KNAPPLE

Today we are Featuring Norwich based Mural Artist KNAPPLE, who came to our attention this year during the height of the BLM Protests due to one of their murals…

Keep reading to find out more!

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: I’m Knapple, I’m 42 and I’m currently based in Norwich.

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

A: I chose art as a career because as my children got older I wanted to show them you could carve your own path, plus I really felt I needed a creative outlet so I enrolled on a BTEC course at Wensum Lodge and then a foundation degree just to get myself started with some techniques.

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

A: My main focus throughout my art is positivity but with a hint of wit, self help and the power of thought. People don’t realise how much creative power our minds have and I want to show that change first comes from within. I’ve also started to explore human rights issues.

Q4: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: My biggest inspiration is Keith Haring, when I saw his work in the Liverpool Tate last year I could feel a powerful energy emanating from them, he did activism so perfectly.

Q5: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: In 5 years time I expect to be living in or nearer to London and to be running Youth Mural projects, empowering and inspiring the next generation is my aim in life, so many inner city kids are ignored by society and I want to help give them a voice!

One Campaign KNAPPLE supports is ‘The Black Curriculum’ which is a Campaign ‘founded in 2019 by young people to address the lack of Black British history in the UK Curriculum. We believe that by delivering arts focused Black history programmes, providing teacher training and campaigning through mobilising young people, we can facilitate social change.’

You can visit their website to learn more and support this campaign! https://www.theblackcurriculum.com

You can also learn more about KNAPPLE’s BLM Mural in Norwich here… https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-52959560/black-lives-matter-norwich-artist-ruth-knapp-repaints-defaced-mural

And follow them at their Instagram!

THANKS FOR READING- SEE YOU AGAIN SOON

BLM Protest in Cornwall- Ellice March.

First on BLM Week at the OP we are in conversation with one of the Organisers of the BLM Protest in Truro, Cornwall on the 15th of Jue 2020. Ellice Marsh.

Keep reading to find out more about the Day off the Protest+ how it effected her community…

Q1: What is your name, age and where are you from?

A: Ellice Marsh//Redruth, Cornwall//19 (18 at the time of the protest).

Q2: What made you want to organise the BLM protest in your community?

A: I was+am so tired by the amount of racism and hatred in Cornwall, and I wanted to let the black people in the community know that there are lots of us that care and will stand up for them!

Q3: What was the most difficult aspect of organising the protest?

A: The hardest part was probably ensuring that everything was safe and social distanced as COVID-19 is obviously still a huge issue, but we managed to keep everyone 2m apart and still have over 1500 people attend!

Q4: What was the most rewarding moment?

A: The most rewarding moments were just letting black people in the community speak and share their experiences and witness their pain and raw emotion, and to hear their thanks for organising the protest, I really felt like I was helping people!

Q5: Has anything come from the protest/ had a lasting effect on your community?

A: More people in the community have shared their experiences with racism and exposed how much it happens in Cornwall, people have also contacted local schools etc and spoke to them about educating kids on the true history of the British empire and racism in Britain!

Q6: Do you have any tips for others wanting to organise their own BLM ( or other) Protest?

A: In terms of tips for organising, make sure there’s a small team of you as it’s a lot of work on your own, consider risk assessments and every possibility or things that could go wrong to make sure everyone is as safe as possible, and just gaining as much support as possible from local MP’s and people in positions of power, also contacting and cooperating with local news stations too!

For example I did an interview for bbc radio Cornwall, and for ITV westcountry (and was actually on tv which was crazy) but we got loads of great coverage and proved how much people care about Black lives matter!

To read another article about the event you can visit ‘Cornwall Live’ ! And also find other local BLM Protest on Facebook Events! OR ORGANISE YOUR OWN!

-THANKS FOR READING-

-BLACK LIVES MATTER-

We are Dedicating this week on The Orange Peel Blog to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Although the global media may not be covering the Real Life protesting and violence which is still occurring around the world, RACISM is still a Global issue that needs to be tackled. So this week we are sharing content from U.K based Artists and Activists who have produced work around the BLM movement or helped promote the message and tackle Racism in their own way.

Daisy ( OP Co-Creator) has created a series of ‘Black Lives Matter’ Badges+ Patches which are available to anyone who has donated to the BLM cause/ anyone who would like to purchase them!

Just message her at her Instagram- @_daisynell_

And if you would still like to support the Movement/ Donate to a good cause visit https://blacklivesmatter.com for all the resources you would need!

