Afrodizzia Tate Late

This Friday head to the Tate Britain

Enter a micro-world of music, performance and debate inspired by Chris Ofili. Blacktronica's Charlie Dark presents School of Dark with Andreya Triana and The Speaker's Corner Quartet. Also Bonnie Greer, Cleveland Watkiss, Larry Achiampong, Zak Ové, a fashion show and a panel discussion.
Friday, 05 February 2010

18:00 - 21:30
Tate Britain
Millbank
London


Chris Ofili Afrodizzia


Larry Achiampong

Gil Scott Heron new ALBUM

As a longterm Gil Scott Heron fan, I cant wait for "I'm New Here" released by XL whose boss apparently "tracked him down at Rikers island prison and offered to produce a new LP".

Just listened to the track "Im new here"..STUNNING acoustic country blues reality!!

I'm Here Now is released 8th February 2010

preview all tracks below.

Analogue Photo's

These are some Photo's that we've taken over the past 2 weeks or so on our travels...

Chris Ofili at theTate

We were kindly invited to the Chris Ofili exhibition at the Tate Britain by Charlie Dark.

Showing for the first time in Britain the Tate brings you an in depth catalogue of over 45 pieces of work spanning from the mid 90s to present day.
Ofili quickly rose to fame early in his career as an artist who is most famous for his Elephant Dung paintings and being the first black painter to win the Turner price.
Now residing in Trinidad the exhibition takes you from a young black artist screaming for attention forged under the back drop of "cool Britannia" through an introspective blue period, then finally out the other side arriving at a cornucopia of colour and passion which is heavily influenced by his residence in Trinidad, the rhythm of the carnival is definitely in his most recent works!

PS. The after party was AMAZING, free cocktails, good tunes.....much fun and mischief was had by all!! LOL!!

Afro 2000


Chris Ofili’s The Upper Room which was especially designed by the architect David Adjaye in 2002 at the Victoria Miro Gallery


Iscariot Blues 2006



Douen's Dance 2007 inspired by Malick Sidibé 1963 photo Nuit de Noel





Good People


The man him self Chris Ofili


Charlie Dark


Caroline Issa Editor of Tank magazine and fashion designer Duro olowu


Artist Yinka Shonibare


Artist Lemi Ghariokwu view our blog on his exhibition of Fela Album artwork





David Adjaye Architect and Okwui Enwezor Curator and writer

Nicola and Roger Robinson. Check his new music King Midas Sound


Studio Pixie Grafic Designer and Twitter Family






Chris Ofili bootleg merchandise


Chris Ofili official






Black Nurse Network................. lol

After the show was the after party








Cocktails, Soca and Sweet mother kept Bnn Happy



Prince Nico Mbarga Sweet Mother




Red Plastic Bag Volcano

Take me back

BA is making me want to book my passage

The Distinguished Gentleman

Love the window of Murdock Barbers




Diary of a Victorian Dandy, 1998 Yinka Shonibare



Jocks & Nerds Men's Style in the Twentieth Century

Peter Ibruegger Mustache Mugs

Cosh Gallery

While doing a tidy we forgot we had this art work given to us from Cosh Gallery we so need to get a frame to do it justice.









Other art work from Cosh Gallery we like:

Tatsuya Taniguchi (Buggy)




Michael Gillette

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Melissa

So I was a very good girl this Christmas and I got these Vivienne Westwood + Melissa jelly shoes. I've been lusting after these every time I pop by our neighbours Kokon To Zai and now they are finally mine.









Now I'm loving these which will be ideal for this weather

Stitch and Bitch

Recently there's been a revival for cross stitch and all sorts of embroidery. Channel 4 Kirstie's Homemade Homereignited the nations love for all things crafty and homemade.

Found these books in a charity shop






Our handiwork




Transfer from Blik



Melamine plate by Jennifer Rose

Lagos Town by Afrikan boy

Thanks to the Bnn Fam for the heads up on this new video from African Boy which also features Vincy Girl Cherry B from De Tropix.

