22 Girls Smoking Weed exhibition

In their first-ever collaboration, artist Jesse Willesee, of Seven Hundred Photos fame, and music video director Daniel Havas have combined forces with 22 ladies to create a fun, intimate and thoroughly modern portrait of the enigmatic, fashionable and creative young women of their generation – all who happen to enjoy smoking weed.

The resulting images are a tribute to those acts of ‘casual art’ and self-portraiture found on popular blogging sites like Tumblr. This show marks the first installment of Jesse Willesee’s ‘Tumblr Trilogy”, a series of exhibitions which explore those artistic, pop cultural and personal preoccupations, known as ‘trending topics”, of the ‘Tumblr generation’ – one of which, time and again, is the use and glamorization of marijuana.

Photographed and filmed entirely on iPhone, using fish-eye lenses and filters, the resulting film and collection of over 40 photographs is part of the emerging iPhone-ography movement which sees artists, filmmakers and photographers forgo traditional equipment and instead capture the world as they see it through modern gadgets.

The show will take over the expanse of the now-abandoned Dr Pong bar in Sydney and transform it into a complete 22 Girls experience, with an exhibition featuring over 40 photographs, a large-scale video projection, as well as a live installation, music, a ‘pizza party’ and themed merchandise including tote bags and collector cards.

THURSDAY 19 APRIL 7PM @ 1A BURTON ST SURRY HILLS (THE OLD DR PONGS), SYDNEY

Analogue photo exhibition, Brighton

We were lucky enough to be present at the preview of Analogue Brighton's photo exhibition the other day, where we were beguiled by work from a talented group of like-minded enthusiasts of analogue photography, all of whom are still using vintage and lomography cameras. 

Analogue (organised by Collate Presents - who are a curatorial team based in Brighton) features the talents of Tom Welland  Lomokev  Adam Bronkhorst  25ThC  (of Bobbysix fame!) and Captainbonobo and brings together many images - largely of Brighton - in a variety of ingenious and interesting ways. Cross processing slide film, multiple exposures and film swaps are some of the techniques which present iconic shots of the grand old city through different eyes. What is especially refreshing about the exhibition, in an age when everyone thinks they are a photographer and can take a shot 100 times in order to get it right, is the sheer inventiveness of the photographers and the laborious lengths to which they go to create an out-of-the-ordinary image. And, of course, without the immediacy of digital technology, sometimes they have to wait weeks just to see if their efforts have been fruitful.

The exhibition is definitely worth your time and runs from now until the 27th April 12pm-5pm. You can find Analogue at Artist Residence Gallery, 33 Regency Square, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GG

Here's a couple of snaps from the launch, attended by Bobbysix's Alice, Bobby and, of course, 25ThC (below):

Review and photos by Bobby Townsend

Analogue photo exhibition hits Brighton!

Bobbysix's own 25ThC is taking part in a photography exhibition in Brighton over the next few weeks. Get along check out the awesomeness:

Over the past six months or so a group called Analogue Brighton on Flickr has brought together a talented group of like-minded analogue enthusiasts. All of whom are still using vintage and lomography cameras. These cameras combined with cross processing slide film, using multiple exposures and film swaps are producing stunning and original images.

There have been a number of recent meet-ups which have included night-time photo walks and light painting. It has now all culminated in the first combined exhibition – Analogue - presented by Collate Presents  who are a curatorial team based in the glory land that is Brighton.

After the success of CP’s previous exhibitions MULLITOVER and #offbeige which brought in a whopping 1000 visitors, press and special guests, they are back with a new and exciting show at Artist Residence in Brighton. Analogue will feature five of Brighton’s most talented lens-based artists who work with vintage and Lomography cameras.

This is no ordinary photography exhibition. This is your chance to witness the genius of technical and creative uses of the camera. The artists involved are: Tom Welland  Lomokev  Adam Bronkhorst  25ThC and Captainbonobo .

