A Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Every year I pick up my paint brushes, pencils and sit down before all the festivities start, to make my Limited Edition Christmas cards, and this year is no different. Based on a homage to a great artist, thinker or creative that I have found to be inspirational for that year, 2015's cards are based on the wonders that are Joseph Cornell.  

Creating an edition of 75 cards, I created 3 designs entitled, Constellation Ballerina, Reindeer Leap and Princess Christmas, all cards have now been sent and received, I wonder which one you received! 

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a magical Christmas. I hope that it is filled with much happiness and it has been an absolute pleasure working with all and I thoroughly look forward to what 2016 brings. Let's raise a glass to 2015 and await the excitement of 2016!

Installation Shots - "Her First Meteorite Volume 2"

I am delighted to currently be exhibiting in ROSE GALLERY's second installation, Her First Meteorite, Volume II, a selection of process based photographs that features the work of seven artists. The exhibition will be on view from 12 December 2015 through 6 February 2016. 

By stepping outside traditional processes to rediscover the photographic medium, Melinda Gibson, Kenneth Graves, Yoko Kanayama, and Summer Mann, utilize secondary processes and photographic collage in order to blur the boundaries of selfidentity and complicate the understanding of contemporary cultures. By focusing on the use of details and multiple layers within the photographic process, Gibson, Graves, Kanayama and Mann bring to light the socio-cultural narratives within the historical and contemporary urban landscape.

Here are some installation shots of this wonderful show. More information can be found on the gallery website here:

http://www.rosegallery.net/exhibitions/herfirstmeteorite/vol2

New Exhibition Opening Reception On 12th Dec. 'Her First Meteorite Volume 2' At ROSEGALLERY

I am absolutely delighted to be exhibiting in the second volume of the much inspired show at ROSEGALLERY, Her First Meteorite, Volume 2, which opens on Saturday 12th December.

Presenting the second installment of Her First Meteorite, a selection of process based photographs that features the work of seven artists: Dirk Braeckman, James Gallagher, Melinda Gibson & Thomas Sauvin, Ken Graves, Yoko Kanayama, Summer Mann and Sebastian Riemer. The exhibition will be on view from 12 December 2015 through 6 February 2016. 

From experimenting with light sensitivities of unconventional photographic papers, to repurposing salvaged negatives, the use of secondary processes within Her First Meteorite, Volume II, challenges the boundaries of the medium of photography. By allowing the works to enter the world of the surreal, this exhibition invites the viewer to question the identity of the visuals presented.

Read more here and don't miss this beautiful show -http://www.rosegallery.net/exhibitions/herfirstmeteorite/vol2

Opening This Saturday 12th December - The Fishbar Photo Market Is Back In Full Swing!

I am excited to be taking part in this years annual Fishbar Photo Market, opening its door on Saturday the 12th December! Every year the Fishbar, based in Dalston Lane opens it doors for a photo market that brings together publishers, artists and photobook fanatics to enjoy all the delights that are on offer. From Chris Steele-Perkins, Morel, to Inge Morath to SPBH Editions, I am very excited to be taking part and show casing all my publications alongside three pieces of my new series. 

Open daily from 11am from the 12th December, running through to the 20th, it is surely going to be a fun filled, festive following of photobook fanatics!

See more here - http://fishbar.ph/

Streamed Live, In Conversation, Now Available

If you didn't manage to get along to TPG on Monday afternoon or forgot to stream the talk live, do not worry as the video is now available to see on The Photographers' Gallery YouTube Channel, in this link here - https://youtu.be/EvJSpRINmME?t=15m46s

It is best to watch from 15m46s, as the first 15 minutes are behind the scenes. In someways it is like watching a silent movie, but without an dramatic chorus or music to elevate our speech! 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable conversation which brought up some key issues around the idea of audience interaction, performance and what the medium of the photobook can be. More video's available from the other talks, all part of the SPBH Business As Usual - Week residency at TPG.

http://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/business-as-usual-self-publish-be-happy-in-residence-2

In Conversation - The Photographers' Gallery - Monday 23rd November From 16:00 pm

To celebrate the launch of the new SPBH Book, published by Aperture, Self Publish Be Happy: A DIY Photobook Manual and Manifesto, I am very pleased to announce that I will be doing an, 'In Conversation' with Mr Bruno Ceschel, part of the Self Publish Be Crafty - Business As Usual Residency at The Photographers' Gallery on Monday 23rd November from 16:00 pm. We will also be joined by a young artist, former student of ours, from the Camberwell College of Art, Liam Magee. It looks to be a great afternoon, discussing our practice and of course the notion of the book.