Brand new Debut music video from Afrikan Boy. The single will be released in March 2010 Lagos Town is taken off Debut Album "1444 Musik"

Stills from the video










Cherry B and Afrikan Boy

Watch the Video here

HAPPY 2010

From Fred Butler Style



Beautiful use of colour and shape also loving the nails from Wah Nails

Kelis

An interview with Kelis for Popbytes.

Popbytes.com interviews Kelis! from Popbytes on Vimeo.

Ski BeatZ & Mos Def

constant Rotation!

When Le Coil came to London

Jamala from Le Coil was recently in London spotting some London Coils and we were happy to see some familiar faces.............

The lovely creative Gabrielle from the Nu Black and designer of G*ology Tees




and the lovely singer songwriter Madame Pepper

I Love My Hair

and we love these by Fly Girl Andrea







Get them here

Noisettes Every Now And Then

Love, Love this video from the Noisettes and can we get a round of applause to see a beautiful black couple in a Uk music video.

Constructive Buying

On Monday we spent the day buying stock for Constructive Lives

Jet Set Masala at the EK pop up shop








S/S 2010





We got distracted and peep these beauties
Christopher Kane Shoes


Dominic Jones Jewellery

Ladurée London

Soon to rival our cupcake addiction is the delicate Ladurée Macaroons. BnnGirls popped into their Burlington Arcade shop and was easily transported to a Parisian tea salon with their French staff and ostentatious decor. Our favorite flavors were Pistachio and Praline can't wait to try them all.

A Clean Cut

We were horrified when we saw this chopped in half fox as we waited for the train at Dalston Kingsland Station.



8(

CALYPSO The Mighty Sparrow Tee

Loving these Mens T Shirt of the The Mighty Sparrow from A child of the jago 10 Great Eastern Street, London .

The Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair

The Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair hit London yesterday and we were there bright and early to get those bargains. The best value for money was £15 a kilo where you could get shirts, dresses and skirts which were then weighed.



Here is some of our favorite finds

These ring combs were the best, this was all we used when we were younger and still do now!





These are a bit rusty but I think we were mostly seduced by the packaging






Love these small brooches which were a £1 each

b.vikki vintage

We got a very lovely email from b.vikki vintage who immediately caught our eye with her take on vintage fashion from a black perspective.

The b.vikki vintage blog features:

Vintage advertising campaigns and fashion editorials from Black/African-American publications in the 1950s & 1960s!

Vintage video clips and found photographs featuring people of color!
Product descriptions and pictures of vintage pieces for sale at the b.vikki vintage etsy.com shop!

About b.vikki vintage
Rebecca Victoria O'Neal is a 22-year-old, African-American young woman from Chicago with gigantic curly hair, and an affinity for books, knitting, and antique malls. Her love for vintage silhouettes, Mad Men, traditional pop music and standards, and Doris Day movies led her to create b.vikki vintage - in the hopes of sharing her love for decades past.

Vintage Greyhound ads




Coco Cola




Avon Calling


Loving these styes from her shop
Pastel color-block shirt dress/day dress with full skirt


Ketchup and mustard house dress / play dress $12.00

Grove

This is a picture of a beautiful sunset in Ladbroke Grove taken on Monday

Simply Eartha

Hamburg, 1950 via facebook friend André S. Belcher-El


Gordon Parks


Gordon Parks

♥ Paris ♥

We spent a lovely day in Paris yesterday with family thanks to the £59 return and engrossed ourselves in being a typical tourist and doing all the sights. We took the Eurostar from the brand new St Pancras Station, and arrived in Paris in no time at all.







Pockets won't strech to LV then head to Tati




The Eiffel Tower in all its glory




little break big difference

PPQ Black Girls Rock

at the PPQ S/S fashion show

Following on from ID Pretty Young Things issue PPQ bring an all black models line up at their recent show for London Fashion Week.


Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn, Arlenis Sosa & Sessilee Lopez

Percy Parker of PPQ "It’s not something we really considered. We just wanted to find the most beautiful models and those were the best ones."













