Work Experience
Elephant magazine The Team Molly Taylor - Communications Manager Robert Shore - Editor Mark Valli - Publisher Benjamin Verheijden - Sales, Marketing and Distribution Emily Steer - Writer and Web Editor
The timing was perfect as I had just handed in two modules of work and the magazine were preparing for their Summer issue as their Spring issue had gone to print.
It was a nice office and a relaxed vibe, and I got to try many different jobs, attend meetings and visit galleries whilst there.
The Magazine Elephant is a quarterly art culture magazine founded in 2009, based in London and distributed in the UK, USA, The Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, France, Belgium, Australia, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, China, Finland, and Korea.
They share an office with Creative Agency/Graphic Designers Kind Studio in Bon Marche Centre, Brixton.
Elephant is one of the publications which puts art into language that anyone can understand. It is not pretentious or full of abstract metaphors. It connects on a personal level with artists, galleries and art collectives, and remains grounded with important issues in the art world and the real world.
Editorial #1
TOTE BAGS & POSTERS FOR ART FAIRS Going through the 2 most recent issues of Elephant to find suitable quotes which make a statement and would appeal to the reader, so they could be used on promotional merchandise at Art Fairs like Art Basel and The Armoury.
“Difference is not the problem. Power is the problem.” Kerry James Marshall
Bags and posters designed by Kind Studio
Meatwrec k
“You don’t have to understand art, you have to feel it.” Ugo Rondinone
#2
RESEARCH FOR SUMMER ISSUE - trans/non-binary artists and writers to feature - interesting statistics for infographics for gender issue
RESEARCH FOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
#3
- exhibitions and shows happening in New York during The Armoury - used knowlege I had learnt on internship to decide what would be worth going to
- presenting findings in Google spreadsheet with dates and addresses of shows
Communications
#1 COMPETITORS & THEIR ADVERTISERS Going through competitor magazines like ArtReview, listing their advertisers in a Google spreadsheet, finding the relevant contacts and emailing them with the Elephant Media Pack about becoming an advertiser
#2 STUDENT SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE Looking on art websites and blogs to see what advertising they offer – (Elephant looking to put a banner on a website to push student subscriptions) then emailing these websites for their Media Packs.
Independent Art Fair Brussels
Meetings and visits Laurence King Publishing Weekly visits with all the team members to discuss all aspects of the magazine.
Roman Road Gallery
Victor Payares
Visited with Molly to look at Esol Parcheesi exhibition, subsequently wrote a piece as practice and Molly gave feedback.
Breese Little Gallery
Jason Sprague
Nicholas Hatfull
Visited with Molly and Emily. Had coffee with owner of gallery and discussed exhibition for a web piece Emily was writing.
LCF Fashion space gallery
Curated by EJ Scott
Molly asked me to visit this gallery on my own so I could feed back about the current exhibition and practice my writing.
Writing LCF: Museum of Transology 20 Jan - 22 April Fashion Space Gallery, London Strikingly personal and diverse, Museum of Transology comprises of more than 120 objects, accompanied by handwritten labels which explore the symbolic and sentimental value of these objects beyond their physical substance. The owners of these objects include individuals who have been displaced and ostracised throughout their gender journeys. Curated by Fashion Historian and trans activist E-J Scott in a space which is known for its innovative exhibitions, this collection is as diverse as the community which it represents, ranging from breast tissue preserved in formaldehyde to a My Little Pony soft toy.
Something else you should know: Curator E-J Scott will reveal his own trans narrative through a variety of objects collected from the hospital during his life-changing chest surgery. Quote:
“Trans bodies and lives can be wondrous and unique, not a disappointment or a faulty replica. The truth is that most trans peoples’ experiences are not in any way associated with the Caitlin Jenner’s of this world.”
Now Showing: Victor Payares at Roman Road 21 Jan - 25 Feb Victor Payares is a Cuban artist who currently resides in London, his works are primarily painting, installation and sculpture, and at his current solo exhibition at Roman Road, you can see the diversity and allure of his work in which he repurposes disregarded objects and shares personal and stimulating memories through Esol Parcheesi. At first glance, Esol Parcheesi is a striking installation, and through understanding of the experience Payares is sharing, it becomes an enveloping experience. This particular immersive installation sets about to stimulate memories, particularly those of Payares’ childhood during the Cuban ‘Special Period’ – the extended period of economic crisis in Cuba, primarily due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Payares’ grandfather was a recognised architect, known for mixing modernism and Art Nouveau designs, as a result, ornate windows with hyperbolas and parabolas were the lenses through which Payares saw the world. During the ‘Special Period’ Payares also recalls lengthy power outages in which he would be able to gaze at the clear and starry night sky with his grandmother. Both of these experiences, in part, inspired this installation.
Choking on Multicoloured Scarves is visually captivating, it is a wonderful example of process-based art inspired by the everyday, containing curvilinear forms, which, similar to the windows, outline his scenes and instantly change such recollections into objects of visual dialogue. Sharing the space with Choking on Multicoloured Scarves is a tiled roof with a 3.5m antenna. Initially the pieces may appear disconnected, it could perhaps be interpreted as “an invitation to perch on the roof and gaze at his painting”. The found objects which have been given a new purpose through Payares’ installation invite attention to detail from the observer. These objects include cables, clothing labels and lenses from sunglasses, and they are intertwined with acrylic and modelling paste to bring together the literal and visual components of his landscapes. Victor Payares ‘Esol Parcheesi’ is now showing at Roman Road, London until 25 February.
extras
Whilst in London I tried to make the most of every opportunity. So the extras are the events I attended outside of my internship to network and gain inspiration.
Magculture x mushpit Valentines Card Making 11th Feb
Mushpit is easily one of my favourite magazines. Therefore when I saw the opportunity to go and make valentines cards with Charlotte and Bertie, the co-creators of the magazine - I couldn’t miss it. In case you don’t know, Mushpit is an uncompromising satirical/ political/feminist mag which follows no rules. Full of faux comical adverts and playing with graphic design, they do exactly what they want and don’t try to please anyone. I got to chat and drink G+T and make some fab cards, and at the end of the afternoon, I approached Charlotte and gave her my business card. I am hoping that in the future I will be able to help out with Mushpit or contribute in some way and am glad I took this opportunity.
Stack Magazines Love Letters at the Ace Hotel 13th Feb Alternative Valentines Readings
Hotdog Mag Nii Journal Dirty Furniture The Happy Reader Funhouse
Molly Taylor and her friend Megan run a magazine which makes poetry fun, accessible and feminist. Molly invited me to attend this event with her, organised by Steve, the owner of Stack Magazines, who I got to meet. As well as creators of the other magazines listed. I got to hear some alternative valentines readings from a representative of each magazine - my personal favourite was a piece by Dirty Furniture about sex on tables! This was a fun evening and a great networking opportunity, as I was introduced to Beccy Hill, the creator of Sister Magazine who also made me aware of Achey Breaky Heart Zine.
Grrrl Zine fair at moth club International Women’s Day celebrations 12th March Cuntry Living Sister Magazine Achey Breaky Heart Zine Polyester Magazine Femini Magazine Tori West and many more!
I bought some great zines and got to meet loads of new people. I got talking to Sophie Holmes, after mentioning that I met her friend Beccy at the Stack event, and we chatted and I bought her zine, Achey Breaky Heart Zine.