Here is a little excerpt about the book, which features my first publication, The Photograph As Contemporary Art.

"An economic and cultural revolution has shaken the photobook world in the last five years: self-publishing. An army of photographers operating as publishers have had an instrumental role in today’s photobook renaissance. This book offers a do-it-yourself manual and a survey of key examples of self-published success stories, as well as a self-publishing manifesto and list of resources."

Don't miss a week of exciting events, talks, parties and more. To reserve a place at the talks, please click here - http://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/melinda-gibson-liam-magee-in-conversation-with-bruno-ceschel

Installation Shots From 'Her First Meteorite' Exhibition At ROSE GALLERY - Santa Monica

Absolutely delighted to be showing with ROSE Gallery in their latest exhibition, Her First Meteorite, an exhibition examining unique photographic collages by Carolle Benitah, James Gallagher, Melinda Gibson, Ken Graves, Stéphanie Solinas, Annegret Soltau, and Grete Stern. The mixed media collages will be on view from 26 September through 28 November 2015.

These are the installation shots from the show, courtesy of the Gallery. It you are State side, be sure to make a visit to see this beautiful curated exhibition, I only wish I could be there too!

http://www.rosegallery.net/exhibitions/herfirstmeteorite

ASX Interview, Italian Vogue, TIME Lightbox, Elephant Magazine & Ultravie - Press From Unseen

As the weeks fly by, it is great to see that the work has been attracting some good attention from a wide range of editorials and press. Thomas and I had a great interview with American Suburb X (ASX) which really delved into the mechanics of what it is to work in collaboration, a nice nod to one of our works in Italian Vogue, being mentioned twice in the TIME lightbox - 10 Things to do at Unseen Photo Fair, as well as a lovely article in Elephant Magazine about 5 Booths to Watch at Amsterdam's Unseen Photo Fair as well as Ultravie! You can see some of the press here in the links below.

http://www.americansuburbx.com/2015/09/melinda-gibson-thomas-sauvin-unseen-lunar-caustic.html

http://www.elephantmag.com/5-booths-to-watch-at-amsterdams-unseen-photo-fair/

http://time.com/4034179/10-things-to-do-at-unseen-photo-fair/

http://www.vogue.it/en/people-are-talking-about/vogue-arts/2015/09/unseen-photo-fair-amsterdam#ad-image

Unseen Photo Fair Adventures

I can't quite believe that this time last two weeks ago, I was preparing for Unseen, the time is going so fast, it is difficult to keep up with what day is which! Unseen was a huge success and an absolute delight, as it always is. There really is something about this Photo Fair, that I thoroughly enjoy, much more than any other. Maybe it's the warm, Dutch ways, the wonderful city or just the environment that surrounds it, but it always attracts an interesting and articulate crowd, that when I leave, I have a refreshed, inspired and excited feeling, ready to take back to London town.

The five day trip was jammed packed with events, starting with the Meijburg & Co Commission Award, which was awarded to Anouk, (very well deserved) with ample glasses of Champagne at Flowers Gallery to set the tone for a very enjoyable evening. The days and nights fell into one, with talks here, receptions there with great dinners in between. I think a great many glasses of Champagne where had, wonderful conversations with curators and friends alike, with an interlude of dancing with the Kessels Kramer crew into the early hours! Now that Mr Erik, knows how to host and throw a party.

Before we could even start to relax, it was time to prepare for Thomas and I's talk with ASX, with an early morning session on the notion of collaboration. The talk brought together some key ideas that surround this notion, the idea of the management of an ego, to the idea of an artist as an interdisciplinary portal. It certainly stirred up some ideas with a nice touch of humour and honesty packed in too!