Cornrow head wrap Nubian style


Socks and sandals



The Show


Backstage at PPQ: hair and make up

Beyond The Chintz Eley Kishimoto S/S 10

We went to the Eley Kishimoto S/S 10 collection Beyond The Chintz.

A clashing of visual references in the home environment; a predilection for old value co-exists with modern commodity. The quiet madness of this chaotic affection surrounds the inhabitants, observed but not questioned the closed door.





The catwalk came alive with their signature bold prints which always reflect their textile background.
Our pictures were really rubbish so here are pictures from London Fashion Week website

This print reminds us of the embroidery piece which we saw at The Spitialfields City Farm last year







Loving the slouchy socks chunky strappy sandals






Clash of angles and chintz


Also checkout their pop up shop at 8 Kingly St Soho, which holds their current collection, flash pieces and sample sale downstairs.

Appliqué

Appliqué
Ornamented with a pattern (which has been cut out of another color or stuff) applied or transferred to a foundation; as, appliqué lace; appliqué work.

So following on from Do you like my Angles in print I decided to experiment in appliquéd leather. Here are the results which can be worn as a statement necklace or attached to a vest.

BNN does London Fashion Week

So we went to London Fashion Week to buy stock for the shop.








........ok we did quite a bit of drinking but it helps us get through the stands.

Charity begins at home

We are so addicted to going to our local charity shop and its begining to become a weekly must stop on our way to the shop.

We picked up this gem and the best thing it only cost 50p

Look what landed on my back>>>>>

While BnnGirls was in BlackNerds garden this creature decided to land on are back we flicked that bitch off lucky for it we didn't kill it.

iPod Earphones Pendant

Love this pendant from Oye Modern designed by Australian artist Nathan Thomas

The same size as the real thing, they are just like your iPod earphones. Those white earphones are everywhere, but you’ll be the only one with these sterling silver ones.





Also liking these

Pencil shaving necklace by Vic Mason


Zip-it necklace by Cynics








All available from Oye Modern

LUXIRARE Killer Clothes + Fine Cuisine

LUXIRARE is the ultimate Blog Porn.

Fashion and Food done in some of the most imaginative and inventive ways.

Memorabilia










Bento Box






Cocktail Jello shots

Cana of Galilee

Picked up this beautiful bag at my local charity shop maybe donated by a Irish Catholic from there trip to the Holy Land.

Water into Wine
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine.""Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."......

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:1-11)








Bag Age Concern


Ashish A/W 2009



More finds




Jewellery
Red Age Concern Harlesden
Navy & Gold from Dalston Car boot sale

Vandalised Vintage

Love these Tea cups from reworked vintage china from Trixie Delicious which brings out the Nerd in us.












Trixie Delicious New Zealand Etsy Shop

Norma Bar's Negative Space

More work from illustrator Noma Bar and her use of negative space






Margaret Thatcher


The Big Squeeze: piece for an article on the oil gains to be made from Iraq


Gun Crime

Get Noma Bar's book Negative Space here

Beneath The Surface

The Black Heritage season at the V&A is now on and runs between now and the end of November.

Illustration by Noma Bar


Interesting events to look out for:

Saturday 28 November

-Design and construct a miniature front room inspired by the artist and curator Michael McMillan’s West Indian Front Room.


Sunday 29 November

– Afro Hair: A Talk and Workshop with Sandra Gittens, Course Director of Programmes, Further Education at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts.

– The History of Carnival, dir. Clarence Thompson OBE, 2008, (U)
Take a journey across time and space to the days of slavery, African Kings and Queens, playing Mas and the essence of Carnival in modern-day Britain amidst the making and beating of the steel pan.

For full list of events click

She Does It Well>>>Shingai Shoniwa

Custom made by Top Shop for Shingai Shoniwa at the V Festival

PILAR

Beautiful fashion and accessories by Trinidadian designer Anya Ayoung-Chee via Au Courant

PILAR is a clothing line designed by Anya Ayoung-Chee for women with eclectic style and a desire to be individual. The line offers strong sexy pieces that can be mixed and matched into your wardrobe and dressed up or down for any occasion







PILAR on Facebook

Black Nerds V Nigella Lawson Cookie Cutters

Nigella Lawson cookie cutters from Constructive Lives

kaleidoscope

A tube-shaped optical instrument that is rotated to produce a succession of symmetrical designs by means of mirrors reflecting the constantly changing patterns made by bits of coloured glass at one end of the tube.



