OUTCROWD COLLECTIVE

To Dry For

2010-05-27T02:14:00.001-07:00

Hot off the press are these tidy little T towels designed by Ben Javens and available to buy from the To Dry For website.

Storm in a tea cup

2010-05-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

Regular Outcrowder Chris Bourke has a show on at Studio4 Gallery, a great selection of new lino prints. It's on till the end of May so do try to check it out if you're in the Brum area.

Not My Type

2010-05-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

This is not an Outcrowd Exhibition but was put together by regular contributor Jonny and his lovely Lady and features a plethora of Outcrowders, fun little show. An Out of Character Experiment; a typographical exploration. Talk of touring it so keep your eye out at a gallery near you!

Joyfully Bewildered

2010-05-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

The Joyful Bewilderment from Lawrence Roper on Vimeo.

Well it was a fun hectic show and alas now all over, finished off in Falmouth the beginning of the year, hope you got to see it. Here is a silly little film of it in Here and Now, the last stop on the tour.

Ben Has A New Website

2010-04-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Get me!

Happy new year

2010-01-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

the first day of 2010 from Lawrence Roper on Vimeo.

Happy new year to you all from the Outcrowd x

online press

2010-01-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

Was looking up some info for an exhibition proposal and found these related pieces to things we've been up to, here's some links, ooh check us out..

SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL 2009 - Outcrowd Shed

2009-07-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

This year for Super Sonic Festival we created our own little backyard world in which to immerse yourself amongst our wooden whittled curiosities and delights as the strange, heavy aural offerings of the festival tickled your lobes. Thanks to Waste and Zombie for getting involved too. Here's the high brow blurb:

" The Outcrowd are a group of like-minded image-makers. There work can be seen as an expression of these artists compulsion to create. Fundamentally, the artists all share an essential motivation to explore the possibilities of enhancing everyday life by making magic from the mundane. There work utilises modest and direct means including works in pencil, paint and ink along with photographic works, which record and celebrate everyday happenstances.

Specifically, what comes to the fore are common concerns and a positive interest with dipping into the past and championing seemingly long-forgotten notions such as thriftiness and a delight in the ordinary everyday detritus of life.

This year their process is applied to exhibiting in sheds, modifying and re-claiming these gentle relics over the duration of the festival. Come join them as they attempt to cheekily subvert the traditional gallery setting."

London 2012 Olympics / Coca-Cola Custom Board Presentation

2009-07-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Recently Log, Simon Peplow And Vaughan Baker from the Outcrowd were commissioned to do a series of hand customized rods for the 2012 London Olympics / Coke. The brief was initiated by Egg Strategy, based in Boulder, Colorado, and involved an ambitious customisation of 23 decks in 24 hours for the Coca Cola and Olympics 2012 Activation board. We were hand picked for the project by Dan Magee of bluepint skateboards who project managed the brief. We were also joined by the talented Arran Gregory. Day one involved a welcome pampering at the Mother Marketing Agency in East London, doodling away through thunder storms into the early hours of friday! Day two and a slightly jaded presentation ensued at Coca-Colas head office in Hammersmith. All visuals courtesy of Dan Magee's third eye.

Joyfully Bewildered in Brizzle

2009-07-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a few Pics from the Joyful Bewilderment At Here Gallery in Bristol. It's on till August, go check it out. You don't have to queue for two hours like Banksy.

TJB Exhibition at HERE Gallery / Bristol / UK

2009-06-23T15:31:00.001-07:00

Come one and all, it appears to be that time again. THE JOYFUL BEWILDERMENT show will have squatters rights next month, taking over the walls of the delightful HERE Gallery in Bristol. Hope to see you there.

