Up & Beyond.

Less than a week in London & I've an internship at Beyond Retro.

My PR career has had seen me gain positions with weight & others that have had me part of a gaggle of eager interns desperate to land that first (paid) role.

The crucial point is that whether one has an internship with gravitas, or one that may not seem so integral to the Press Office, you still have to strive. Determination to demonstrate ability and aptitude still applies, and is key to buoyancy and impressing the right people.

Beyond Retro, offers 'the biggest, leading selection of handpicked vintage clothing to style conscious shoppers'.

I'm placed at the store just off Brick Lane. An abundance of trinkets, jewels & a hoarders cathedral. Effortlessly dapper, which in such a location is a novelty in itself.

Within 20 minutes Matt Horne had asked me where bumbags were. From the look of those glasses he was donning, he needs to invest in bifocals. Following this hoopla it was a day filled with press appointments & the dreaded docket search, bloody loved it.

A sign of things to come perhaps. I do hope.

Art Review. Magda Archer.

Magda Archer; aspirational name, inspirational artist. Reviewed for Manchesters Finest & thoroughly enjoyed.

Magda Archer: Crazy Mad

Where: The Cornerhouse, Oxford Road

Contact: http://www.cornerhouse.org/art/art-exhibitions/magda-archer-crazy-mad

With a solo painting show entitled 'Magda Archer: Crazy Mad', the key to preparation is to perceive the unperceived. The blurb suggested a concoction of 1950s paraphernalia, with sections including 'I hate art' and a method of paining so painstaking, it made the artists eyes water. Rather than just peruse the paintings when the exhibition opened 26 June, I needed answers, a reason for this kaleidoscope of disparity. Meeting British artist Archer and Curator Mike Chavez Dawson on a sweltering Saturday afternoon, I ventured anxiously, to the second floor of the iconic Cornerhouse.

With a brief introduction by Dawson, citing philosopher Umberto Eco and artist Daniel Burren to explain the logic behind his presentation, we piled into a treasure trove of kitsch clutter that a seasoned hoarder would be proud of. Noting this uncanny replica of her studio was infact merely 5% of its true capacity, we were transported to the chaotic car-boot nirvana of Archers creative process. From a wall of Pez's, to an effigy of Christ in glitter, Archer taps into reviving memories, though not necessarily her own. Demonstrating that adults, though discard their childhoods, remain able to escape to their care-free youth via the medium of seemingly insignificant items - junk. A theatrical sight to behold, her stimuli accompanied by aptly eclectic tunes, unearthed our own childish frivolous excitement as to what lay behind the studio door, past the 'Tree of Happiness'.

Gushing at the song greeting us on entering the gallery, Archer set the tone for the tour. Her own cover version of 'Sugar Town' (by Nancy Sinatra, written by Lee Hazlewood in 1967) rendered the room, 'I want to live there, it disregards the humdrum of every day melancholy'.

Navigating the gallery, clusters of her works emerged. Narrative chapters that echoed a lack of excess and overproduction by the revealing of the direct links between her inspiration and artistic result. On a thrift shop frequency the viewer is empowered, and allowed to escape into the sphere of imagination.

From the random connections of 'text me, yeah' to the cemented themes of 'girls with names' Archer takes the viewer on a journey, on a visual and personal level, simulating our verve through cognitive reaction and she endeavours to circumnavigate the hidden.

Despite sounding a rollercoaster of psychedelic sickly sweet palettes and sporadic emotional epiphany's, Dawson summed up the exhibition perfectly with an a capella version of Shirley Ellis' Clapping Song (depicted in the 3.6.9 pieces); Archer wished to erase the disparity between what the work is and what is perceived 'there is no big secret'.

Yes, it was 'Crazy Mad', yet also a true voyage of discovery that can be as abstruse or as superficial as you wish to make it. Highly recommended.

Many of the pieces are now for sale within the exhibition. Contact Cornerhouse for details.

http://www.cornerhouse.org/art/art-exhibitions/magda-archer-crazy-mad

Comedy Show Review

Reviewed a comedy show for Manchesters Finest. In the line up for 'Not Part Of' festival, the title drew me in somewhat. In a venue that can only be described as 'On the Buses' with 'Coronation Street' cobbles, it was a show with warmth, genuine comedy & comes highly recommended for the current Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Meditation ruined my life. Sam Brady

Challenging the MIF fever around Manchester is a vehicle that represents the city's alternative cultural identity. 'NotPartOf' is the fringe festival that adversely draws artists from across all artistic genres without charging them. In a recent interview for the Creative Times, co-director Gareth McCann noted 'If MIF selected the artists that performed at the festival, then we would facilitate every artist that wanted to be involved. If MIF curated its events, then Not Part Of would be a completely open platform'.

With this in mind I approached Sand Bar with a inquisitorial step. Attending a one man show entitled 'Meditation Ruined my Life', I took a pew in the rickety, cobblestonedned surroundings, nursing a drink until the show go-ers were summoned to a cordonedned off pokey room, enrobed in a red velvet curtain. Cramped, with almost as many candles as seats, the atmosphere was of buoyant anticipation. Earwigging, I found half knew the performer (his parents were there), and half came just for the craic. With a lonesome chair, pint of water and small remote, the harsh blue tones fell on the compere to introduce the man of the evening, Sam Brady.