Views from our kaleidoscope currently on sale at our shop Constructive Lives for £30.







Below pictures courtesy of BlackNerds and his tattoo's

Art Is My Hustle

We've been walking on this for the last few weeks





by T magic at Willesden Junction station
*Not our foot would not wear such trainers

The 50th Law

We just got our copy of The 50th Law by 50 cent and Robert Green. 50 Cent doesn't usually grace our blog posts but you cannot ignore his music and business success. This collaboration with Robert Green writer of 48 Laws of Power shows the parallels of 50 cents achievements and that of the corporate business world.

The ultimate hustle is to move freely between the street and corporate worlds, to find your flow and never stay locked in the same position. This is a manifesto for how to operate in the 21st century, where everything has been turned on its head. Building on the runaway success of Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power (almost half a million copies sold), the ‘modern Machiavelli’ teams up with rapper 50 Cent to show how the power game of success can be played to your advantage.

Drawing on the lore of gangsters, hustlers, and hip-hop artists, as well as 50 Cent’s business and artistic dealings, the authors present the Laws of 50, revealing how to become a master strategist and supreme realist. Success comes from seeking an advantage in each and every encounter, and The 50th Law offers indispensable advice on how to win in business – and in life.

The 50th Law
Much thanks to Myvanwy Evans
Pre-order your copy here

My Vestax

portable record player





Vestax

À bientôt

Farewell to our good friend (and original Black Nerd). She has worked in our boutique "constructive lives" and has partied with us from "Market Place" to "Plastic People". Unfortunately for us, last Saturday we were all saying goodbye in a Dalston local. After 10 years in London Town she's finally returning to Sweden.



Grafics by Imagist

See you soon xx

Sweet and Dandy

Found these vintage leather Bow Ties in Dalston 99p shop.

Perseid

Now taking place The Perseid Meteor Shower

Meteors are streaks of light in the sky caused by blazing pieces of dust drawn into the Earth's atmosphere from near space.The meteor particles, many no bigger than sand grains, come from comets which have passed through the inner Solar System.

On their journey around the Sun, the comets evaporate and leave behind a trail of gas and dust. When the Earth ploughs through a comet's old trajectory, this dusty debris burns up in our atmosphere to form shooting stars. The Perseid meteors owe their origin to Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last moved through the inner Solar System 11 years ago. The Perseid meteor shower is also known as the "Tears of St Lawrence" since the peak of the shower occurs around the anniversary of his martyrdom in AD 258


Pictures from last night via BBC News


Pete Lawrence


Bill Pinnel South London

Reading the Stars by Embroidery MiniatureRhino via Kitsune Noir

The stars tell stories of ancient myths involving monsters, loves and animals fixed in the night sky. i remember learning about these stories as a child and they still captivate me as do the graphic beauty of the constellations themselves. This is a group of my favorites constellations stitched ever so delicately

Needle point constellations




1. Andromeda - the chained lady
2. Ursa Major - the great bear
3. Cygnus - the swan
4. Orion - the hunter

Cosmic Designs by illstrator Chrissie Abbott for Little Boots



Chrissie Abbott T Shirt for Jaguar Shoes Kingsland Road

Get it here

Peter Pilotto's A/W 08 Collection via Trend de la Creme blog

Cosmic Prints
The Circinus Galaxy


Galaxy NGC 1569

Vintage Bella

The sales are still going on in Urban Outfitters Oxford Street and online.




Necklace Vintage
Belt Vintage
Dress Urban Outfitters finished with vintage buttons £9.99


Dress Urban Outfitters using Vintage fabric £9.99
Bag Vintage via charity shop


Best find Leggings with zip from H&M Kids £7.99 new season

Flamingo Hotel

Had to have this Tropical delight from Tiger Shop in
Hammersmith and the best thing is it only cost a £1.


