VillageBlock

A revolutionary, social networking site for creatives across the globe. Everywhere

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We are live! Come visit us at www.villageblock.com

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More Treat Than Trick!

Another beautiful cat mask from the truly talented  J Smith Esquire. A truly couture way to dress up for Halloween!

 Check out www.jsmithesquire.com to see more of his delectable delights

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paper architecture exhibition in paris

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HASSAN HAJJAJ: KESH ANGELS British-Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj captures the unique atmosphere and upbeat rhythm of north-African street iconography with great warmth and humour.

In this new solo show of photographs and installations, he pays tribute to the biker culture of the young women of Marrakesh – the ’Kesh Angels. Directing them in theatrical poses with their scooters, motorcycles and colourful outfits, he creates images that reflect their strength, style and street-smart attitude. In veils and djellabah, the ‘Kesh Angels respect a certain tradition, but their presence is defiantly modern. Hajjaj then juxtaposes these portraits with ephemera from the Medina in unique, handmade frames and bright, Pop-Art colours.

The highlight of the exhibition is an installation of Hajjaj’s customised motorbike, “881-Motobecane”: covered in fashion logos and kitscheries, it is the perfect symbol of the youth, independence, fun, sociability and sunshine of Morocco.

Hassan Hajjaj was born in 1961 in Larache, Morocco and moved to London in 1975. He now works in between London and Marrakech. He has established an international following for his photography, and was shortlisted for the Jameel Prize 2009 at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

He has had numerous solo and group shows in the UK and internationally, and also designs clothing, album covers (for Momo, Blur and Pino Daniele); hotels (Riad Yima, Marrakesh, 2006); bar-restaurants (Andy Wahloo, Paris 2003); and installations. His work is in the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

(source)

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Hollywood Dreams

Tomorrow the V&A will throw open their doors to their much anticipated Hollywood Costume exhibition. Sponsored by Harry Winstone, the 131 piece collection highlights the crucial role that costume design, and of course, getting it right plays in creating an iconic film.  Lets be fair, if John Travolta had been strutting his stuff in Saturday Night Fever in anything less than an slick white suit would he, or indeed the film have reached the heady heights it did?

Spanning Hollywood’s history, the exhibition is literally a who’s who of costume design. The unforgettable black dress donned by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys, the muddied vest that Bruce Willis rocks in Die Hard and not forgetting those ruby red slippers and that blue gingham dress made famous by Julie Garland. It’s all there and its all breathtaking.

  On till 27th January 2013, there plenty of time to  get down there. You will not regret it!

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Halloween is just around the corner and where better to spend it than wandering around the wonderfully eerie Old Vic Tunnels.

Zombie Horror Camp promises voodoo doll making workshops as well as a grotesque strip club, not to mention a Zombie killer masterclass. Running from 25th October- 27th October and on until 2am in the morning it the perfect place to let your inner ghoul be free.

This year I’m taking inspiration from Dia de los Muertos and cant wait to bust my costume

See you there!

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Koto Bolofo photographs St Petersburg’s brightest and best

Pictured:

Lesya Paramonova, illustrator

Anna Denisenko, product designer

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WE HEART THE THAMES FESTIVAL

Here at Village we’re getting our gladrags ready for the  Thames Festival 2012 that’s set to take place this weekend [8-9th September]

From the London Eye to St Katherines Dock and beyond, the banks of the Thames will be filled with an array of entertainment and performances including spoken word stages, Columbian acrobatics and the largest illuminated night carnival in Britain. If that’s not enough, the grand firework finale, compiled of over a ton of fireworks will set the skyline alight bring the perfect end to a fun filled weekend

With both days jam packed with activities for all ages, its hard to decide which day to visit. Our advice? Go both days and be part of the London’s cultural finale to what has been an amazing, not to mention inspiring Summer!

For a full list of events go to http://thamesfestival.org/events

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Part bike, part library. Our latest post looks at this São Paolo project bringing books to the city’s homeless population. More here.

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Drawing on intergalactic influences, the ss13 collection from CIARACLARK is an innovative jewellery collection striving towards a fresh and unique aesthetic. We adore the strong use of fluoro for SS13... 

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It would be a lovely library.

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My Favourite Museum

Ever since I was wee whippersnapper I have loved the Museum of Childhood. A regular haunt for my mum and I during school holidays, I absolutely adored the workshops and events that popped up in and around the museum. Egg blowing, glass staining, puppet making; you name it, I tried it, opening up a whole other world of possibilities to my Sooty & Sweep watching mind.

  Having revisited recently as a 26 year old, the museum is still in my eyes one of the most magical places in the Capital, except the toys I loved so much as a child are now displayed within the cabinets, labelled artefacts to educate the children of today of the relics we played with contentedly in a time before Xbox’s and what not!

Still providing exciting and thought provoking exhibitions, next up on my to-do list  is the Modern British Childhood exhibition which starts on  13th October 2012 and explores issues surrounding education, health, family, entertainment, fashion and play over the past 64 years. As part of the exhibition, poetry and prose by writers’ group 26 and Hoxton-based Ministry of Stories will also be shown, inspired by some of the objects on display.

[photograph Copyright of Al Vandenberg]

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Surprise Surprise

'What You Will: Pop-Up Shakespeare is a random act of senseless beauty and an artistic ambush.' Mark Rylance

 Cultural celebrations are set to continue with free events across the capital until the end of the Paralympics. Following the success of a series of initiatives that exploded onto the city, next up to entertain the residents of London is the 'Surprises: What You Will: Pop-Up Shakespeare', which has been created by award-winning actor Mark Rylance, and will see Shakespearean characters, initially indistinguishable from the crowd, suddenly emerging at London's cultural hot-spots.

 Fifty actors aged between 17 and 70 who have been cast by Shakespeare Globe will perform brief interactions with the public before disappearing back into the crowd.

 Exact times and locations will remain a surprise until the day of performances but you can register for updates www.molpresents.com/surprises.

We cannot wait!

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Outdoor weddings - not really a good idea.

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Santo Rodriguez to play at Roundhouse on November 18th!!!!

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Word up….

The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company is an amazing music theatre production company founded by MOBO award winning hip-hop artist Kingslee ‘Akala’ Daley.  

Their aim is to help young people build their self-confidence and unlock their creative and artistic abilities by having them write and perform their own poetic lyrical reinterpretations based on Shakespeare’s works, providing a platform to showcase their own creative ideas with the support and guidance from leading music and theatre industry professionals.

Check out this amazing film of Toby T,  amazing talent and defo one to watch! Plus he’ll be performing at Shambala… we cant wait!!!!

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Its a WRAP!

A magazine that celebrates the best of illustration, design and creative culture, Wrap aims to bridge the gap between a magazine and product. Co-founded by Chris Harrison and Polly Glass , in order to help promote exciting, up-and-coming illustrators and designers, the magazine launched during London Design Festival 2010, and is now available in 80 stores worldwide. Not content with providing fantastic content on a range of creative endeavours, every issue also include 10 original wrapping paper designs. GENIUS!!!