Within 5 minutes I had been noted as the attractive journalist (which I enjoyed) then shown a slideshow of ladies meditating, or as crudely put, appearing ready to pleasure dwarves (I enjoyed this slightly less). A tale ensured of a near-divorced man, lost in an ocean of empty melancholy, who, in 2001, found solace in Buddhism. Cleansing himself of his past life he emerged himself into a tea-totalling regime of monk ordination training only to be handed an envelope by his spiritual guru, after only 4 years in the community. As it was Valentines day the contents had 3 possible outcomes; a declaration of love, a card for his friends birthday, or a letter initiating his ordination.

In a bid to provide background to the revelation of this mystery, Brady paints the scene of his former life; littered with anecdotes of close family negativity, from preconceptions of meditation being for the upper classes, to the hilarity of his insatiable need to be liked. The audience were hooked from go.

The transition from a high powered cut-throat ambition driven lifestyle to a lifestyle where ambition is almost frowned upon led Brady to situations a Buddhist could only nightmare about. In his desperation to succeed spiritually, he contradicted the monk mantra in the most jocular way.

Brady's ability to rouse empathy which in turn bloomed into ultimate amusement was testament to his natural charisma and talent as a comedian.

With quips about epiphany in the company of three bushy, Dutch lesbians to listing potential partners specific qualities to include sharing in his dismay at mixed-metaphors, 'Meditation Ruined my Life' is a multi-dimensional show filled with emotion, passion and guffaws. A must see and a triumph for NotPartOf.

To find out the dreaded envelope contents, visit Brady at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

From more information about Brady http://www.sambradycomedian.com/index.html

For more information about NotPartOf http://www.notpartof.org/

Press Release Example

A press release I wrote for a friends start-up company, 'One by One'. A brand with a vision, attitude and a passion for its cause. I predict big things.

Synergising the Fashion Tribes.

Bold graphic designer sets sights on uniting trend tribes.

In todays style-religious culture, when designers attempt to fuse the invisible aesthetic barriers of fashion tribes, it's usually as effective as the governments coalition. As far as fashion politics go, you're troupe is either rad or a fad. However, one young graphic designer is pushing boundaries and taking the tribes on, with a vision to unite the distinguished sects … one by one.

Manchester born Joshua Felton has worked in mid-luxe retail for almost a decade, and on seeing how culture choices limit apparel choices he has taken the humble t-shirt and transformed it into a radical vehicle of synergy between notorious culture rivals. Starting with street wear and the alternative scenes. Imagining an Emo in an oversized basketball top? Think again …

With a CV filled with graphic design work for global brands, Felton has a keen eye, both for graphic design and fashion. Embracing his own passions, he has expressed his cultural awareness through his emotive, progressive illustrations under his label 'One by One'.

Combining the heritage and prestige of a quality streetwear brand, Josh aims to inject the risk element of a true alternative scene, 'I want One by One to be a concept, a streetwear brand around which a lifestyle can develop. One by one means to stand alone, to take risks and to take the path less travelled, the designs reflect this; original, bold and individual'.

Available from August 2011, this brand has a zeitgeist, unrivalled in the streetwear sector.For information, products or images, please contact Joshua Felton: joshuafelton@ymail.com

COVERAGE RECEIVED: featured in 10 online publications, 2 printed.

Darling Buds of May.

Since May 23

Spent a short time in Blackpool; home to the hens & stags, tacky as a travellers wedding & inhabitants (not to tar every Blackpoolian with the same brush) resembling Wayne & Waynetta slob.

Jumped upon my soapbox about the riots, copping an eyeful of the Mancunian rats involved. I can't convey how utterly saddened I was by their mindless desecration. If I was offered just 3 good reasons or suggestions as to why they committed such unprovoked pillage I could pop on down to the pavement. Disillusioned youth? Pah.

Moved back to London. Indeed, I've skipped back to the capital, only 2 days ago. With the intentions of pursuing internships whilst working at a well known retailer on Regent Street.

Reviewing; art, films, fashion

Writing; Press Releases, site content and pretty letters (if only to practice my handwriting)

The next few posts will demonstrate I've been cantering along North, with the aim to gallop South, yet win the race. Determination.

By Phuong Quoc Tri, 'Determination'

By Scott.

I watched Scott Pilgrim vs the World last night. I say watched ... I watched half & fell asleep. The plot was a little, robotic, which it was meant to be, I understand, I really do, but when a theme becomes counter-ironic? You have a predictable ticking clock of boredom on your hands.

With a synopsis of 'Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend's sever evil exes in order to win her heart' I should have known. I'm not one who understands comic books, so to adapt a great series by Bryan Lee O'Malley and allow me to view it? A mistake in itself. Like subjecting a Football Fantasy enthusiast to viewing the Elizabeth duo (speaking from experience). It was doomed from the start.

Wafter thin plot, a band called Sex Bob-omb and dare I say it, an overload of Michael Cera predicability*. I was bored.

On a lighter note, I am elation epitomised at the thought of the imminent Arrested Development film.

* Cera, please acquire another dimension and put a few pounds on, you looked quite the alien in SPvsW.

10 things I hate about you ...

I can hardly believe it's been ten weeks since I last scribed. I'd like to admit it's been due to a trip abroad where it's less wi-fi, more high-fly. However, the facts are that I did go away, to Amsterdam. For 6 days only.

I take this 10 week 'sabbatical' in two ways, with two quotes (spot the operative word);

You can't teach people to be lazy, either they have it or they don't. (Dagwood Bumstead)

I haven't really got much get up and go. I can't believe I'm on the telly. I'm so lazy. (Alan Carr)

This will change ...