It was, as ever, an excellent fair with some brilliant talks, people and artworks, I am already looking forward to the next edition.

Her First Meteorite At ROSE GALLERY - Opening Reception On Saturday 26th September 6-8pm

I am delighted to announce my forthcoming exhibition with ROSE GALLERY in Santa Monica opening on Saturday 26th September, 6 - 8pm.

Her First Meteorite, a group exhibition presents a selection of unique photographic collages by Carolle Benitah, James Gallagher, Melinda Gibson, Ken Graves, Stéphanie Solinas, Annegret Soltau, and Grete Stern.

Found, sliced and assembled, the photographic collage establishes experimental and introspective forms through the combination of familiar and obscure images. The montages from the various artists each evoke a distinct entry into surreal worlds, bound together by connected and intertwined photographs. With found objects and images, the spontaneity of discovery and combination counters the intricacy of the details in the works.

More information about the show and artists can be found here- http://www.rosegallery.net/exhibitions/herfirstmeteorite/

Aperture's New Title - Self Publish, Be Happy: A DIY Manual And Manifesto Launching At NYABF

Very, very excited to announce that I have contributed to this new book, SPBH's latest title - Self Publish, Be Happy: A DIY Manual and Manifesto which will be launched with Aperture on Sunday 20th September at the NYABF from 15:00. Here is a little excerpt from Aperture.

"In 2010, Self Publish, Be Happy was created to collect, study, and celebrate self-published photobooks through an ongoing program of workshops, live events, and on/offline projects. In 2015, the London-based organization celebrates its fifth anniversary with the publication of Self Publish, Be Happy: A DIY Photobook Manual and Manifesto (Aperture, 2015). At the NY Art Book Fair, SPBH founder Bruno Ceschel is joined by David Senior, bibliographer at the Museum of Modern Art Library and contributor to the book, to discuss the history and legacy of artists who self-publish. A book signing will follow at Aperture’s booth."

http://nyartbookfair.com/

http://aperture.org/shop/self-publish-be-happy-bruno-ceschel-books

http://shop.selfpublishbehappy.com/product/self-publish-be-happy-a-manifesto-and-diy-manual-to-self-publishing-photobooks-by-bruno-ceschel

EXPO Chicago - ROSEGALLERY - Opening On Thursday 17th September - Booth 335

September continues to be a super busy month with another exhibition on the horizon. I am very honoured to be showing with the wonderful ROSEGALLERY at the Art Fair, EXPO Chicago at Navy Pier, booth 335 which opens next week on Thursday 17th September from 11:00 am.

The gallery will be exhibiting a collection of stunning works, from artists that include, Manfred Müller, John Chiara, Elger Esser, Summer Mann, Jo Ann Callis and many others. I will be exhibiting unique pieces from the series, The Photograph As Contemporary Art and only wish I could fly over state side and enjoy all the fair has to offer, but alas Europe is calling.

More can be seen here on both ROSEGALLERY's site and the Fairs - 

http://www.rosegallery.net/art-fairs/2015/9/17/lv3c0ejb94178t2j0ckpe5c7l82a4u

http://expochicago.com/galleries/gallery?gid=5428

American Surburb X Talk At Unseen On 19.09.15

The weeks are flying by and this time next week, I shall be packing my bags ready for five adventurous days in Amsterdam at the Unseen Photo Fair! I am delighted to say that I will be working with American Suburb X, the official content partner for this years event, as Thomas and I take part in interviews as well as a morning ASX session.

Thomas Sauvin, Brad Feuerhelm, Michael Salu and myself will be talking on Saturday 19th September, late morning at 11:00am on the notion of collaboration. Having worked with both Brad and Thomas, I think that this is going to be a special conversation, something not too be missed at all!

The talk will be taking place in the Unseen Living Room, part of the festival area and more details can be found on both the Unseen and ASX sites.

http://www.americansuburbx.com/unseen

http://unseenamsterdam.com/events/416

The Unseen Meijburg Art Commission Nomination

I am extremely delighted to announce that I have been nominated for the Unseen Photo Fair new award, the Meijiburg Art Commission! I am nominated along with four other fantastic artists, including a few friends too, it is sure to be an exciting wait to see the winner revealed and good to luck to us all. 

