'(Re)Generation': CUBO in MIlan, Italia, 20.07.12 - 23.07.12

CUBO has invited London photographers, video makers and conceptual artists, to help creating this show as vibrant and stimulating as possible. Astrid is proud to be part of this event with several images from 'Food keeps Body and Soul together'.

CUBO is a beautiful cultural gathering spot in the centre of Milan, which is owned by Italy's Ministry of Culture & Arts. Their project (Re)Generation is announced to be the first step into a new cultural movement that will finally lead to regeneration of this centre.

The opening party takes place on Friday, 20.07.12

The Venue: CUBO - via Moscova, 2820100 Milano, Italia

About ‘Food keeps Body & Soul together’: In this series of portraits Astrid is bringing together her passion for food and her career as a costume designer. Before each image concept was developed, most of the sitters were asked about their favourite food. In other pictures the edible item is telling the viewer something about the sitter’s pastime. The resulting images are humorous, bold and distinctive.
 

'London Village Project': LIP Gallery Exhibition, 30.07.12 – 26.08.12

--> For the course of a year over 200 members of the London Independent Photography group worked on the ‘London Village Project’. The goal was to create a body of work that is identifiable as a unique contribution to the record of London with its multiplicity of communities, its miscellany of histories, its medley of architecture, its boundaries real and imagined, its current creation, its reference to memory...

The project is now completed and will be exhibited, published in a book and presented at the BBC Big Screen (details tbc)

Exhibition venue: Goldsmiths College, 
New Academic Building - exhibition area, 
New Cross, London, SE14 6NW
 
The opening party takes place on Thursday, 02.08.12, 6pm - 8.30pm
 
Astrid’s contribution to the project is called ‘The Wedding Pubs’ and is depicting the events of the Royal Wedding on 29 April 2011. Instead of joining the spectators in the streets, Astrid took her camera into 28 pubs or ‘public houses’ in the borough of Westminster and followed the celebration on various TV screens.

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'Over the Hill': A Photographic Journey in Southport, 01.05 - 15.05.12

Thanks to Tim Andrews' determination to raise awareness for Parkinson's disease, the group show ‘Over the Hill’ is back on again. This time the exhibition is moving to Southport and ‘Wanted’ (the image on the right) is once again amongst the chosen 54 prints.

Tim, who is a sufferer of Parkinson’s, turned himself into an art object and by now he has been photographed by over 180 photographers (including Rankin, Harry Borden, Vanessa Winship, Jillian Edelstein, just to name a few). With this project he got featured at the BBC Culture Show and the Guardian Weekend Magazine in February 2011.

Venue: Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, Lord Street,
Southport, PR8 1NT
Opening hours: Mondays - Saturdays, 9am - 5.30pm
and Sundays 10am - 5pm. Admission is free

View a video of the event and the featured photographs.

For more information on Tim’s project read 'Over the Hill' or if you wish to support Parkinson's UK by making a donation, please log on to TIMANDREWSOVERTHEHILLSOUTHPORT

‘Clowns international’ 66th Annual Service, 05.02.2012

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Clowns International is the oldest established organisation for Clowns in the World. It was founded in 1946 as a social club for all types of performing Clowns. Its aims include the furthering of the art of clowning, maintaining its history and promoting the art of good clowning throughout the world.

A highlight of Clowns International's calendar is the Joseph Grimaldi Memorial Service; annually held on the first Sunday of February at Holy Trinity, the Clowns Church at Beechwood Road in East London.

Astrid had the pleasure of being invited to photograph the clowns throughout the event. Alas, the night before the service it snowed – and many clowns have been prevented to travel to the event due to bad weather conditions. Nonetheless, the few who made it to East London that day where most entertaining and charming characters...

To honour of the memory of Joseph Grimaldi and all the other clowns please click here.

Astrid just wants to say 'Happy Christmas and a well-lit New Year'!

Do you also wonder where has the time has gone? For some of us the year 2011 has been quite a roller-coaster. Nonetheless, I hope you are – like myself – positively excited to explore what 2012 will bring!


With a Christmas Angel by my side (this is Claire from my last photo session in 2011) I grant a wish to everyone who believes in magic!


But for now I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a great time over the Christmas holidays. Let's add some fun whilst having another cup of tea and perhaps a mince pie: find out what happened 'when Santa came to get his picture taken'

Click and enjoy!!!

'Brighton Photo Fringe Open '11': 19.11 – 18.12.11

Astrid has a new announcement about her ‘Hairdressers’ project: the series has been selected to be written about as part of the Brighton Photo Fringe Open '11 texts project. The articles will be part of the Open '11 Library and will be available and online as downloadable pdfs.

