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Publications
L’ART
ISSUE 15 ISSUE 13
Be Creative
CONTENTS
4 D&L Style 6 Word On The Street 7 London Fashion Week 16 UNITY - A Night For Stephen Lawrence
21 Miss P Foundation 28 The Voice UK’s Matt Henry 32 Dawn Richard 36 Model Ruby Johns
Editor’s Letter
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i all and welcome to the this show is set to be a birthfifteenth issue of L’ART; day celebration to go down the unity issue. in New Theatre history. Discover words from performers With the summer months in who have become like famfull swing, as well as the fes- ily and a message from the tival season, it’s now time founder herself. for the capital’s biggest event of the year yet. Of course Read all this and more as covit’s time for London Fashion er star music artist Dawn RiWeek and to celebrate we have chard prepares audiences for spreads of future and past top the release of her follow up designers, plus a feature inter- album Blackheart, The Voice view with Oxford’s very own UK’s Matt Henry updates you model, Ruby Johns. on life after the show, plus we take a look back at the work of Speaking of local talent, the the Stephen Lawrence FounMiss P Foundation are looking dation ahead of a special night forward to celebrating their of UNITY at London’s O2. fifth birthday and with the help of talented singers, dancers and performers out there, Daniella & Letisha
Cherry Cherry, £25.00
Zara, £59.99
Style D&L
WORD ON THE STREET
It’s not long to go before Body Politic present the dance showcase that you’ve all been waiting for.
Image Source: Body Politic
They had a huge success with their last show at the Town Hall and now they have got an even greater line-up for you at Pegasus Theatre. Word on the street is that performers for the night include Got To Dance semi-finalists Poison, plus a great collection of professional and semiprofessional acts. ‘Body Politic is back with a bang.’
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nglish fashion designer Henry Holland burst into the fashion industry when he first designed his slogan tees with catchphrases that attracted many eyes. ‘Get Your Freak On Giles Deacon’ was a favourite, as well as ‘I’ll Tell You Who’s Boss, Kate Moss’.
‘Henry designs with a London girl aesthetic in mind and is continually inspired by the variety of attitudes, cultures and mindsets that exist throughout the UK capital. The House of Holland girl is cool, confident and savvy and wears labels without letting them wear her.’
Lots of colour, bold prints and a forever-growing collection of his trademark t-shirt’s; we can’t wait to see House of Holland at LFW!
Image Source: accelerate-productions, house of holland, retailtechnology.co.uk, timeoutbeijing.com, Tumblr
Following this stint, Henry featured his designs in his first London Fashion Week catwalk show in 2008 and the brand is now very well known and in its 13th season with a huge following.
Past LFW collections you can buy in store or online NOW!
RAG American fashion label – Rag & Bone - is run by two Britishborn managers. Both David Neville and Marcus Wainwright are responsible for the classic tailored look that Rag & Bone represent. But although the pair are from the UK, the brand still has a real US edge to it as well as an ‘understated New York aesthetic’. Rag & Bone design for men and women and also have a range of jeans made up of many styles, including bootleg, straight cut, boyfriend, skinny and a whole lot more. Plus, as it’s an international store, you can find Rag & Bone in New York, Washington, Boston, Dallas, Tokyo, London, Seoul and LA; to name a few.
Image Source: Rag & Bone
& BONE
Experiencing shoe factories, visiting last makers (mechanical form of shoe) and really learning everything about this new-found trade, he worked towards producing his first shoe collection. Then in 2001
Image Source: inwaterflowers.co.uk, myshoppingspy, iamnotacelebrity.com
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upert Sanderson is a luxury shoe designer. He is originally from Malaysia but studied and graduated in the UK from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. Although he started working in advertising, once Rupert enrolled onto a shoe making course, he never looked back.
he founded his own company and he has continued to release endless amounts of fabulous shoes. With a motto of ‘less is more’, every Rupert Sanderson shoe is also named after an English daffodil. ‘Avoiding augmentation and over-dressing the foot, he concentrates on perfecting the line, volume and material to flatter and lengthen the leg, which makes women feel sexier.’
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w e n t y 8 Tw e l v e launched in 2007. It has grown into a global brand and has a selection of boutiques in London, with an added bonus of their clothes being sold in over 20 countries worldwide.
Sisters Sienna and Savannah Miller created the fashion label, but stepped down as co-creative directors after leading the company together after six years. Twenty8Twelve is now run by the current design team who have been with them since the start of their business launch.
