[Art-el]

Saw some pieces for the show yesterday...................one word

AWESOME

I'll be there but really hope it's not gonna be carnage

[atomone]

So safe to say that was a good idea of mine then! I doubt i'll even be in that queue of 75 but was frustrated by the queue jumpers at the print show and can't go through those evil stares again!!

[robinbanks]

Mad what has happened in the last 6 months.

When I bought the London TMA print I got there about an hour after opening and there were still about half of them left. I even had time to look around the whole show and make my mind up on it before I handed over any dosh!

[Gentle Mental]

the online prints will be sold out in nano second. Just as it did before.

dear black rat press, kindly consider other means of releasing prints online (a lottery perhaps?) for not everyone has the technology to snatch it at 0.01 second - 0.09 sec timeframe.

[bobbyt23]

That's just the scene at the moment. It's not good but it's just what we have to do to get the images we like.

Sorry I meant get the images we like at cost and not off some e-bay flipper. I wonder if that's a job title yet?!?!? "Art Flipper"

[arcam]

Apr 9, 2008 18:28:13 GMT 1 Gentle Mental said:

the online prints will be sold out in nano second. Just as it did before.

dear black rat press, kindly consider other means of releasing prints online (a lottery perhaps?) for not everyone has the technology to snatch it at 0.01 second - 0.09 sec timeframe.

Everyone has the same chance. At least it's done and dusted with in seconds.

[maadbeats]

Would love to pick up an OG from this show. I could smack myself for passing on a couple from Carmichaels

[rrrich]

the people who are nifty with hacking sites to get the pages straight off have a bit of an advantage over everyone else who is left waiting while the f5 reload takes an age!

[Richard]

With all due respect - the idea of handing out tickets is stupid.

It won't change anything at all. You will just get a queue for the 75 tickets rather than the print.

...and when do you start handing them out?

Can you turn up 2 days in advance? 2 hours?

I think the lottery system is the fairest idea.

[pramface]

i guarantee that you would just get c**t selling their 'tickets' in the queue

these people have no shame or ethics, and i don't expect them to develop any in a week

[idris]

Apr 9, 2008 19:36:08 GMT 1 pramface said:

i guarantee that you would just get c**ts selling their 'tickets' in the queue

these people have no shame or ethics, and i don't expect them to develop any in a week

beat me to it - I was gonna mention that

What they can't sell is something that's been physically imprinted on you ie a stamp of some sort -

think i'm making the journey from Leeds - coz theres no way i'm getting the on line print - it'll sell out in no time!!

[top]

Nick Walker show 'V for Vandalism'


This Newsletter would like to distance itself from any assocation with BA, however it does wish you a safe flight and pleasant onward journey

We realise you are used to a certain level of treatment, a certain comfort. You are a connoseiur of the written word. Not unused to being pampered. You have read that Argentinian wines are very good this year. You do not like to be hurried or rushed through to the news section. And here at Black Rat Press we have always understood the particular needs of the modern gentleman, and the astute lady print collector. In this introductory section, which we view very much as the executive lounge of the newsletter, where you are incubated from the noisome irks of the hoi polloi, we have always strived or maybe striven to to entertain you, inform you, educate you and to provide you with complimentary drinks and undersized packets of nuts. However, today, due to the unprecedented scale of today’s news, and a few minor hiccups in the new T5 news-handling department, we ask that you please bear with us as we usher you straight through to the news secton. Please accept our apologies and find a chilled bottle of Asahi beer waiting for you on your seat.

The News Section, meaning the Nick Walker Show, Thursday 17th April, 6pm…

Since the Bonham’s Urban Art auction this year, and his sell out LA show, Nick has justifiably cemented his place as one of the leading figures in British street art. We have people flying in from all over the world for the opening night (of course if they’re landing at Heathrow there’s no guaranteeing they’ll actually make it).

The buzz about this show is huge.

However, to quote the great bard.. or possibly the first Spiderman film, “With great power comes great responsibility…” We’ve thought long and hard about how to handle this show, the print releases, and Mike’s prediliction for free booze. It hasn’t been easy. We even came to blows – although Sarah has aplogised to Leon for that now – before finally settling on what we think is the fairest possible answer.