The Open ‘11 events program includes artist talks,  workshops, gallery talks, screenings and projects that generate discussion about the broader context of contemporary photography. All events are part of the Brighton Photo Fringe Open '11 taking place at Phoenix Brighton between 19 November – 18 December 2011.

Opening times: Wednesday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm, and late nights every Thursday, until 9pm. All events are free, booking in advance required for some events (full events program and booking details).

‘London Independent Photography’s 23nd Annual Exhibition’: 18 - 29.10.11

Astrid is very proud to announce that four of her images from the series ‘Hairdressers’ have been selected for the LIP members show.

The LIP Annual Exhibition aims to provide a platform for members to exhibit their best work, to be viewed by each other and the general public. This time the selection process was conducted by individual professionals (Bridget Coaker, picture editor at Guardian Newspaper Group & Director of Troika Editions and Mick Williamson, head of photography at London Metropolitan University), who are connected to London's photographic community.

Venue: The Strand Gallery (Proud Central)
32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP
Showtime: 18.10.11 - 29.10.11
Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 6pm

The members private view takes place on 18th October 2011 (6.30pm - 9.30pm)

‘Hairdressers’ is inspired by the novel Egalia's Daughters in which the protagonists swapped gender based roles. I am questioning our perception on what is regarded as ‘normal’ and what is ‘abnormal’. The sitters look ridiculous because we do not expect men to go through such treatments, but for women of our society this is perfectly normal. Just wondering: perhaps it’s time for men to get emancipated?

'Kate's Journal': Solo Show 17.10 – 22.10.11 (commemorating 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month' in October)

Kate, Jess and Astrid are proudly inviting to a Photographic Portraiture Exhibition @ The Underground Gallery,
The Strand, Charing Cross Underground Station Exit 9, London WC2N 4HZ
Gallery opening times: Mo - Sat, 12pm - 6pm

The exhibition is going to be packed with talks and special events. Please put into your diary:

Opening party: Tuesday, 18 October 2011, 6pm – 8.30pm
Evening talk: Confidence and Style: Learn how to deal with changes to your appearance and boost self-confidence during cancer treatment (speaker: Kate Nightingale), Wednesday, 19 October , 6pm – 8.30pm
Afternoon talk: 'Emotional support for patients and their next of kin'. Kate and Jessica share their journey of breast cancer and give their thoughts as to how to keep emotionally strong (guest speaker: Sharon Haliday, Macmillan Cancer Support), Thursday, 20 October , 2pm – 4.30pm
Free photo-session for people affected by breast cancer: get your picture taken by photographer Astrid Schulz, Saturday, 22 October, 12pm – 6pm

Kate’s comment on her images:
'Kate’s Journal’ is a series of portraits that tells my recent journey through breast cancer treatment with a sensitive combination of honesty and subtlety. Astrid has captured my story with great compassion without using any imagery of inherent shock value, in other words, without direct reference to my illness. In this way the viewer senses rather than sees its impact. This is going to be a compelling exhibition with the intention of leaving others empowered and giving a sense of hope to those who undergo life-changing illnesses.

In case you cannot come, 'Kate's Journal' can be found by clicking here

‘Run’: Album launch for Celtic music , 19.09.11

Some weeks ago I was commissioned to take portraits for the band members of 'RUN' plus pictures for their album cover. I must say, these 4 women are so brilliant and unique that I decided to support their upcoming album launch. The songs on this album are exclusively sung in the languages of six Celtic nations, supported by a harp. Truly beautiful. If you wish to get enchanted just like me, please join 'Run' launch event at Camden's music venue 'The Green Note' on 19 September, from 19:00 - 22:30 (plus support band). Booking highly recommended.
The address is: The green Note, 106 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN

Please also visit Run’s website

'Kate's Journal': How to remain positive during breast cancer!

This is an appeal for help to set up a photography exhibition for the ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ in October. We need assistance with marketing & fund-raising.

We, this is myself as the photographer and Kate Sims, breast cancer survivor and the star of my portraiture series, taken during her course of treatment and recovery.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK; 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. We would like to give hope to those affected and raise awareness in collaboration with a charity organization. We are short of £250 for renting a Charing Cross based gallery and for marketing our special events. If you are someone or know of the right person, who is interested in working with us on an extremely rewarding mission, please get in touch and ask for details.

'Kate's Journal' can be viewed here

'At the Hairdressers': Astrid's new series is completed!