8 Twelve
Image Source: twenty8twelve.com
Twenty8Twelve are known for their references to film, culture, art and ‘the masculine and the feminine’ and these all represent the personality of the company. New characters are created every season as if they are creat-
ing a story through their clothes, but this also inspires the designers ‘to evolve the collection to a new level’.
Twenty
It has been 20 years since the murder of Stephen Lawrence. This special concert is about raising funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, who are dedicated to developing brighter futures for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This one-off concert has been set up to continue raising awareness and money for the Stephen Lawrence Trust and it’s also a chance for providing more opportunities ‘for those disadvantaged by their colour, their postcode, their ethnicity or their poverty – across the UK’.
UNITY
Image Source: AEGlive, obv.org
Each artist who is performing a song has had that track specifically chosen ‘for their social message’. ‘Through the work of Stephen’s mother, Doreen Lawrence and the Stephen Lawrence Trust, Britain is changing but there is still much more to be done. The SL20 campaign, set up by the Trust to mark this important anniversary, aims to highlight Stephen’s legacy and the vital work undertaken by the charity in his name. This concert will play a pivotal role in the SL20 initiative.’
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A Concert For Stephen Lawrence Stephen was a very keen artist and was very good at maths and design.
He used both of these skills to gain work experience as an architect alongside Arthur Timothy’s practice. He was also aiming to build his knowledge and skills at University.
of Stephen. ‘Since 2000, the trust has helped many young people realise their ambitions to become architects by supporting them with bursaries and mentoring support’.
Today, the Stephen Lawrence Charitable trust do everything they can for young people in the community in memory
On Sunday September 29th, various artists will come together to support this concert in honour of Stephen. So
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far the line-up includes Emeli Sande, Rizzle Kicks, Labrinth, Plan B, Jamie Cullum, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental, Ed Sheeran, Soul II Soul and a lot more are still to be added. Tickets are on sale now. Support the cause and unite in Stephen’s name. UNITY.
U N I T Y
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eptember 29th 2013 is the date and the London O2 is the venue, but do you have your ticket? This special date not only signifies a night of music performed by some of the UK’s greatest artists today, but holds the significance of uniting all in the love of music in memory of the late Stephen Lawrence. Stephen sadly lost his life to racial aggravated knife crime back in 1993, but the matter and the initial injustice of crime has continued to remain a timeless case and a pivotal one regarding racial crime at that. The work of his family and his mother Doreen in particular have continued to help produce a positive outcome following his death, with the Stephen Lawrence Charity Trust, architectural arts building and magazine to name a few having been created in his name and offering guidance and opportunities for the youth of today.
stage at the O2!” To have so many of today’s young generation and their music idol’s on board is bound to feel greatly rewarding. ‘The concert aims to unite communities and bring people of all backgrounds togethSpeaking to us about being a er through the common lanpart of the event, Jessie J ex- guage of music. pressed her feelings about the occasion. ‘Make sure you show your support in raising awareness “I am so proud to be support- and money for the Stephen ing the amazing work that Lawrence Trust.’ And with Doreen Lawrence and the the tracks artists are performStephen Lawrence founda- ing being specially chosen, tion do,” she said. “To be a this personal tribute and honpart of a campaign to improve ourary celebration is sure gothe future of the next genera- ing to be an emotional but retions and to promote equality warding night to remember. for all races is a cause close to my heart. Can’t wait to get on Get your tickets now!
A Concert For Stephen Lawrence
“All of the girls at Raw Diva love taking part in the Miss P shows; everyone is so friendly and welcoming and we always have such a good time. It’s great to be able to make a difference and help raise money for such a worthwhile cause just by doing something that you love doing!” - Jenni Middleton- Founder of Raw Diva
“The Miss P Fundraiser is a great opportunity for a variety of people to perform in front of a large audience. It has helped me a lot to develop as a dancer and to increase my abilities in certain styles of dance. It has also helped me gain confidence to perform in front of an audience.” - Ella Jones- Miss P Performer
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ave you heard? This year Oxford based charity the Miss P Foundation will be celebrating their fifth anniversary and you’re invited! The organisation which is dedicated to raising money and offering financial support for those wanting careers in the arts, has seen its journey start off entertaining a small audience at Headington Girls School and Pegasus Theatre to its home now of three years in Oxford’s New Theatre to 800+ people. From themes of Motown, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and more to productions and excerpts from Oliver and The Wiz, the Miss P Foundation and their friends who come in the form of solo acts, singers and dancers, local and visiting have a great reputation in putting on an enjoyable show for all the family to enjoy.