On Wednesday 21st March the doors will open to the press, as well as a guest list of Brighton-based galleries, creators, art dealers, academics and writers. The evening will offer the chance to get up close and personal to a selection of rare vintage cameras, as ever there will be a well-stocked bar and with a big thanks to LOMOGRAPHY there will be a raffle for your chance to win a Lomo Sardinia camera. The general public will be offered the chance to see this inspiring collection of works during the Open Exhibition on the 22nd March - 27th April 12pm-5pm. Come along with an open mind and expect to be inspired.

You can find Analogue at Artist Residence Gallery, 33 Regency Square, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2GG

Melbourne's Laneway Festival 2012: a photographer's perspective

Bobbysix snapper Vinisha Mulani talks us through her experience in the photography pit at Melbourne's Laneway Festival:

St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Melbourne - also known as The Hipsters' Annual Mass Migration to Footscray. The banks of the Maribyrnong River and the Footscray Community Arts Centre were bouncing with sunshine, tattoos and on-trend attendees. A gem of a venue, the Footscray Community Arts Centre had incredible views of the river, lush grassy knolls and even a few graffitti-clad laneways to boot. I had managed to wangle a photopass - despite my camera being approximately two metres shorter than the other photographers' and naked of accessories. Hanging out at the photo pit felt a little bit like a first day at a new school and your skirt being too long. Or not having a Tamagochi.

After getting over my camera's inferiority complex (the festival had everything short of portable counselling sessions - Melbourne's beloved BeatBox Kitchen & Taco Truck both made an appearance), I became a Photography Warrior. Despite being ill-equipped of extra weapons, before I knew it I was dodging and weaving through various jutting lenses and camera bags in the photo pit, shooting (get it?) subjects I've never seen that close before, and did not even bang into anyone's equipment (cough). 

Together, my camera and I developed girl-crushes on the amazing array of strong female performers inclusive of Anna Calvi and the incredible Maddie Follin of The Cults. My view of the audience also changed. Usually in festivals I'm on a constant tip-toe, drowning in a sea of the lucky tall - but from the photo-pit a new perspective emerged. (See image below of two girls crushing on Jonti with ukelele- giggling, hand over mouth, wide-eyed, head tilt). 

Highlights of the festival: Starting the day with Husky, a blue sky and a view of the river - the musical equivalent of having a massage on the beach. Being close to Active Child's harpistry. No long queues. The aforementioned girl crushes. An ice cream break (it was hot). Surviving the photo pit.

Words and pictures by Vinisha Mulani. Check back later in the week for Heidi Pett's full review of Sydney Laneway 2012.

We need writers, photographers and a new name in exchange for free shit!

Hello, it's Bobby here.

I'm excited to say that Bobbysix.com is soon to get a major relaunch. Over the past five years, the blog has grown from something I would muck about with every now and again to a site that is updated daily, has a team of excellent writers and that gets a mega number of hits. Basically, it's become a bit too much for one person to cope with. My inbox is like a war zone. Although, admittedly, for that analogy to work you'd need to replace dead bodies with unanswered emails, which isn't quite as dramatic.

Anyway, the point of all this is to say that, in the new year, I'm teaming up with my Deputy Editor (the awarding-winning Heidi Pett) to create something brand new and really fucking cool. It'll still have the same awesome contributors as the B6, but it'll be prettier, more user-friendly and with in-depth writing from all over the globe.

But, to achieve this, we require your help. The first thing we need is a new name for the site. Thus far we have come up with nothing (my only suggestion of heidi is shit dot com didn't go down too well). So, please give us your ideas, either in the comments section below or to info@bobbysix.com. Everyone that suggests a name will go into a prize draw and we'll pick a winner at random and give them some free shit (gig tickets, CDs, that kinda thing).

Also, we're on the look out for more writers/photographers to join our fabulous team. We can't pay you at this stage, but we can send you to gigs/festivals and throw some free music at you. Plus, you might get to interview/photograph your heroes. If you think you've got what it takes to write/photograph for us, then send an email to info@bobbysix.com - maybe with an example of your work. We are especially looking for people across the UK, Northern America  (notably New York and San Francisco), Melbourne, Brisbane and all over Europe. So, yeah, if you are aspiring writer/photographer, then it's a good opportunity for you to get your work out there.