Here is how Unseen Photo Fair announced the shortlisted artists, "Overwhelmed by both the number and quality of submissions from last month's open call for all Unseen artists aged 35 and under, we are proud to announce the shortlist for the brand new Meijburg Art Commission. Following their nomination, the selected talents will further develop their proposals for the site-specific commission to be presented to an international jury prior to Unseen Photo Fair & Festival. The final winner will be announced by the jury during an exclusive Meijburg & Co Tax Lawyers event at Unseen 2015, and will be given the opportunity to produce the commissioned work for the Meijburg & Co office in Amstelveen."

Unseen asked what a commission of this kind would mean to me, I responded with, “Cross-cultural and interdisciplinary, the notion of professional exchange is paramount to the development of my artistic practice. Having the opportunity to engage, inspire and deliver to other audiences within a supportive commissioned environment is invaluable as a stimuli at this stage of my career. To work with a global company that understands the importance of innovation, knowledge and provides a made-to-measure service only echoes my ethos within contemporary photography.”

All the works nominated can be seen at the Flowers Gallery booth in Unseen Photo Fair, opening Thursday 17th September and on the Gallery's website. 

http://www.flowersgallery.com/artists/view/melindagibson 

http://unseenamsterdam.com/flowers-gallery-uk-2014-2015

More can be seen here: http://unseenamsterdam.com/announcing-the-shortlist

Things Are Really Hotting Up For September...

I am very excited to say that I will be exhibiting with Flowers Gallery for the much anticipated 2015 edition of Unseen Photo Fair with my latest collaborative series, Lunar Caustic, the result of a much labour of love with the Beijing Silvermine. Thomas Sauvin and I are delighted to be showing the series, with some special Unseen Premiere editions - works only released a few weeks ago and never seen before! 

Things are certainly hotting up, ready for Unseen, as talks, commission news and events start to come through, planning continues and September looks to be a very special month. Very, very excitingly before Amsterdam, works are being sent across the water to sunny California for a wonderful exhibition with Rose Gallery, more to come on that shortly...

For news and updates from Unseen and Flowers Gallery, see here:

http://www.flowersgallery.com/exhibitions/view/unseen-amsterdam#works

http://unseenamsterdam.com/flowers-gallery-uk-2014-2015

A Sicilian Rest To A September Schedule

It's been a while since I've managed to get a blog written and finally with a few hours spare in the day, I can finally sit down and put my thoughts together! July has been completely insane for all the right reasons, a wedding, a rest, productions and exhibitions. With so much going on it is difficult to know where to start, but Sicily is surely the best place.

I jetted off to Sicily while the photo world descended on Arles to take a break and be part of the wedding of the century, my dearest friends, a Sicilian living in London that I've known for many years and meet while we were both interning at Magnum Photos. It was an absolute delight, spending time in her home town of Trapani, seeing the sights and of course being part of their special day. I always love these times, a time to reflect on life, enjoy the moment and look to the future. Plus with the Sicilian sunny skies and an abundance of Prosecco, I was in heaven! It always goes so quickly and before you know it, we were all back in London, ready for the next chapter.

As July whizzes past, more and more exciting doors open, with much preparation needed with exhibitions and Art Fairs to plan for. As the production continues I am very excited to be part of Unseen Photo Fair with other exhibitions to be released soon. As per usual, the summer looks like it is going to be quite a busy time with no time for rest and relaxation! Watch this space for more details, I think I'll be needing a long holiday somewhere exotic by the time this year is out!

Beck - Station to Station

I had the absolute pleasure of attending Beck's performance, part of the Station to Station: A 30 Day Happening at the Barbican, all conceived by the truly outstanding Doug Aitken. Having been a big fan of Beck for a long time, hearing about his concerts, that are more than performances, I knew that this was going to be an extraordinary event, but what I witness comes no short of genius!