‘A surge of power (Jen Reid)’ 2020- Bristol. by Marc Quinn.

-Stay tuned this week for more BLM content+ Remember to check your Privilege-

Eluders Band

Today we are sharing an interview with the first Band we have featured on the Orange Peel!

Another Norfolk creative duo who go by Eluders! Keep reading to see the full interview and here some of their music!

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: Fin is 17 & Bri is 18, and we’re based in Norfolk.

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

A: We’ve both been playing our instruments for 8+ years, and we found eachother as our dads are close mates. Being into the same music, we just kinda clicked and after a few small gigs at local pubs, we decided to proper try and push ourselves!

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

A: Lots of our music is very politically written and focusing on themes that are impacting our lives.

Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?

A: COVID has completely ruined so many plans we had. We had new music in the works, tons of gigs upcoming, and even merch on its way but we haven’t got the equipment around us to get anything recorded now. stay at home & wash ur hands people, the sooner this gets sorted the sooner we can be back on stage.

Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: We both look up to similar people. Punk bands like ‘Strange Bones’ and the ‘Blinders’, upcoming local artists, are possibly are biggest inspirations!

Screenshot from ‘The Blinders’ ‘Brave new world’ MV

Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: 5 years is a long time, but we’ll probably be crowdsurfing somewhere, and if not, probably just sat on the sofa drinking tea. we live exciting lives.

Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?

A: Only advice we can give is don’t be a prick. EASY AS (:

‘green screen’ by Eluders Band.

You can find Eluders on Instagram – @weareeluders and also support them by listening to their music on Spotify!

-SEE YOU AGAIN SOON-

‘Home’ A Think Piece by Matilda Vidal.

About a month ago, I broke up with my boyfriend.

When I told him that he could stay in the room that we were renting and that I would
leave, he replied something that surprised me: he said that this place did not feel like
home if I wasn’t there and that there was no point for him to stay.
This made me think about what makes a place home. Is it the bond you have with the
people you share this space with, is the space itself just superficial?
The theme of “home” gradually appeared as a recurring theme in my photography. It
happened unexpectedly, but, this is the first time that I intellectualise it and put it into words.
My relationship with my home is quite profound, it is an important part of my life. Growing
up in the middle of nowhere in rural Brittany, France, means that you spend quite a lot of
time in your home. My parents always put a lot of work into their homes and have tackled
a lot of renovation projects. I have family members working in construction, some others
in antiques and my mother is an estate agent in the countryside. Hence a lot of my world
and the topics of conversation that I have heard since I was a child in my family, were
about houses and living spaces.
The result of this is that I am fascinated by spaces that people call home. I like familiarity
and habits, I like cities and urbanism, I like to know where people are from and what
draws them to their home. I love London and how it has become home for so many
people. It may be an apartment block, a basketball court, a busy high street; there are
always places that people call home in London and I want to learn more about them.
Moreover, in my work in production design for film, I always find myself thinking about
domestic places. Recreating living spaces for films is an amazing exercise that demands
a lot of attention to detail. It requires to dive deep into the script and its characters: their
history, their passions, their characters traits etc. What kind of decoration (if any) is on
the wall? Would the space be cluttered or neat and tidy? What food is in the fridge?
Every answer needs to be decided according to the story and characters, design in film,
is an essential part of storytelling. Thinking about those crucial and revealing details
while designing films, made me realise that I could also pursue them with my
photography.
When entering a home, I like to see the charm that spills out of a kitchen or the layers of
decoration that has built up in a bedroom throughout the years. When in an outside
location, I like to think about memories and nostalgia. I love to take picture of those
places that people have called home once and come back to later with reminiscence. Are
these a places calm and peaceful or are they places of chaos, anxiety and worry? What
are or what were the relationships like in these living spaces? I am attracted to the
atmosphere of a place, its light and how the objects scattered around can tell me so
much about a person without them being there. Hence, this love for the home, the house
and the familiar has become a recurring theme in my photography and is what directed
me in this series of photographs. Every room tells stories and I want to share them.

-Words + Images by Matilda Vidal.

Emily Coulson

We are proud to feature another creative today from North Norfolk, where the Orange Peel is based!

Keep reading to find out more about Emily, her artwork+ Lino Printing!

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: My name is Emily Coulson, I’m 21 and currently living in North Norfolk, (while searching for a house in central Norwich).