We will be releasing two new Nick Walker prints online on the morning of the show.

Please, bear with us.

Nick has worked incredibly hard over the last few months to create his strongest single body of work to date, and we feel that huge queues for prints would take the shine off the amazing originals hanging on the walls. However obviously we realise that people travelling in from Glasgow and the other end of the Circle Line are going to be scuppered. So to make things as even handed as possible we are also releasing a third, slightly more expensive, very special edition print of 75 only at the show. The image will be from Nick’ butterfly series and is the one featured on the front page of the Independent on Sunday’s arts section back in February. That way, if you miss the online print release but you’re one of the first Nick Walker fans in the queue you’re still guaranteed a print.

On the other hand, if you don’t know anything about Nick Walker and have stumbled into this newsletter by mistake, looking for your lost luggage or delayed 08.15 flight to Cuba here is a brief bio. Of Nick Walker, we mean, not of Cuba.


About Nick Walker
Bristol born artist Nick Walker emerged from the infamous Wild Bunch/Bristol scene of the early 1980s. Back then, the young B-boy, Nick wandered into the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, and walked out with a solid agreement to host a group graffiti show.
As a forerunner to Banksy (who’s described Nick as an enigma) and the now mainstream British stencil/graffiti phenomenon, Nick has always been a pioneer in his field. But, in February of this year, the combined push of an Independent on Sunday arts cover and the historic Bonham’s Urban Art auction (the first time an auction house had recognised the emerging power of street art with its own dedicated auction) a large canvas of this same Moona Lisa image, with an estimated price of £5,000 went for over £50,000 and launched Nick Walker into orbit.
In the remarkable few months since then, Nick has had a sell-out show in LA, been inundated with requests for commissions and somehow found time to create an incredible new body of work for The Black Rat Gallery. We’re incredibly excited about the pieces coming out of Nick’s studio. This promises to be one of the shows of the year and year of the bowler-hatted vandal.
PS. If you are on your way to Cuba please don’t go to the Tropicana. It’s rubbish.

See you next Thursday.

BRP

Please note - The gallery is closed for installation until the show opens on Thursday evening.

[dh]

If you get a print then great, if not it will still be a good evening with some superb art on display and a few beers. I hope I can get the time off to be there.

[top]

..might be old news, but hey wtf!!

[European Bob]

il try ann get to the show...but no dough so il just admire the work.

[njr911]

fuck fuck fuck. I'm out of the office next thursday so won't get a chance of getting a print

[paulypaul]

An 'art appreciation' question. We did one of these recently on an SPQR thread and, quel fuckin suprise - art was discussed. Ya should have been there...

Sooooo - who bought anything by Nick (OG or print) in the last, say 2 years? If you did - why? If ya didn't - why do you want it now?

I didn't. Almost bought a headless astro 'bout a year ago and nearly bought vandals lots of times. Quite liked Nikers and had agreed a price for a Moona 12 months ago but didn't complete. Cos, whilst I quite liked it, I didn't love it and other pieces came first.

Now, people are travelling from the four corners to queue for a print they haven't seen...

Why???

[goodbyekitty]

BRP have already said that the print will be the one featured in the Independent a few months back. Thats the 'Life's too short' image if im not mistaken and ill be travelling from the four corners because it is going to be STUNNING!

[pezlow]

Apr 9, 2008 20:06:53 GMT 1 @paulypaul said:

An 'art appreciation' question. We did one of these recently on an SPQR thread and, quel fuckin suprise - art was discussed. Ya should have been there...

Sooooo - who bought anything by Nick (OG or print) in the last, say 2 years? If you did - why? If ya didn't - why do you want it now?

I didn't. Almost bought a headless astro 'bout a year ago and nearly bought vandals lots of times. Quite liked Nikers and had agreed a price for a Moona 12 months ago but didn't complete. Cos, whilst I quite liked it, I didn't love it and other pieces came first.

Now, people are travelling from the four corners to queue for a print they haven't seen...

Why???

Spot in paul,

It's all about the wonga for most. Like you I've never been that keen on Nick's stuff, although the vandal/TMA series is definitely the best. Even then I passed on the Bristol one when I had the chance to buy. Might have bought the london one had I been to the show but probably wouldn't have done because, although I like it, I like other things more.