Flamingo dress from Just Cavalli 08/09 A/W



Parrot Print from Belle and Bunty

The Great BnnGirls Birthday Getaway

It was BnnGirls Birthday last Monday, so we decided to escape to Almeria Spain to stay with Family.

We arrived on the 24th and could not believe 40° heat that hit us as we came of the plane and this was around 5pm. We unpacked and drank our favorite Spanish drink...........

Tinto de Verano.


Then came the drought, From 8 o clock pm Thursday till Sunday we had no water. We later found out the cause was a massive fire and all the water had to be diverted to put it out. Thank goodness for the pool.

BnnGirls cooling off


Can't get the fro wet




The long walk to the local bar (not local)


The Beach






The Nephew


The Sunset


Birthday Girls


More Birthdays


The Kyat


The Palm Tree

More EK

Not another Ek Post you might think, but we got some lovely Ek stuff through the post which we thought you might like.

Spring/Summer 09 Little Devils






Autumn/Winter 09/10 Jet Set Masala Poster




Spring/Summer 04 The Butterfly Brigade's Nightmare




Love these fashion illustrations and working drawings

Beat Street

In 1984 when this film was released for many people it was the beginning of HIP HOP CULTURE as we know it. With a who's who of HIP HOP pioneers the cast includes: Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and the soul sonic force, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Fantastic Duo, Kool Moe Dee and the legendary Rock Steady Crew.

Growing up in the UK this was as close as we could get to what eighties Black New York Fashion, Music and Art were really about. The rest is HISTORY!......"Beat street is a lesson too..you can't let the street beat you--- RUAHHH!!!"

Beat Street cast 1984




Beat Street (1984) trailer



Beat Street Roxy Battle



To watch the Full movie click the link. ENJOY! BEAT STREET LINK (full film)

We Heart EK

On Saturday BnnGirls went down to the Eley Kishimoto sample sale and pick up these.

We loved this jacket ever since we saw it in 2005 and never thought we would own it, some years later and now we do, Yea!


The "Local" collection was inspired by images in and around Brixton.

Print In fashion by Marnie Fogg





Zig Zag



Jacket Eley Kishimoto
EK Brooch
T shirt Primark
Dress made into a skirt Primark
Necklace Vintage Camden passage




Pop Socks Eley Kishimoto
Shoes Tk Maxx

Liking our head wrap.......Ok not quite a head wrap but we're going to wear it like this

Silk printed Head wrap Eley Kishimoto

Vintage Travel

Poster source

Shades of Grey

T shirt dress Blanco
Belt French connection via Tk Maxx
Sheer jersey yellow Tee Urban Outfitters
Lemon bag vintage shop


Sequined shirt Up Market
Belt Charity shop
Leggings Urban Outfitters


Grey jersey top with chiffon frill Up Market
Boob tube worn as skirt Primark
Cardigan Tk Maxx
Tights Tiger

Nautical 2

BnnGirls are still liking all things nautical.

Last week we were wondering around Convent Garden and couldn't help but be inspired by Arther Beale's sailing shop. Its a shame it was closed as those key rings would have been ours.

Here are a few crappy pictures and other nautical stuff we like.







Also liking these Sea Bags and they are made up authentic old sails.

Since 1999 we have been making custom tote bags out of recycled sails. Every bag we make has sailed around the world before it even leaves our shop, and we like that

Some images are printed and others are appliqued leather using nautical images. I especially like the way you can see the giant blanket stitch.











Not quite nautical but Sabrina Dehoff jewellery uses rope so gets our vote.

Design Indaba >We like this

Like this front cover of the recent addition of South African design magazine Design Indaba.




Reminds me of when we were going through our felt tip stage.

AC/DC V Excel

THE WORLD’S FIRST MUSIC VIDEO IN AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET!




We know this is kinda late but its still pretty sic. Download the video to view with Excel here, or watch below.