As you entered into the Barbican, a flurry of excitement and anticipation rose as the scene was set with a small selection of the LSO seated in centre stage, 3 large film screens ready for projections and three cowboy's sat quietly on the left of the stage. Everything was draped in twilight, with a mist that rose from the ground. As the projections started, scenes and re-workings from Aitken's Station to Station film, Beck walks in, dressed as if a cowboy himself, holding his guitar. What follows can only be described as some of the most beautiful, stunning and imaginative performances I think I may have seen.  

It felt as if you had been transported into the Mid West, the sounds of trains coming into a station as cowboys point out into the audience. Interludes of lyrical poets chase the ideas introduced by Aitken and Beck as they lively perform, very different in their styles, expressive in their nature. Simon Armitage, Jeminia Foxtrot, Luke Wright are some of 6 that shaped this extraordinary evening. 

Then onto Beck and many of his friends that joined, Thurston Moore, James Sedwards, BJ Cole and Leafcutter John! Beck was unbelievable, standing on a wooden box, singing in the way he only knows how, every word poignant and beautiful sung, let alone his musicality as he plays his harmonica! Then Thurston Moore. 

The tempo changed, Moore's guitar set the Barbican into a weird and wonderful, hair raising, diesel infused abstraction. As the sounds increased, the projections quickened, until what you could hear and see can only be described as sensorial euphoria. Flashing heat spots, overlaying of train tracks, orange, yellow, white as the sounds became less known and more abstracted. The decibels increased to a point of near no return, you were being pushed to your limits, more, and more and more. Then quiet.

It was nearing the end and we all waited in anticipation, hoping that it would carry on into the night, but alas it could not and what a wonderful end to hear Beck play one of his newest works, "Wave" with the LSO as backing, with tears welling in my eyes and my heart in my throat - this is how to spend a Monday night, incredible, just incredible.     

http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=18009

Imagery courtesy of Doug Aitken & Beck

Sunny Days In Sorrento

I've been a bit quiet lately, so I thought I better had update you on what has been going on. A real mixture of amazing relaxing days in sunny Sorrento to crazy busy days preparing for new shows this year and next! 

After all the craziness that happened prior, during and post PhotoLondon, with the performance at the Tate for OffPrint, it was a very welcomed break to be jetting off to Sorrento for 5 days to sit back, relax and enjoy all that Italy had to offer. Staying in a beautiful villa over looking the coast with views across the sea to Vesuvius, it was an incredible way to wake up and go to sleep! Many a peaceful day on the beach, drinking prosecco and enjoying the stunning scenery that the Amalfi coast has to offer - happy days indeed. We even got to witness a full circled rainbow, it was truly unbelievable, I have never seen anything more amazing - astounding!!!

Then back to London to carry on the prep for my shows this year and next. More to come on both soon, but I am very pleased to say that I shall once again be at the Unseen Photo Fair in September, lots of exciting times lay ahead more soon...

PhotoLondon, OffPrint And A Smokey Installation At The Tate Modern - All In Just One Week!

Wow! What a week this has been... As PhotoLondon 2015 debuted and succeeded, OffPrint took over the Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern, SPBH curated a weird and wonderfully pleasurable Project Space, I've drunk my body weight in alcohol and danced off the rest, and finally smoked out the Turbine Hall in the performative installation, The Smoke House, it's been fantastic, but I am looking forward to relaxing now!!!

The week commenced with many openings, very notably the Whitechapel Gallery's exhibition of Christopher Williams which is an absolute must, a truly delicate show that astounds you, as you wonder through the show, dropped hang photographs are set against rough, unfinished walls with not an ounce of contrive, just perfect curation. Then onto the MaxMara Prize for Women, as Prosecco filled our glasses, the works controlled the centre stage, intermixing textiles, installation with a strong Italian essence and style. 

The week continued in the same vain, opening, after opening including of course the new Photo Fair at Somerset House. Some excellent galleries worth mentioning are of course, Rose Gallery with their stunning original Eggleston's that are truly out of this world, Flowers Gallery with their perfect positioning and collection of both emerging and established back to back, Ingleby Gallery's presentation that was utterly divine and many others like Tristan Hoare and Ravestijn Gallery. It is worth mentioning that the fair itself is rather difficult to navigate through and would benefit from some strong thematic curation, but as a first, I think it could be a good balance between the many others!

