trainers and accessories!

By Shanice Tobiere

“I’m not a runner – or so I thought…

In 2011 – having not run since school, I inadvertently agreed to run the London Marathon, and somehow I’ve decided to run another – in Jamaica!

On December 1st 2012 I’ll be running the Reggae Marathon, 26.2 miles in tropical heat to raise money for Art Against Knives.

Running is my release, it’s when I feel completely free. If you don’t do it already, then I urge you to try. You pass the world and his mum, see the city in its full glory and get time to just think – or think of nothing at all.

I travel a lot for work and try to run in every city I visit. I’m always really struck by the differences between cites, and (as much as I love London), what always strikes me when I return is the lack of interaction between people. Largely, we exist in our own self-contained bubbles, with little acknowledgement towards people we don’t know.

I was thinking about this recently, and realised that I didn’t know anyone (bar family) under the age of 25 or over the age of 45. How mad is that?! It really freaked me out, and is testament to exactly what I believe is one of the fundamental problems in contemporary London culture – a lack of genuine community.

Yes there are lots of inter racial, religious, gender etc communities, but a basic geographical level, I challenge the idea that we have one.

I don’t claim to know the answer to banishing gang and knife crime, but I believe that not knowing, or even worse – fearing, young people around us will increase the gap further. I think we all feel a bit ostracized and we don’t really know how best to confront it.

I chose to run to support Art Against Knives because I’ve been continually inspired by their work enabling opportunities for London teenagers. To me it’s not so much a charity, but a community – and I think that’s what we need to reestablish. It’s important for everyone.”

To see my progress and my little running life, check out www.runlikeelle.com

We wish Elle the best of luck!

To sponsor Elle click HERE