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

A: I started carving Lino Prints towards the end of my A-levels in 2017, then forgot about Lino printing for much of my first year of Uni. I started again during the summer between 1st and 2nd year of university after I realised I had been working mostly digitally during 1st year, and this was just not fun to me. Lino printing was something that allowed me to enjoy the process as well as the result. This has become really central to any work I produce – there has to be some hand-made element of unpredictability o surprise to the result, which there almost always is with Lino.

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

A: Increasingly my work explores+practices sustainability (:the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. And avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.) I have a recycling bin in my studio that isn’t really even a recycling bin as I dip in to it for materials to collage with. Or I use my misprints/ notes etc and then shred them to create packaging filler. I’ve recently been trying to make new paper out of the old scraps too. It has become a fun challenge for me to create work from the old, because I don’t see simply throwing anything out as an option anymore. As for the work I actually create, I almost always look to the past for the imagery I like to produce. Objects that are made with good craftmanship, a story behind them, things that are one-offs, unique. I prefer to look to the past, before the era of plastic mass production!

Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?

A: Prior to Covid-19, I was working 5 days a week in a restaurant, then squeezing in making things either in the early hours of the morning or the other 2 days a week. Since lockdown started though I do feel like I’ve had the most productive 3 months of my life… I’ve been able to focus on my practice, how I want to create work, without any other disruptions whatsoever. It’s kind of been like having a years’ worth of personal creative growth crammed into 3 months!

Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: One of my favourite artists/ printmakers is Eric Ravilious. His way of creating ‘pure pattern’ within his watercolour paintings is something that I completely adore. Ravilious had this ability to include so much pattern within one work, but make it so that the whole piece is still beautifully balanced. The same goes for his woodblock engravings, so many shapes and patterns within one piece but the compositions are so well thought out that it works wonderfully.

Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: I’d ideally like to be a freelance Illustrator, without a part time job by then! I’d hope to have really consolidated the way I want to work, and then be in a place to manage creating both work for myself to sell, and creating work for clients. I would really like to do something to help others like myself, starting a career in the creative industry. Teaching Lino print classes maybe? Or mentoring a local creative? I don’t know, but it’s definitely something I’d like to be doing by 5 years into the future, so I can give something back to the creative community.

Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?

A: Right now I’d say… Please do your research before you buy things – everything and anything! No fast fashion! Re-use and recycle! Buy second hand! OR buy it independent! Spend that little bit more money to make a small business grow AND get something that will actually last you a lifetime and means something!

Everyone knows the drill by now…To find more of Emilys work and support her you can go to he Instagram! Where you will also be able to find her Etsy store!

-SEE YOU AGAIN SOON-

‘Depression and Creativity’

A little background information on me, I had a easy childhood but always struggled academically due to dyslecsia which sometimes held me back, I am very open about my feelings and the challenges I have faced if I think this shall benefit others -hence this article. I started writing this article weeks after finishing my A levels of Fine Art, Photography and Media, I achieved A in AS art which gave me a real confidence boost.

‘Depression and creativity’

As someone who always has so many ideas of next projects and things I want to create it was extremely worrying and actually more upsetting that my creativity seemed to vanish. I wouldn’t say it was a next day realisation- more like a few months, starting though out August and it took me a while to recognise and link these sets of feelings together.

With the support of my boyfriend at the time I managed to open up to my mum about my negative and on going feelings, going to the doctors the next day at the start of October. I was hoping for help and support with these feelings that were so unknown to me, instead I was offered tablets and to come back 3 months later. I thought as seen in TV and movies that these anti- depressants would transform me into the person I previously was and fill the currently dark world in my eyes with rainbows and self love. How wrong I was. I was told it would take a few weeks for my anti depressants to start working, so I gave myself 2 weeks to almost relax and try to be stress free, watching my favourite programs and eatings as I pleased. I couldn’t even look at doing art of anything creative which was a completely knew feeling for me. I sadly started to realise that these tablets were not going to be the easy fix I had first hoped for. They made the days more bearable, I was able to get some sleep and have hours of not feeling completely drained and useless.

I’ve always been aware of such articles about artists and how their depression and unstable mental health allowed them to create their best work. Artists such as Tracey Emin and even musicians, who feel they need be in a depressive state to create their best work look at Amy Winehouse or Ian Curtis.

But this wasn’t me, I left I’d let myself down. Not that I ever wanted to be in a depressive state but if I created something out of it then at least it would have some advantage . My life from September till January wasn’t blissful. I couldn’t sleep, didn’t feel like doing anything. Any art I created angered me as I felt it was of a low and boring standard. I kept trying but wasn’t interested or inspired enough to really dealth deep to my arts.