Whether coming to watch a daughter, son, friend or even a mother join the Miss P Family & Friends on stage, this year’s event promises to be a celebration on stage from start to finish with new and returning acts showing their talent and appreciation for being involved in a great cause and their shared love in performing arts. Be sure to save the date Saturday October 5th at 19.00 and save those extra pennies for a raffle and refreshments on the night amidst fun, celebratory pieces - as acts choose their own pieces free from the traditional annual themes - and some musical fun from the Miss P Performers. We’ll see you there.
“Dance Connection have performed at the Miss P Fundraiser for the past two years. It’s our way of saying thank you to a wonderful charity without whom some of our own pupils would not be following their dreams. Our pupils love the event, they have so much fun and it’s such a great experience for them to perform in such an exciting venue. We would like to wish Miss P Foundation lots of success for their 5th celebration year and can’t wait to be part of it!” - Sam Clifton- Founder of Dance Connection
Image Source: The Miss P Foundation Photography by Andrew Murray
“The Miss P Foundation is almost five years old and it has been the most fantastic journey. We have laughed, performed, cried, danced and sang for the benefit of young people in the Arts and this is still only the beginning. We started out as a small group with a small vision and we are now a committee with massive dreams and accomplishments. Working for the benefit of young people remains to be our key objective, as Alain Locke put it, “The younger generation is vibrant with a new psychology, the new spirit is awake in the masses . . . Each generation . . . will have its creed.” Here’s to the next five years of supporting young people.” - Beverley Harry- Miss P Foundation Founder/Director
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ince successfully making it to the final of The Voice, it has been a rollercoaster ride for Matt Henry full of lots of twists and turns, but it’s a ride that Matt doesn’t want to end any time soon. Since then he has had the opportunity to perform at a host of shows including the Wireless Festival.
MATT HENRY
“Performing at my first UK festival; it was amazing,” said Matt. “It was an amazing experience. There was so much love and support.” And another person who continuously gave Matt incredible amounts of love and support, was his mentor on The Voice, UK, music artist Jessie J. On screen Jessie is such a fiery character and you can really witness her passion for music, per-
forming and what she does. It’s definitely real and Matt can vouch for that from a more personal level. “I totally enjoyed working with Jessie. She’s so straight down the line with what she wants from you as a vocalist. She continuously pushes you to always get the best results in the end.” But the love didn’t stop there. Away from the hardcore training and singing sessions, Jessie wouldn’t stop there with the hospitality. She would also cook for her team members. So we couldn’t let this moment pass without asking what he really thought about her cooking skills! “Jessie’s cooking was amazing. Comfort food after a hard day of re
Now, Matt’s next huge gig is like no other he has done before, because he is headlining his own show at London’s Indig02! So preparing for this is taking up a lot of his time right now, as he wants to put on the best show for his fans. He has been staying pro-active and doing a lot of song writing and recording, which tells us that Matt has a lot in store for us to hear in the very near future. But for now, he is putting ‘the best show together’ for everyone who is supporting him. So what can we expect from his up and coming performance? “Well if Wireless is anything to go by - an emotional rollercoaster of fun, upbeat songs and emotive singing. I’m a show man at heart so I love to put on a show.” And a show is exactly what you’re going to get. Did you know that he has some special guests lined up to join him on stage? “We are in talks with several special guests to take part. I
would love to have Cleo Higgins join me on stage, as I had so much fun with her on the show.” He is still in talks with a few artists and he gets to choose the final acts himself; exciting stuff! So it’s been revealed that Matt will be performing some of his new material, which received a great response when debuted at the Wireless Festival and this has left Matt feeling positive and on the right track. He will also be singing a few of his favourite covers, including Emeli Sande’s ‘Wonder’. “I loved performing ‘Wonder’. Opening the first live show was a huge honour and responsibility. My favourite song I enjoyed singing would have to be ‘Trouble’. If it had not been for that song, this journey may never have happened.” And what an incredible journey it has been for us to watch. Matt now aims to complete an album in the future, so definitely watch this space! In the meantime, get your tickets to see the show-man live at London’s Indig02, October 28th for a show-stopping performance.
Image Source: Facebook, Tellymix
hearsals in the studio is definitely 10/10.” Good job Jessie!