Friday saw OffPrint open at the Tate, and what an opening it was. Hundreds upon hundreds of people turned up to see, experience and purchase as well as watch and take part in the SPBH Project Space programme of events and performances. From Selfie-Stick aerobics, Hacking, Crystal Healing, Live book making to Laughter, the programme engaged and amazed many.

I was very proud and honoured to be taking part and on Sunday 24th at 16:00pm, my performance started in the Turbine Hall! As the glasshouse was wheeled through the publishers into position, a sense of intrigue built. Smoke was pumped into the glasshouse, getting thicker and thicker by the second. It bellowed up into the roof, swirling and spiralling, catching the black books as it rose, each one gently spinning. The smoke continued for a time, before being released out into the Turbine Hall, as I entered the glasshouse and for a time disappeared amongst the smoke before the doors and windows where opened. Clouds of thick white smoke, danced their way out of the glasshouse into the space, as onlookers watched intently. 

For those who missed the performance you can see it here on SPBH TV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVoPom3CBD0

It was a week to remember and now I look forward to a well earned rest, a massive thank you to all that supported the performance, in front of and behind the scenes!

Performative Installation - The Smoke House At Tate Modern For OffPrint London 24th May 4-5pm

I am extremely pleased and proud to announce that my Performative Installation, The Smoke House is part of the SPBH Project Space at the Tate Modern for OffPrint London 2015. The piece will be performed in the Turbine Hall on Sunday 24th May 4-5pm!

"In a ritualistic response to the fire and flood at Gibson's studio, the artist reclaims her experience in this citation of the performative installation, The Smoke House.

Physically creating a space whereby controlled levels of smoke bellow into a polycarbonate glasshouse and where books dangle from strings inside.

This performance visualises the sensorial elements, allowing the viewer to witness what Gibson faced on that evening. Offering a cathartically ordered and shared experience that was absent at the time. Through the visual pleasure of looking, suggestions around our human intrigue towards trauma come into question as we wait, watch and wonder."

More can be found here; and with a fantastic programme of events, it is surely a weekend not to miss!

http://www.selfpublishbehappy.com/spbh-project-space/

http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/special-event/offprint-london

Art Ltd - The Gender Gap

Great to see a review of my recent show at Sloan Projects in Santa Monica, by Molly Enholm in the May issue of Art Ltd, with a focus on the gender gap - Are Female artists still undervalued? Here is an excerpt from the review.

“The seeming dichotomy between the two series on view in the promising inaugural exhibition at Sloan Projects — three large-scale paintings by Claudia Parducci paired with a series of intimately scaled collaged photographs by Melinda Gibson — may have more in common than first glance might suggest. Though culled from disparate sources, each artist tackles iconic imagery in order to reassess the weight they typically wield.

Contrasting the monumentality of Parducci’s paintings are UK-based Melinda Gibson’s collage works. The ten individual works are installed in a repetitive manner, just below eye level, methodically spaced at regular intervals within identical frames. Where Parducci explores the sublime, Gibson mines the didactic; her collages are composed of the photographic images that fill the pages of Charlotte Cotton’s academic book “The Photograph as Contemporary Art,” which Gibson came across as a student at the London College of Communication. Forget writing in the margins; in these works Gibson literally deconstructs the authority of the academic text, as she cuts out, rearranges and overlaps the “textbook examples,” creating new meanings and associations from the photography of her predecessors. The motif of the human silhouette becomes a unifying element of these works, from layered images which form a Magritte-esque bust in Photomontage VII, to the sensuality of intertwined reclining figures fastened out of the interior scenes and landscape photography of Photomontage III, originally from pages 106, 136 and 202 from Cotton’s tome. Like Parducci, Gibson’s works prompts a desire to reassess the influence of the ubiquitous images from daily life, whether they aim to document or educate."

More can be read here: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53f6b763e4b0431f98543bd2/t/5548198ae4b0723485e6b9a4/1430788490462/ARTltd_reviewpdfnew.pdf