I had no ideas, no creative flare, nothing. For the first time in my life I felt let down by the ideas that has previously bombarded my head. I thought that maybe it was never going to come back, that my education was ruined and finished.

From February my mental health started to improve, not miles or leaps but little bits like being able to sleep and deal with negative thoughts of my own work. So I have learnt a lot in this last year about depression and creavitiy and how to deal with both and try to come to a middle ground.

Its just learning to deal with it and not force creativity, this only makes you more frustrated, try and be kind to yourself and allow yourself time to figure stuff out.

Another element to being more creative and enjoying the arts was being more open with myself and others, trying to see the improvements of my work, creatitivley and in essays and research. Looking back on this academia year, I feel very proud of myself for not giving in and giving myself time to learn what triggers me and my negative thoughts. I feel I have learned a hella lot about myself as a person in both my mental state and the strength I had to keep going as well as the creativity that follows me. This is not a happy ending, I am still a long way from being happy and feeling ‘normal’ or ‘myslef again’ but I know I had a period of being rock bottom and I have made it though.

In the creative world there is always such a huge pressure to achieve and be successful in its very tight circle or artists and minds that have made it to the top. It is all about educating yourself as well as well as enjoying your education and learning, try not to look forward all the time. Enjoy the day. I am far from an expert, I am an 19 year old who struggles with my own body image and the fear of driving people away. I am still unstable, having days I do nothing but cry and these are now followed by days I enjoy with friends and family. But I never though I would be able to see a way forward and take steps to build a future for myself in the creative world after developing depression.

-THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING-

If you have your own Mental health issues make sure you share with loved ones or Professionals.

James Lissimore

Today on the Orange Peel, we are featuring yet another talented Photogrpher, James Lissimore! Continue reading to discover more about his alternative subculture imagery…

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

My name is James Lissimore, I’m twenty years old and work between Brighton and Colchester, Essex

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

Funnily enough I originally only took photography in college because I had to select four subjects and photography was one that took my interest more! Starting out working on abandoned buildings and creating source images for my oil paintings but as I matured I began to find interests elsewhere. mainly street photography and portraits.

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

My most popular work has been exploring the themes and ideas around subculture, titled ‘Revival’ Looking more specifically at Skinhead and Punk culture. As many people know skinhead culture is a very complex one; with the origins being a coming together of cultures. Where music (reggae and ska), dressing “properly” and being apart of a bigger collective of poeple, it developed into the football terraces and the coming together with punk culture lead to the creation of Oi! music. This development meant taller boots, harsher cropped hair and more experimental dress styles. I personally love both of these parts of the culture, but some identify with one or the other.

There has since been complications with the stealing of the culture by those who don’t hold the true values of what a skinhead really is, leading to the stigma to us all being nazi, racist thugs!

I aim to create work that educates the general public to what we really represent.

Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?

With the lockdown it has completely shut down all operations; having no opportunities to travel the country to find potential subjects for my work. I’ve tried to create work on my own but there are only so many photos that you can take of yourself in your own home. I’m intensely looking forward to lockdown ending and being able to resume my work.

Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

When looking at the history of skinhead culture there is a photographer’s name that comes up very frequently; Gavin Watson. He was just a teenager with a camera who fell into one of the most explosive subcultures in British history. He’d photograph the day to day situations of him and his friends, these photos would see the light of day in his book ‘Skins’ that reaffirmed his name as the definitive skinhead photographer

Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

With the current unpredictability of what’s going on it’s really hard to imagine what I’ll be doing in a few months let alone years. But the best case scenario is traveling Europe photographing the many different factions of skinhead culture throughout countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Italy. Worst case scenario is dying I think…

Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?

No one is lesser than another; we cannot judge entire groups of people by the actions of some and there needs to be changes from politicians and the rich before there can be real and true justice for those who need it.

To find more of James’ work you can go to his Instagram!

THANKYOU FOR READING- STAY SAFE

Matilda Vidal

Welcome to another Orange Peel Art Collective blog post!!

Today we are in conversation with Photographer Matilda whos work centres around the idea of “Home”! Keep your eye out for more of her work featured on our platform over the summer! ENJOY !

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

Hi! I’m Matilda, I am 22-year-old and I am a photographer based in Tottenham, London.