I am a PC

Gordon Parks

Groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist and film director.

Tropicalia Seating

As part of the Moroso installation came across furniture from Patricia Urquiola. Here is her Tropicalia collection for Moroso.

Loving the colours, pattern using woven plastics and leathers.

M’Afrique by Moroso

Found this exhibition via Yatzer blog. Devised by Patrizia Moroso for his Milan showroom and designed by Stephen Burks this installation puts together art and design inspired by Africa.



“multifaceted, modern Africa deserves to be known and sustained for the originality of the creative languages with which it enriches global culture. The African continent is extraordinarily rich in creativity, materials and ideas that are sources of inspiration and nourishment for us. When applied to design, they engender products which exude tradition and modernity, innovation and history, form and beauty. I think there is so much of Africa and in this event my intent was to showcase the creativity of a few of the great artists and personalities of contemporary African culture. Going beyond the stereotypes that present Africa as a tragic or, at best, exotic experience, we want to highlight some aspects of contemporary African culture, which is in effect comparable to global culture. Looking at Africa through the eyes of contemporary art, photography, architecture and design is perhaps the most appropriate way of approaching this vast, powerful continent, so creatively rich and diverse that today it is still one of western modernity’s greatest sources of inspiration”. Patrizia Moroso

Designers

Do-lo-rez by Ron Arad



Stephen Burks



Philippe Bestenheider



Bibi Seck and Ayse Birsel

TWO SUMMER CLASSICS!

Its been seriously HOT in London town!!! when you get a heat wave like this (32C) You've got to mark it with some beautiful summer tunes. They dont get better than this!

It took a bit of sniffing about to track this down; The Sylvers "Only One Can Win!!!"





Jay Dilla sampled this track for his sublime track "Two can win" on the album "Donuts" released by Stones Throw in 2006.

Black Milk - Losing Out (feat. Royce Da 5'9")

This tune is on NON STOP ROTATION right now!..."Lets talk about!..."

Jay Electronica - Swagger Jacksons Revenge

Erykah Badu "jay wrote this tribute to mike over a year ago"

SUPER FERTILE

Love this jewellery by SUPER FERTILE founded by Kali Arulpragsam

THE REAL SUPER STARS Summer 2009

MR MARTIN COOPER - The Inventor of MOBILE PHONE


MR KUMAR PATEL - Inventor of LASER ( MEDICAL + MACHINE)


HUNGER Spring 2009

Mixed staple food




Endangered Species




TOURIST

Haitian Kids playing football under the stars


Hati


C.A.R + Colombia


Sri Lanka

Extreme Gardening 3

So the Garden is coming on nicely........

Chopped down a tree


One giant step for BlackNerds the back wall


Before


After

Paper annimation by Jen Stark

Found Jen Stark animation through Kitsune Noir blog

Hypnotising animation done with paper

"Streaming Gradient" by Jen Stark from Jen Stark on Vimeo.

"Papermation" by Jen Stark from Jen Stark on Vimeo.

Get some Good Wood

Good Wood From Cocolah

Best Black Wishes

The Art of Lemi Ghariokwu

Tuesday night saw the launch of Nigerian artist Lemi Ghariokwu's at the RichMix . The exhibition brought to life Lemi's work who is most famously known for the album art work of Fela Kuti. After listening to Lemi talk about his inspiration and his time with Fela, the launch night turned into one of the best free nights we've seen in London for a long time. The sounds of live Afrobeat with Nigerian legends Tony Allen and Dele Sosimi with Rich Medina on the decks had us all on our feet.



















The next day we went to collect our print, had a more in depth tour of the exhibition, where we met Lemi and Rich Medina


Lemi signing his limited prints of Felasophy 1 of 7 which is currently at Bnn HQ



Best Black Wishes






Read more about the exhibition here artsownkind.wordpress.com

Dawn Okoro

We love Dawn Okoro's work and was happy to re-stumble on it thanks to our redundant myspace page.

Beautiful portraits by Dawn Okoro











www.myspace.com/dawnokoroart
www.dawnokoro.com