Preview: Tuesday 7th July, 7.00 - 9.00pm
Duration: Wednesday 8th July - Saturday 8th August 2009

Admission FREE

Opening times:
Tues - fri / 10.30am - 6.30pm
Sat / 10.30am - 5.30pm
Sun - Mon / Closed

Venue:
HERE Gallery
108 Stokes Croft
Bristol
BS1 3RU

Joyfully Bewildered in Edinburgh

2009-04-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

I recently got back from a weekend in Scotland with Si Peplow, Stef Self Control and Lee Basford, setting up a mini version of TJB show at Analogue in Edinburgh. Had an ace weekend, met some lovely folks, show looked ace, great turn out and we all got rather drunk on good Scotch Whisky! Big ups to Russ and Julie at Analogue and shout out to Ruefive for whisky drinkin/camera skills and cultural lessons in the real capital of Scotland and "Teams".

We lastminute.comed a sweeet apartment for not much money which felt like we where squatting at Fred Goodwin's while he was in Hiding! And on the long hung over drive home stopped at the worlds nicest middle class service station in the world. Enjoy the pics I stole of everyone and check out the JB blog for more. -Log

THE JOYFUL BEWILDERMENT EXHIBITION

2008-09-21T05:11:00.001-07:00

The Outcrowd Collective Proudly Presents....

The Joyful Bewilderment

An International Group Exhibition

2nd October - 27th October 2008

ROUGH TRADE EAST

Dray Walk

Old Truman Brewery

91 Brick Lane

London

E1 6QL

Private View:

2nd October from 7pm - 12pm

live musical accompaniment from Einstellung.

THE JOYFUL BEWILDERMENT curated by Marcus Oakley, Holly Wales, Lawrence Roper, Outcrowd Collective and myself. 125 IMAGE MAKERS under one legendary roof. Join us on the 2nd October at ROUGH TRADE EAST, LONDON town for one thrifty fucker of an eyejoy bonanza, with live musical accompaniment from EINSTELLUNG + album launch.

SUPERSONIC 2008

2008-08-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a while since this puppy got updated, here's some pics of our little exhibition we di d with our friends and doodle off from this years Super sonic fest. Hard work but fun, the festival goes form strength to strength, we also met French who had some of his visual delights on show too, lovely chap. Thanks to everyone who came down, got involved and helped. Also dragged the Waste boys, monstersmonsters and Stuart Zombie out to display there visual delights so doffed hat to them folks too.

IT'S A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD EXHIBITION

2008-02-27T14:06:00.000-08:00

This was our last big collective exhibition, nice going through all the old photos, can't believe it's been so long since we organised a big group show, let 2008 be the year we get out thumbs out our arses! Here's what i wrote at the time...

4th to 11th August 2004

After the success of their first group exhibition in February 2004, and continuing awards, commissions, publications and collaborations throughout the following year. The Outcrowd presented “It's a sad and beautiful world” their second ambitious group show.

This exhibition provided a chance to peek into the creative realm that exists beyond the sometimes insular Southern based “in crowd” of contemporary illustration, art and design. Although we collaborate, interface, love and respect London based practitioners, we strive to expose what we have achieved here in the West Midlands. Geographically fortunate that we have the opportunity to network nationally as opposed to an all to often southern bias.

With new members, new work, growing notoriety and accolades, be prepared for a continuing visual onslaught from these pencil-wrestling enthusiasts.

INKTHIS2

2008-02-20T14:22:00.000-08:00

We were invited back to Leicester for the second Inkthis exhibition. This time work was all framed so a few of us collaborated on a single piece, alas we seem to have no photographic evidence of this so here's a few shots of the event by Chris of Peplow painting on the windows and some of the openings. We did some shin tanaka toys too, which Ben found some pictures of, cheers Ben. The show also toured in London and Hong Kong.
Just found this photo a lovely chap took of the event, swiped it off his flickr, here's a link to his stuff, some great photos of the show, turns out he's an old friend of Ben's from Uni so send him your love.