There are some long time walker collectors on here - PUD, Art-el etc etc but not that many...

[atomone]

I bought the London TMA at the white noise show and is now framed and hung on the bedroom wall! I bought it coz I live in London and loved the print, didn't really matter who it was by it was just the theme and styling that attracted me! mad to think I was able to ponder getting it or not for over an hour before purchasing one, it's gonna be a different story next week for sure!! shame really!

[Deleted]

have to say i am really looking forward to seeing what nicks got in store for us. i really like 2 of the 3 prints. good plan releasing 2 of the prints online on the morning of the show. should mean lots of people stay at home. i'll be in the que.

[cheeky007]

Care to shed any light on the other images?

[romanywg]

Apr 9, 2008 21:17:29 GMT 1 cheeky007 said:

Care to shed any light on the other images?

Yes. They are both very nice! All 3 can be seen in this gallery, somewhere, you'll just have to guess which ones they are.
www.flickr.com/photos/romanywg/sets/72157603798590354/

[lello]

650 - 1000 pounds?? BRP heres an idea to maintain profits, end the queuing concerns and please art lovers. Make another 500 prints and sell them for less. Job done...

[bobbyt23]

Apr 9, 2008 20:06:53 GMT 1 @paulypaul said:

An 'art appreciation' question. We did one of these recently on an SPQR thread and, quel fuckin suprise - art was discussed. Ya should have been there...

Sooooo - who bought anything by Nick (OG or print) in the last, say 2 years? If you did - why? If ya didn't - why do you want it now?

I didn't. Almost bought a headless astro 'bout a year ago and nearly bought vandals lots of times. Quite liked Nikers and had agreed a price for a Moona 12 months ago but didn't complete. Cos, whilst I quite liked it, I didn't love it and other pieces came first.

Now, people are travelling from the four corners to queue for a print they haven't seen...

Why???

I must admit I'm a newcomer to Nick's stuff. Didn't really like his older stuff so never really noticed him. Then I saw the vandal series and absolutely love the idea and mixture of colours. They are just stunning but I arrived too late at the party to stand a chance of getting any.

I will be going to the show purely to look at the work. Not interested in the butterfly print.

Hope I like it as much as I did the last set of stuff.

[funyoung]

Apr 9, 2008 20:06:53 GMT 1 @paulypaul said:

An 'art appreciation' question. We did one of these recently on an SPQR thread and, quel fuckin suprise - art was discussed. Ya should have been there...

Sooooo - who bought anything by Nick (OG or print) in the last, say 2 years? If you did - why? If ya didn't - why do you want it now?

Bought the Vandals triptych for myself in December. It's framed on the wall in the hall.
Got a copy for my brother for Chrimbo (works in the city and thus seemed fitting).
Bought TMA London in Feb just after Bonhams but outbid on one just before. Waiting to get the money together for frame. Bought it because it reminds me of a view from St.Thomas' Hospital across the Thames to the Houses of Parliament.
Bought Mona Simpson but had to let it go after the GF swore it would never make the wall.

So some of us do like it. Art can be subjective. Like that Micallef chap. Don't get it. But that's the point - personal taste - regardless of what flippers are doing.

So some are in it to flip for a profit. But they wouldn't be if there were no fans to buy it from them!

Never heard of Nick before October - but then again does it matter when I did? Love his work. Love the imagery. Most of which has a personal memory for me. Won't be buying any headless astros or moona lisa's any time soon though.

[bobbyt23]

Apr 9, 2008 22:00:19 GMT 1 lello said:

650 - 1000 pounds?? BRP heres an idea to maintain profits, end the queuing concerns and please art lovers. Make another 500 prints and sell them for less. Job done...

That's an idea but Nick Walker himself has said he likes low runs so people have something that is more linited and special.

[funyoung]

Oh yes. Can I be first in line for a flipped print please. Ultra slow internet for me (pages reload in parts at a time). !

[lello]

Plenty of banksys have higher print numbers and they're still "special".

[bobbyt23]

I agree Lello but it's his work so he gets to make the choices I guess.