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

I’m French/English and have grown up in France. I moved here for my film studies. As I
started university, I got to meet loads of fellow creatives and collaborate with them for
films, music videos and photoshoots.
However, for photography, it started when I was a lot younger, I would always be the one
taking pictures at parties or whilst travelling. It came very naturally to me and has always
been a part of my life, there was no major event or deciding moment that pushed me to
start taking pictures, it just happened, and I went along with it!
I got into 35mm photography in the past 3 years and haven’t gone back to digital since. I
learned a lot from the 35mm “discipline”, not being able to see the result straight away
and being restricted to 36 or 24 exposures. I makes me think before I take the picture
rather than after.

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

One overarching theme for me has been the concept of home, familiarity and
domesticity. Of course, I am very privileged to even have a home and some people do
not have a place to call their permanent home. Homelessness is an essential part of the
story that is crucial to portray and talk about as, in a city like London, it implies a lot of
injustice and inequalities. I am planning to do something in collaboration with the
homeless shelter that I have been volunteering at.

Q4: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

Christopher Nunn is a photographer I have discovered in the past year that has really
changed my photography. His work Edith (2013), composed pictures taken whilst
clearing Edith’s flat after she passed away, taught me a lot about storytelling in
photography.

Image from Christopher Nunns project Edith.

I also really like the brutal honesty of eastern European contemporary photography in
which the theme of home is often present, either as a sort of nostalgia and longing, or as
a conflicting relationship. As Andy Galdi Vinko puts it talking about her work
HomeSickLand: “I have spent a lot of time abroad, longing for someplace else, like many
of my eastern European contemporaries, believing that my place and happiness lie
somewhere out there”.

Q5: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

In five years, I would love to make images that make a difference and talk about relevant
social topics. I want activism to be an essential part of my photography practice. I would
love to be working on a research-based projects, to produce relevant and well thought out
series of photographs!

To see more of Matilda’s Work, follow her Instagram!

And keep up-to-date on all the new OP Content by following our World Press Website and Instagram!

Jim Kernott

You may already be fimiliar with our next Highlighted Artist Jim Kernott- due to being 1 part of the ‘Lad + Dad’ Duo on popular Netfilx show ‘The Big Flower Fight’ !

However Myself and Daisy (OP co-creator) just know him as ‘Jim’ from UNI!

If your’e interested in knowing more about his work which covers a range of subjects like Mental Health, Upcycling + Badgers… then carry on reading the full interview bellow…

Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?

A: My name is Jim Kernott, I am 21 years old and I live in Eastbourne. I attend the University of Brighton, studying 3D design and craft.

Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?

A: I always liked art at school, I took it as GCSE but lost interest because it was mainly painting and drawing (both of which I suck at). I studied photography A-Level which I loved! which got me onto a foundation art course at college. It was during this course, I found I really enjoyed making! Creating tangible things, from ideas, to designs, to objects! It’s great. From there I began my university life at Brighton!

Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?

A:One topic I find myself returning to is mental health, in particular, men’s mental health. I enjoy starting a conversation to hopefully raise awareness for something that many people have, but sometimes don’t talk about! Recently I have been working with upcycled things and reclaimed wood which I am enjoying.

Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?

A: It has been difficult… At UNI we have workshops, specialist tools, top notch equipment, all of which is closed off to us students at the moment, so I thought I couldn’t make. I have learnt that I don’t need all the specialist equipment, I just need a willingness to put in some more hours to create some things. Currently, all I have is time, which can be filled with making! So I have been making some things for friends and family.

Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!

A: It changes quite regularly, but currently I really like the work by Olafur Eliasson. I visited his exhibition in the Tate Modern and I loved how experiential the whole thing was, you could really immerse yourself in the creations! I would love to work with him and his team one day!

Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

A: This question scares me… It’s a big world out there with lots to do and lots to experience! I have found that things pop up out of nowhere, I just need to stay ready for them I guess! Ideally, I will be creating. I’d like to work with an experienced creative person at some point, learn from them maybe like an apprentice (I like to learn new skills). I also really enjoyed being part of the ‘Big Flower Fight’show on Netflix, so maybe something else to do with TV? So overall, I’m not sure, whatever it is I hope to be enjoying it!

Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?

A: My one piece of advice, is if an opportunity presents itself, go for it, run with it. It might just be the best thing you will ever do! This is something I need to keep telling myself too!!

‘Usable Final Creation’ Jim Kernott 2019

Jim+ Dad ” Lad + Dad” Team on Netflix Show The Big flower Fight

To follow more of Jims work find him on Instagram !

Or watch him and his Dad on ‘The Big Flower Fight’ currently on Netflix !

-SEE YOU NEXT TIME-