I am delighted to announce that the project has come to an end – although I am also a bit sad because I enjoyed working on this project tremendously. However, Konnie Daniel, my wonderful friend and excellent hairstylist has now used all her curlers from her collection in various combinations - so this has to be it, I’m afraid.

Special thanks to Dave, Aurelien, Kirk and Martin for their patience and good humour - and also to the London Academy, who kindly allowed us to work in their studio (www.media-courses.com).

The project can be seen at Hairdressers
More information about the series can be found two bogs down.

Again: In Astrid's ‘Hairdresser’ project all characters are fictional. There is very little relationship between the sitter and the suggestions made about them…


The project will be exhibited later in the year. Watch this space...

‘Over the Hill’ at Guernsey Photography Festival, 01.06 – 30.06.11, and in Berlin-Lichtenberg (Germany), 02.07 - 12.07.11

Tim Andrew’s images are now travelling globally: firstly to the 2nd Guernsey Photography Festival, were Tim’s project ‘Over The Hill’ is on display alongside exhibitions and lectures by renowned international photographers.

Festival opening event: Wednesday, 1 June, 6pm - 8pm, at the Market Square
Exhibition Venue: The Rotunda, Royal Avenue, St Peter Port, Guernsey
Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10.00am - 5.00pm
Special event: Tim Andrews will give a talk on the project on 10th June
Admission: Free


And secondly: as a result of the Impact Art Fair, a small selection of the project has been invited to be on show at a festival in Berlin Lichtenberg: The Long Night of the Pictures (4pm – midnight, 05.06.11). The images are exhibited until Saturday, 16th July.

Venue: Allee-Center (Einkaufszentrum), Landsberger Allee,
13055 Alt-Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, Germany

Opening event: Saturday, 2th July, 5pm - 8pm
Opening times: Mon - Sat, 9am - 8pm
Admission: Free


Reminder about the project: following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, Tim Andrews answered a small advert in Time Out Magazine and was photographed in the nude for a portrait project. Filled with a sense of creativity and liberation, Andrews has spent the last three years sitting for portraits by over 130 photographers including Rankin and Harry Borden.

Please also read Tim’s blog about his project 'Over the Hill'

'At the Hairdressers': Astrid's new series, Part 2

As a teenager Astrid enjoyed reading a novel called Egalia's Daughter (by the Norwegian Gerd Mjøen Brantenberg) in which the protagonists swapped gender based rolls. One particular scene stuck to Astrid’s mind: men were sitting at a beauty salon, with curlers in their hair and beards. Or waxing of their chest hair, having face masks and so forth… They were gossiping, opening their hearts, socializing, or simply observed their transformation - quietly.

Back to the future, Astrid thought this would be an interesting topic to explore. How do men feel and act when confronted with characteristic female beauty treatment?

Nowadays the beauty industry as a close eye on men, trying to turn them into paying customers. Apparently, male grooming is in fashion (according to the advertising industry). I still recall the 80s, when this was really happening. Many men desired to have their hair permed, inspired by stars like Hollywood actor Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky & Hutch) or Kevin Keegan (when he was young...) or certain bands with big hair, (remember glam rock?). However, men would visit hairdressers rather secretively. The trick is to look ‘natural’ after you are done.

The project can be seen at Hairdressers

Please note: In Astrid's ‘Hairdresser’ project all characters are fictional. There is very little relationship between the sitter and the suggestions made about them…

‘Over the Hill’ at Impact Art Fair, 19.05 – 22.05.11

‘Wanted’, the image of Tim Andrews is back on show, this time as a printed exhibition. Tim, who suffers of Parkinson's disease, had the urge to be photographed by over 130 photographers (including Rankin, Harry Borden, Vanessa Winship, Jillian Edelstein, and many more…) since the onset of his illness. By turning himself into an art object, he got featured at the BBC Culture Show and the Guardian Weekend Magazine in February 2011.

A small selection of this project (including ‘Wanted’) is featured at The Impact Art Fair. Impact profiles work from highly talented artists loosely described as ‘marginalised’ or ‘outsider’ such as those who use mental health services, who have physical disabilities or learning difficulties, who have experience of homelessness or substance mis-use, refugees, long-term unemployed, offenders or ex-offenders.