Also also, we need someone to help us design the new site. So if you're a bit of a spekky brainbox, firstly, you're our kind of dude, and secondly, help us build the damn thing and we'll ply you with booze/food/sexual favours/cuddles.

Once the new site is up, we're gonna have a massive launch party (infact, maybe even several launch parties across the globe). First though, please, for the love of God, help us think of a fucking name.

Lovecat Magazine - Reigniting your love of the printed page

 
Everyone keeps telling us that print is a dead medium. Why would anybody walk into a shop and buy a magazine when they can just see it all on their laptop, ipad or smart phone? And with less people buying magazines, the industry has got a little lazy and disillusioned. Therefore the quality has dipped and there is even less chance of people bothering to spend their hard earned pennies in their local newsagent. It's a Catch 22 situation.

So we should say a massive HOORAY to Lovecat Magazine for putting the cat amongst the pigeons, for giving the magazine industry an almighty kick up the arse and for reigniting our love for the printed page. Lovecat Magazine is a new fashion model fanzine bursting out of the USA. Taking its identity from the old school Teen Beats and Punk Rock fanzines, but with a pinup approach and published quarterly, it features some of the hottest models shot by some of the top and up-and-coming fashion photographers.

Much like Bobbysix.com does with its favourite models and musicians in its Getting To Know... series, Lovecat features fan interviews that give the reader an inside look into some of the lives of the girls we see on countless billboards and magazines. Each new issue is a mix of models, art, music, fashion and beauty in an unconventional form , making it a collectors item.

Brilliantly-named editors in chief, Prince Peter Chenova and Jacob Dekat, say in their debut issue, "After reading countless fashion magazines, we honestly just became bored. We felt a dire need to create something that was missing. These uncensored visual tales are meant to take you back to the supermodel days, when beauty and femininity ruled the world. Love, Collect, and Enjoy."

If the first issue is anything to go by, Lovecat Magazine will certainly be worth collecting. We love Paz de la Huerta and we ADORE the work of Ellen Von Unwerth (did you see her amazing recent shoot with Dioni Tabbers?). So put Ellen and Paz together and you are on to the ultimate winner. If that weren't enough good shit for issue number one, then wonderful human being Britany Nola (above) - who was first interviewed here at Bobbysix.com - is featured too. Double winner!

But the best thing about Lovecat Magazine is that it is clearly created with a passion and a respect for its medium. It is edgy, dangerous, exciting. Impressively, it combines the artistic beauty of a coffee-top glossy with the don't-give-a-fuck edginess of a fanzine made with glue and scissors. 

Issue One is on sale now. You can pick it up in the US and in selected stores in Europe or you can purchase it from Lovecatmagazine.com.

 

Words by Rob Townsend
For more cool stuff like this, follow Bobbysix.com at Facebook 

Brighton Fashion Week - Brighton Frocks Show

The Brighton Frocks show is always the beating heart of Brighton Fashion Week and, with designers Charlotte Appleby, Afton Ayache, Former Glory, Briar Rose Kelleher, Katie Newsam, Bugsy Pants, Sarina Poppy, I. Am. Ralph, Red Mutha and Joy Williams all showing their wares, it was no surprise to see a long queue snaking from the grand old St Martin's Church long before the doors opened. Upon entry, the glitterati of the fashion scene effortlessly offered their best Blue Steel to the snapping paps, air-kissed acquaintances and sipped wine while they excitedly waited for the show to get under way.

Backstage couldn't have offered more of a contrast to the relaxed vibe in the main auditorium. Anyone who has ever stepped behind the curtain of a fashion show will know the score. It's barely controlled carnage back there. An explosion of colour and a blur of movement. Boobs, bums, abs and hair everywhere as male and female models dash around the cramped room frantically trying to ready themselves. A fug of hairspray fills the atmosphere. Everybody is in somebody's way as they try to keep to the tightest schedule. Were the uninitiated to accidentally venture into this madness, they would never believe that proceedings would kick-off on time. But this is par for the course with a catwalk event, and the show does indeed go on, perfectly on schedule. Like a swan, no matter how much splashing and kicking takes place beneath the surface, the above-water elegance is never compromised.