****************UPDATE******************

Ah at last i can utilise my new outcrowd blogging powers by letting you have a butchers at the Shin Tanaka Dolls we made (up there) - mrben

SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL 2005

2008-02-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

click here for some pictures!
More real time scribbling nonsense. We recycled the dinocards into freestanding towers, a sort of illustrators’ henge, inviting the gang to pay homage with pen and paint. Supersonic’s interesting noises floating in the air, ink and beer flowing under a clear blue sky, then Brum got fake bombed and we had to go home, hence the lack of photographic evidence, rubbish. We still had fun though, as Mel would say, they can’t take our freedom!

WE TOOK OUR BROKEN DREAMS AND TURNED THEM INTO HOMES FOR OUR SOULS

2008-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

Part of the Space Raiders project. 14th June o5, Installation for architecture week at the mailbox, Birmingham, broken board collage

For this exhibition the Outcrowd explore the relationship between cities and their architecture and the way in which skaters interpret these often-mundane surroundings to find a more exciting perspective. The city is their playground and inspiration, but it is also their undoing and downfall; broken boards, broken bones and broken dreams. On each broken board are depicted ideas and dreams, taking the destruction and turning it into something hopeful and fun

INKTHIS

2008-02-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

We got invited to this show in Leicester a year or two ago, and ended up getting right involved taking over the downstairs with the waste yourself boys. Made some great new friends and had fun, very nice little show, good to see other folks doing things in the Midlands. Inkthis are currently organizing their third show and got some right big names involved, check them out..

SUPERSONIC 2006

2008-02-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

As usual we where up to no good for the Supersonic festival. This year was another de-facing of an empty shop unit which got converted into an indoor forest with musical radio tree and picnic area. Thanks to everyone involved and this was a bit of a collaboration with Beat13 so props to Matt and Lucy. Akron family and Angels of light were a bit of a soundtrack to our doodling so it was a special treat when Michael Gira popped his head round the corner. We also re-used some radios from the golden age of static to create a mini version with our radio tree.

URBAN OUTFITTERS

2008-02-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

This isn't there any more but here's some pics of us going all commercial and selling out..
Turbantroutlifters
"Our good friends at the record shop bit of Urban Outfitters in Brum asked us to come and doodle all over there shit. Peps and Log got to work with a handful of wallpaper, paint and a selectrion of outcrowd golden treats, jazzing the place up a bit, like an “urban” version of that Scottish gay couple off the telly who fluff up your house. "

EPIC SKATEPARK MINI SHOW

2008-02-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

here's what i wrote at the time;
Outcrowd at epic
Not forgetting some of us are a bunch of skateboarding bums we did a wee showette at Epic, our local skatepark, a kind of remix of a couple of old shows. Lewis, a reguler crowder sorted this one out so top bananas to himself. Now when we’ve worked up a moist brow hanging ten we can relax in our cravats and short shorts at the upstairs bar, stroking our beardy bum fluff admiring our neat colouring in that doesn’t go over the lines.
Sorry my files got corrupted so i only have thumbnails, you get the idea...

DUCK FEVER IN BARCELONA

2008-02-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

We got an invite to submit to this group show , DUCK FEVER @ Mercado del Borne. back in October 25th, 2006 by Ternera de Kobe. We discovered the gallery on a trip to Sonar festival, representing Brum creative types so it was sweet when they asked us to contribute to this show. I'm just adding the old shows as and when i remember them and find the images. so sorry about lack of continuity. This was a massive project with artists from all over the world contributing, basically de-facing the classic yellow rubber duck, a bit of a satirical take on all the artist customized collectible toys you see everywhere these days. Just google it there's lots of pics and bits from all the artists that contributed, alas Mercado gallery is no more these days but Ternera de Kobe is still putting on cool shows in Barcelona. Thanks to Ana Neto from subaquatica for the pics too.

found this site, very nice duck and a great set of images of the process plus a few from the opening night.. duck fever

THE FIREFLY

2007-12-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

I don’t know if this counts as an exhibition and i think most of it has been painted over, still a nice pub and still worth checking out. Early 2005 some good friends of ours took over the licence for an old pub in wiggly Worcester, now called the firefly. They invited us to come and get pissed for free and drawer all over the walls, sweet. If you’re ever in the shire pop in for a pint and check out what's left of our drunken artwork. The firefly, lowers more, Worcester.

CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR DINOSAURS

2007-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

This was a live doodling experiment conducted in the custard factory gallery, during the two weeks leading up to Christmas 2004. We constructed five 4ft by 8ft “cards” strategically placed around the gallery. We then invited outcrowders to come armed with their pens, paint, glue and over active imagination to decorate the cards over the duration of the experiment, finishing in time for Christmas. These where then left over the festive period when all is quite, in the hope that dinosaurs could come and admire them in peace.

SUPERSONIC 2004

2007-12-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

God bless the Capsule girls! I’ve worked with these crazy queens for many years, they commissioned us to make an installation in an empty shop space for their genius super sonic festival, we did some fun b&w paste ups round Digbeth too. Check out their web site for all the low down. We created our very own out crowd curio charity shop, for onlookers to gaze through the window to try to spot keeths’ drawings of dirty robots with massive cocks…
capsule

INTERVALOMETER

2007-12-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

This is a freestyle animation we made for fun, using a digital camera, some time lapse animation software, paint, pens, paper cut outs and our imagination
paperchristmas

OUR FIRST SHOW

2007-12-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

Our first exhibition was in Feb./march 2004 and was the first major exhibition of the outcrowd as we know it, initially it was to be a small- scale affair with skateboarding ditherers Si Peplow and Vaughan baker collaborating in our small coffee shop/galley. But something happened… I can’t recall exactly how it came about but the organic force of the outcrowd was spawned.

We ended up taking over the large gallery space in the custard factory, birmingham as well as our initial coffee shop gallery space with over 20 artists getting involved, music was supplied by our friends, Ross Spencer (check out his new album “egomute”) Calvados Beam Trio, Copter and Leonard.

The show was a visual onslaught, with Beat13 joining in with the launch of their comic, “Brainwashed” creating a veritable scribbling smorgasbord of eye candy treats

SUPERSONIC 2007

2007-08-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

Once again we where invited to exhibit at Super Sonic festival, unfortunately i was in bed with the flu and Peplow was moving to Exeter. Thankfully Mr. Ben came to the rescue, pulled out all the stops and invited some of our friends to come and help. Boba Fett style nods of respect to Monstersmonsters, Joe WSA, Steve Roberts and Drawn to play. I crawled in on Fri evening to lower the tone with an indecently exposed old man but full credit should go to Mr. Ben and co. on this one, good work fellas!

capsule

TEN 4 MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

2007-06-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Outcrowd were recently interviewed and photographed for Ten4 magazine and quizzed about the perks and pitfalls of running a creative collective. Above is one group photo taken for the article sporting some budget masks I made. You can view our thoughts in magazine format or online and we're in fine company. http://www.channel4.com/4talent/ten4/collectives.htm/

THE OUTCROWD AT SONAR!!!

2007-06-09T05:25:00.000-07:00

Next week we're off to Barcelona for the Annual Sonar festival of progressive music and multimedia arts, well...we're going to visually bother the Spanish, if you happen to be there to, then come by our stall and buy a badge!

Website under construction!!!

2007-06-05T04:51:00.000-07:00

THIS IS A TEMPORARY BLOG WEBSITE!!! We'll be slowly bunging up the old content, artists, archive, info and links as well as (eventually) up to date news regarding all our visual shennanigans. Our REVISED WEBSITE will be ether bound towards the end of the summer so check back soon and keep those peeps wide eyed!!!

In the mean time please check out http://www.studio4gallery.blogspot.com/ for relevant news and links to Outcrowders websites and affiliates. If however you are in dia need of our creative outpourings then you can contact us via the demonic virtual world at http://www.myspace.com/theoutcrowdcollective/