Venue: Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ
Opening Times: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11am - 6pm
Private View: Thursday, 19.05.11, 5pm - 7pm

Links and directions to The Impact Art Fait and Candid Arts Trust

'The Wedding Pubs', inspired by the Royal Wedding in London, 29.04.11

On 29 April 2011 the citizens of the UK, it not the whole world, held their breath and followed the most prestigious wedding of this century so far: the Royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. An estimated one million people lined the streets in London to witness the procession. But not everybody managed to get a good view. For those who missed the highlights, feel free to have a look at these wedding images, which were taken inside 22 of London's favourite entertainment places: the 'Public Houses' in the Borough of Westminster…

Please follow the full event on www.astridschulz.com/wedding-pubs

'At the Hairdressers': Astrid's new series needs your help!

Round one is completed: Astrid has started a new series. The theme is 'male grooming', a free interpretation of the return of the gigolo... Long hair is in (apparently) and so are beards. It's fun to dress up again and its OK to be sexy!

Astrid's creative partner is the professional and highly talented hair stylist Konnie Daniel, who is the proud owner of a remarkable collection of curlers. Konnie is usually working on feature films and on TV productions as a make-up and hair designer (her impressive CV includes Killing Bono & 28 Days Later).

Special thanks to Chris, Tom, Boaz and Frey for their patience and good humour - and also to the London Academy, who kindly allowed us to work in their studio (www.media-courses.com).

For the second round Astrid and Konnie need new models. Please come forward, if you are a man with long'ish hair - or if you know of any charming men who would enjoy a cheerful photo session for a possible exhibition (all age-groups wanted!).

PLEASE - DON'T BE SHY - GET IN TOUCH: info@astridschulz.com

FORMAT Photography Festival: Latitude - Status Update, 04.03 – 03.04.11

‘Status Update’ is a new project by Latitude Photographers, a photo collective from London. Latitude has engaged their Facebook friends to share creative images in response to the festivals theme 'Right Here Right Now’.

The conclusion of this project will be presented as a slide-show at the International Photography Festival FORMAT 11. The work is envisaged as being a large screen projection within a gallery space – ‘updating the status’ from a Facebook exchange to gallery artwork.

Venue: Mob FORMAT HQ, 44 Sadler Gate, Little Chester, Derby DE1 3NQ
Dates: 4th March - 3rd April
Opening times: 10:00 - 17:30

Astrid’s submission is the triptych ‘White Lies Kill’ (shown above), which is taken from a body of work called ‘Death in Arles’. The series is dealing with the break-up of a relationships and it’s consequences – right here, right now.

‘Over the Hill’: A Photographic Journey, 01.02 – 27.02.11

This group show is in fact a photographic digital installation, instigated by Tim Andrews, who suffers of Parkinson's disease. He had the urge to be seen through the eyes of over 100 photographers since the onset of his illness. The result is a stunning collection of images, full of surprises.

The impressive list of photographers includes Rankin, Harry Borden, Vanessa Winship, Jillian Edelstein, Karen Knorr, Steve Bloom, Graeme Montgomery, Alex Sandwell Kliszynski, Michele Turriani and many more…

Astrid’s contribution to this fascinating compilation is the image 'Wanted: Tim Andrews', which is playing with Tim's love for acting, cinema visits and his childhood dream of becoming a cowboy...

Venue: The Lightbox, Chobham Road, Woking,
Surrey, GU21 4AA (free entry, donations welcome)

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday: 10.30am - 5.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm (Mondays are closed)

Links and directions to The Impact Art Fait and Candid Arts Trust

Please also read Tim’s blog about the project Over The Hill

'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together', 15.12 - 12.01.11

All festivals have come to an end now, however, in case you missed the previous shows, here is one more opportunity...

As a result of the Brighton Photo Fringe the images from Astrid’s food series have been invited to beautify Taylor St Baristas, one of Brighton’s most famous coffee shops. Its location at 28 Queens Road, the street which leads from the station down to the sea - perfect for a visit.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 7.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8am - 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 5pm

If you would like to see the images, please click here.

‘fLIP Magazine no17’, November Issue 2010

fLIP is an independent magazine, which is published three times per year by the London Independent Photographers (LIP). The magazine is the official voice of LIP, which has over 600 members and it aims to support, inspire and inform its readers by featuring members' photographic work with articles that are engaging and entertaining.

The latest issue, no 17 with the title 'Movement', is featuring an article about Astrid's work 'Food keeps Body & Soul together'. The article was a response from both Astrid's involvement at the LIP members show as well as her 2 recent solo exhibitions.

The magazine is available at various stockists across London, including the Tate Modern Bookshop, National Portrait, Serpentine Gallery Bookshop, Whitechapel Gallery Bookshop and many more. If you wish to read the article, please visit www.astridschulz.com/flip-fkbst/.