January News

2014 is already filling up with exhibitions and opportunities. I hope you’ll join me at some point along the way either as a contributor or meeting up at one of my exhibitions.
 
Jeffrey's Anxiety Pill

Jeffrey’s Anxiety Pill

Simulations
Last year I spent two days in the Simulated Mental Health ward at Kingston University and St Georges University London. Under the guidance of psychotherapist Harvey Wells and Dr Julia Gale  I have been fortunate enough to be awarded artist-in-residence status by the award winning initiative. January sees my return to the fray, where I’ll be sketching in the ward environment and recording the conversations between client and nurse. The aim is to produce a film like last year and use the information, drawings and sound as a positive creative force. There is talk of teaming up with experimental Jazz trio Toy Rokit to produce some soundscapes, possibly with performances and recordings.

Exhibition Opportunities
I have two exhibitions on the horizon.
The first is the Jawspring Exhibition which fuses poetry and art.  The writers from the Wimbledon and Merton Poetry Circle have given their poems to 25 artists from around the world to be interpreted. We will exhibit both poems and inspired artwork at the Village Hall Trust Gallery (Wimbledon) from 19-24th March with a party and private view on 21st March 2014 (World Poetry Day). So please come along. If you’re feeling adventurous why not join in. We have 100 spaces available for anyone who can write a haiku. We’ll be printing these onto toy sushi and exhibiting them in the gallery. Just follow this link to get involved.
 
The second exhibition is with our fantastic collective of artists who recently created the thought provoking Cardboard City exhibition alongside the Southbank, London in December. This time we have been awarded a coveted curatorial slot at the Fringe Arts Bath Festival in May/June this year for our inclusive FAB Fridge exhibition. We are inviting artists of any style, age and discipline to send us their artworks and we will be exhibiting them on the streets of Bath, UK. We will be transforming their art into magnets and along with a band of CollectConnect volunteers placing in public spaces where discerning art collectors can pick them up for FREE. Please get involved it’s a fabulous opportunity for all who believe that Art is for everyone. Find the FAB Fridge submission details here.
 
Max Luthert - debut album art

Max Luthert – debut album art

Album Artwork
I’m working on several album covers at the moment. Leo Appleyard’s debut album artwork is in its very early stages. The hot one is Max Luthert’s debut which is near completion. Catalan pianist Jaume Gispert’s is being printed as I write this, it’s my first vinyl LP and I really appreciate the extra canvas to work on. Samuel Eagles artwork is finished too all ready for release in 2014. Next month I’m back in the studio with Partikel for their 3rd album, along with a string quartet!

Jazz
I’m keeping busy on the jazz circuit with gig sketches/reviews . You can see what I’m up to at www.artofjazz.blogspot.com Work has slowed a little as online artist-in-residence on the Rainlore’s World Website due to the ill health of my mentor Rich Rainlore but I hope to embark on some new adventures as soon as he’s back on form. Rainlore’s World Website
 
Books
I’m working with Thomas Yocum on his language/travel book Loba Lingala which we will also publish at Sampson Low Ltd. It will be the definitive book on learning and speaking the Lingala language which has over 10 million speakers, many in the Democratic Republic of Congo where Mr Yocum resides.
I am also working with Teresa Hunt on her novel ‘The Bats’. We are currently illustrating the front cover.
 
Film
Along with the Mental Health films and a interesting project with poet Robin Vaughan-Williams I have another new film to create this year. This one is for American songwriter/singer Diane Taber and her dark and feisty tune ‘Piranha’.Future
Over the next year I’ll be co-author (with Chris Hart and Harvey Wells) on the book “Working with People with Mental Health Problems” for the Open University Press. Obviously I’m very excited about this and the year ahead.

Alban

December News

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Murder Minutes Quintet & Alban – Shaw Gallery 2013

Art Jazzed Up
The Art Jazzed Up exhibition was a huge success with 80 artists exhibiting 250 artwork on the walls of the Shaw Gallery, Croydon.
It was a mammoth task of organisation so thank you to Alan Carlyon Smith and his team at Trinity School for doing the hang. The part I was most nervous about was the performance, where I drew on 7 large paper canvases while the band of Mike DiRubbo, Duncan Eagles, Max Luthert, Dave Storey and Bill Mudge played on.
Read about it here

Cardboard City Exhibition
I’m currently exhibiting and helping organise the Cardboard City exhibition along London’s Southbank. Every day from the 1st-24th December we’ll be opening the doors on an artists work. We’ve all responded to Stuart Simler call to arms and the theme Social Advent. Its all on the collectconnect website. Link Here.

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50 On a daily trunk : Vol.1

Album Artwork
I’m working on several album covers at the moment.
The hot one is Max Luthert’s debut which is the early stages.
Catalan pianist Jaume Gispert’s is pretty much in the bag, its my first vinyl and I really appreciate the extra canvas to work on. The group are called 50 On A Daily Trunk.
Also Samuel Eagles artwork is finished too already for release in 2014.
I also completed Lesley Christiane and Kelvin Christiane’s albums in November.

Alban_Low_mental_health

Bottom Image
Jeffrey’s Anxiety Pill – Alban Low

Recovery
I’m currently exhibiting at the Institute of Mental Health (Nottingham) in the exhibition on Recovery. I was able to draw upon my experience as artist-in-residence at  Kingston University and St George’s University’s simulated Mental Health Ward. I’m going back into the Ward in January. The Recovery Exhibition runs until May 2014.  Recovery Exhibition Link

Jazz
I’m keeping busy on the jazz circuit with several gig sketches/reviews to catch up on after the EFG London Jazz Festival. You can see what I’m up to at www.artofjazz.blogspot.com
Work has slowed a little as online artist-in-residence on the Rainlore’s World Website due to the ill health of my mentor Rich Rainlore but I hope to embark on some new adventures as soon as he’s back on form. Rainlore’s World Website

Future
I’m meeting the Wimbledon Poetry Circle this month and hopefully we will putting on an exhibition of Art and Poetry in March 2014 at the Village Hall Trust Gallery (Wimbledon).
We’ve also been given one of the prestigious curatorial slots at next year’s Fringe Arts Bath festival. I believe we’ll be resurrecting the Fab Fridge street art exhibition. More info as soon as I know.

AL.