 

 

Meanwhile, amid the madness, photographers were taking any opportunity to grab a few shots, meaning the tiny alleyway outside became an impromptu location for many a quick shoot.

As one has come to expect from Brighton Frocks, the show was typically diverse. One minute there's punk attitude emanating from the catwalk, the next, Marie Antoinette elegance. In front of a sold-out room in the majestic setting, I. Am. Frank engaged in a colour assault with a Klaxons-meets-Tetris twist, while the Bugsy Pants collection received the best reception of the night from an oohing and woohing crowd. Check out a few shots from the show below. A more comprehensive collection of photographs of the event, including more from the catwalk show, the backstage madness and the mingling crowds, can be seen at our facebook page.

 

 

 

Post gig, as the audience mingled with models and organisers, Bobbysix.com grabbed some opinions. Fashion aficionado and Brighton resident Tana Dean (on the left in this photo) said, "I liked the variety. Joy Williams and I. Am. Ralph, were the highlights." When talk turned to the importance of Brighton Fashion Week and its place in the grand scheme of things, she told us, "It's a really good thing. Everyone in Brighton is so diverse and everyone is fighting to be diverse."

Fashion student Hattie Cox added, "[Founder/Director] Liz Bishop does an amazing job. Brighton Fashion Week is like a gateway to London."

Former BFW model and genius illustrator, Alice Parsons, (who works under the name Owlstation) also enjoyed the occasion. "I thought the setting of the church made for an interesting show - with the clash between old holy tradition and sexy young things strutting their stuff. I really liked the choreography and the casting. I loved the music and there were some very cool VT things on the screen. Great fun." 

And so,  as the church emptied and the after-parties began, the organisers could happily kick back and enjoy a glass or two of wine, satisfied in the knowledge that Brighton Frocks continues to grow, influence and inspire. They can't relax for long though, as the Couture Show takes place at the same venue tonight. Let the craziness recommence...

Check out the full photo album from last night at our facebook page (just click the below photo). Models and revellers, Like our page to receive more updates from BFW. And, you know, just because we're awesome and we wanna be your friend.

Words and pictures by Rob Townsend.
Like Bobbysix.com on Facebook.

The Preachers and Whipped Cream Chargers, Oxford Art Factory

Last week, Whipped Cream Chargers (above) showcased some songs from their upcoming debut album at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory. Theirs is a world of rolling tobacco, very late nights, long-necks, fine literature and op shops and, late on this rainy Thursday night, they bashed out tunes that shimmied and shook with a dirty rock 'n' roll groove. As always, we could probably have done without the disrobing of singer Sebastian, whose stage presence sometimes feels a little heavy on the histrionics, but, semi-naked males aside, it was a winning display from a very likable bunch. Their album is something to really look forward to. Read my interview with them here.

Before them, another up-and-coming Sydney band, The Preachers (above), played a fine set of rock 'n' roll country blues, with the duelling vocals of guitarist Gideon Benson and keyboardist Isabella Manfredi contrasting perfectly: the thunderous shudder of Benson and the calming rain of Manfredi. Their sound is like Fleetwood Mac being slapped repeatedly around the face by Tom Waits in some dirty, smoke-filled blues bar. Which is obviously pretty awesome. Learn more about The Preachers from my interview with them.

Dear Pluto's Debut Flea Market - photos

Dear Pluto, Sydney's coolest vintage venue, hosted its first ever outdoor flea market last weekend. With some of the best dressed kids in town selling their stuff for tiny prices, there were no end of happy customers who grabbed a bargain and chilled out in the Sunday sunshine with some good tunes, some home-baked cookies and some good conversation. The market takes place every month, with the next one falling on Sunday 28th November from 10am - 4pm. Keep an eye on Dear Pluto's facebook page for more news.

While the market was taking place in the sun, Dear Pluto's weekly vintage sale (pictured below) was happening at the same time indoors, offering up the usual amount of awesomeness for insanely cheap prices. Check out the retro goodness every Saturday and Sunday.