Dawn Richard
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XCLUSIVE: With part two of her trilogy album set to be released in the coming months, US singer DAWN RICHARD took some time out of her busy tour schedule to give L’ART the latest before the anticipated release.
the story? A panther finally in its element. A lot of house influence and bold sounds‌ blunt undertones and sure lyrics. When can we expect the official release?
How is the album promotion on the road going? Soon. I have some tricks under my sleeve first. Incredible. The critics have been amazing and the move- Do you have any personal ment is growing by the num- favourites when it comes to bers. the track listings? Blackheart is next to follow It changes every day. Goldenheart. What type of mood and vibe can we ex- What can you tell us about pect from the next piece of the third and final piece to
Blackheart
the puzzle?
ogy album stem from?
Reading lots of books. Things like ‘The Iliad’. The stories So Goldenheart served as that were never ending. I your second solo album re- wanted an album that had a lease back in January and series or a continuous idea. was often described as the ‘post break up concept al- What have you enjoyed bum’. How would you per- most so far about the trilogy sonally describe the writing process? process and inspiration for yourself? Pushing my limits. Getting out of my comfort zone crea“The pre warm-up for a battle tively. concept album.” I was writing in the perspective of a young We look forward to continuwarrior in her first war. ing with you in your musical journey from DK, to ArWhat message did you want mor On and today’s trilogy. to get across to your fans Having been on a challengthroughout the track list- ing but rewarding journey, ing? what achievements are you most proud of to date? That not every battle can be won, but each makes you a I have found my utopia in this better fighter. madness called life. Where did the idea for a tril-
Image Source: 2RS Entertainment Photography by Solmaz Saberi & Joseph Sinclair
It exemplifies jubilation.
Model Behaviour With Ruby Johns
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ave you ever wondered how your favourite model got her big break? Every model has her story and for Ruby Johns hers simply came on an Oxford outing. Spotted outside the town’s McDonalds, Ruby’s career as a model began when she was scouted by Select Model Management and although it was something she had never really considered partaking, she has been extremely passionate about her journey ever since. “I had never considered modelling until that point. I had always wanted to be a pilot or an actress,” she said. “I’m grateful for the unique opportunities which I’ve been given from such a young age. I carry the same strong passion in my acting career,” an art which she is excited to keep learning about. Working as a fashion and commercial model since 2008, Ruby has seen herself gain a lot of experience as a model, in particular areas of fashion, runway, commercial, beauty and hair. Her first role came in the form of a Tony & Guy campaign. Reminiscing on the event, Ruby laughs. “My hair was chopped off and dyed bright orange. It took me quite a
while to get rid of that colour. “I really enjoy shooting beauty. I love experimenting with the different products and looks.” Never failing to stand out with her highly defined cheekbones (she’s got her mum and nana to thank for that), Ruby not only praises her experience gained over the years as a benefit of modelling but also thinks highly of the travelling opportunities that are on offer, with her favourite destinations being Dubai and the Caribbean. Having shot a formal fashion campaign in the Caribbean and a swimwear campaign in Dubai, both locations remain top of her list as far as her resume goes. “Both locations were stunning! Shooting on a beach can be a hard day’s work though, honest (laughs). Especially when it’s 40 degrees.” Having not long returned from a shoot in the Middle East, Ruby was excited to share the images from her ‘fantastic’ experience and you can see the stunning results by keeping up with her socially for the big reveal.
“I’ve recently finished working on a really exciting job opportunity, which I can’t actually share with anybody yet. It’s the biggest highlight of my career so far. All will be revealed in good time.” When she’s not jetting off to scenic locations or furthering her acting skills, Ruby loves to take inspiration from her fashion icons, in particular Victoria Beckham. Describing her wardrobe choices as classy, classic and feminine, these are traits that draw Ruby to the fashionista on a daily basis. “She’s a great role model for women everywhere. “My ultimate modelling goal is just to continue enjoying the job role, to be happy in what I’m doing and travel the world for work as much as I possibly can,” Ruby reveals. “I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many beautiful locations through work. That’s probably my favourite part. I love globetrotting.” This summer Ruby will be focusing on her acting career and we look forward to seeing her progress in another avenue, as well as discovering her much anticipated shots from her favourite shoot.
Follow Ruby for updates on her Twitter @rubyjohns. Image Source: Ruby Johns
Want to donate to the Stephen Lawrence Charity Trust? Give online at www.justgiving.com/slct/Donate or text SLCT20 followed by £1 £2 £3 £4 £5 or £10 to 70070 e.g. ‘SLCT20 £10’.