On 28 April The Lowry celebrates its 10th birthday. And what better way to celebrate and to pay homage to the art centre’s namesake by commissioning a mass installation of everyday people going about their everyday lives. The only difference is that the everyday people will all be naked.

The Lowry has commissioned New York-based photographer, Spencer Tunick to create an installation across eight locations in the two neighbouring cities on 1 and 2 May 2010. The artist is now looking for 1,000 volunteers to shed their clothing and their inhibitions and take part in the project. The resulting photographic and film work will then be shown at The Lowry from 12 June to 26 September as part of the exhibition, Everyday People.

Tunick is renowned for his naked installations and previous locations include Sydney, Montreal, Melbourne, Santiago, Barcelona and Gateshead. However, this marks a departure from his usual style and will be his first visual response to the work of another artist. In contrast to his usual, static works, Tunick will break new ground by capturing the movement of everyday people within each photograph.

Tunick explains, “Salford and Manchester presents an intriguing prospect for my latest UK installation based both on the rich industrial heritage that exists across both cities and the art of LS Lowry. LS Lowry’s paintings depicting the mass of everyday people who contributed to the industrial machine of the 20th century, also provide an interesting frame of reference in terms of the compositional possibilities of the installations.”

If you would like to get involved then go to www.thelowry.com/tunick to register your interest. You’ll be pleased to note that participants will be transported to the locations in heated buses.

So what do you think? I’m a great admirer of L S Lowry’s work and think this is a grand and ambitious tribute. I won’t be getting my kit of though. I’m far too inhibited for that. But I look forward to the exhibition with interest.

I’ve mentioned before how much I admire Sara Norris’ work. These photographs are beautiful. The colours are truer than real life and evoke a sense of nostalgia. They would make lovely gifts.

Sara is having a sale this week. Get 30% off all mini print sets and big print sets or buy any two 8 x 8 or 8 x 12 fine art prints and get one free. The offer only lasts until Sunday and so don’t leave it too late. Find more information at www.saranorris.etsy.com.

Such pretty photographs. I love that the colours are slightly truer than the real life subjects. It lends a surreal, dreamlike quality to them.

The photographer is Sara Norris and she explains that photography is her passion in life. “As a child I loved to draw, paint, and take pictures. I had a little pink plastic camera and I would run around the house taking photos of my family, flowers, even my pet hamster. I couldn’t wait for them to be developed so I could see what I had created.”

You can purchase your own piece of fine art photography from www.saranorris.etsy.com. Photographs can be purchased as photo blocks, gift tags, greeting cards, necklaces and prints.

Susannah Conway

When I started putting this post together it was going to be about English seaside towns. But I found so many beautiful pictures that I went a little farther afield. And then the sun came out.

The first two photographs are by Susannah Conway. Susannah is a photographer and writer living and working in the UK. She describes her work as ‘my attempt to unravel the world around me, to see the beauty in all things’. You may also be familiar with Susannah through her Unravelling eCourses.

I love these photographs. They were originally taken using a Polaroid and the colours and hue remind me of old 70s pics. In fact when I think about it all my childhood memories are in this hue.

You can find Susannah at www.susannahconway.com.
Her work can be purchased through www.unravelling.etsy.com.

Marc Loret and Schu Girl

The next two pictures have been taken by two different photographers. The picture on the left is by French photographer Marc Loret. He came across ‘Le Manége’ or ‘The Carousel’ in Normandy. This is an unmatted print of an original photograph, digitally mixed with texture.

I’ve only ever seen carousels like this in films and photographs. How beautiful they used to make them.

You can purchase Marc’s work at www.MarcoLaGrenouille.etsy.com.

The picture on the right, entitled ‘Sea Grass’, was taken by Sue from ShuGirl. Sue teaches 8th grade but in one of her ‘escapes’ from education she took a course at the Rhode Island School of Design for Advertising and Print Design. This photograph was taken using the TtV method to give it a nostalgic feel. It is printed on the finest quality luster photographic paper for a deep, rich print.

You can purchase Sue’s photographs at www.schugirl.etsy.com.

Oh My Wonderful and The Cycling Artist

Now the next two pictures are different again. The left hand pic was taken in Rockport, Massachusetts by Jessica of Oh My Wonderful. Jessica explains, ‘There was this old rundown house on a dock with a wall full of colorful worn buoys that was absolutely beautiful!’ I wish our English buoys looked like this. Such lovely colours.

You can purchase Jessica’s work at www.ohmywonderful.etsy.com.

And the picture on the right shows ‘quintessential English beach huts in cheerful, summery, pale blue and white on a shingle beach’. They were taken ’somewhere on the south Kent coast’ by Tina, aka The Cycling Artist. In addition to photographs Tina also produces beautiful paintings which are based on her ongoing cycle journey around the coast of the UK.

To purchase Tina’s work go to www.thecyclingartist.etsy.com.

Gillian Bates

And then I found this. A pretty embroidered art canvas by Gillian Bates. This depicts a traditional English seaside scene - Eastbourne Pier, the prom and deck chairs. Gillian has used freehand machine embroidery on white cotton drill fabric to create the outlines. This is combined with an eclectic mix of reclaimed, recycled and new fabrics.

You can purchase Gillian’s work at www.gillianbates.etsy.com.

I’m yearning for a long weekend by the sea. Happy Friday everyone.

I discovered Barbara Chandler’s work through Twitter. Barbara is a self-taught photographer and has been building her portfolio for the past 20 years. Her work has appeared in numerous exhibitions and is sold at the Conran Shop, London and will soon be stocked in their New York, Paris and Tokyo stores. She also sells directly via her website.

Around 15 years ago, after several exhibitions, Barbara began creating photo cards. It was an opportunity to provide real photographs to a larger audience, not just gallery goers, at an affordable price.

The thing I like best about Barbara’s photographs is their narrative quality. Each one has a story to tell. And isn’t necessarily just Barbara’s story. Her work captures a moment of everyday life which stirs the memory. The imagery can relate to anyone.

Many of Barbara’s photographs are black and white and she explains that this is because ‘the emotion is so much stronger when divorced from colour’. And then there are those images (above top) which demand colour.

To find out more and to buy online, go to www.barbarachandler.co.uk.

Barbara also provides images via Twitter, which are free to download for non-commercial purposes.

Happy Friday! Still looking for ideas for Father’s Day?

Now these are cute. They’re handmade albums which hold 3inch square Post-it notes. At just £2.50 they’re perfect for an ‘extra’ gift. A youngish present, I think. Something for a young girl to give her dad.

The maker is Keep it in a Frame and in addition to these sticker books she creates lovely handmade albums. Visit her Folksy store at www.folksy.com/shops/Keepitinaframe.

These are coasters. Aren’t they lovely? It’s almost a shame to put a cup on them. They’re made from ceramic tiles with a cork backing to protect surfaces. Each one is varnished and completely waterproof.

The artist / photographer is Julie Birkemeier. She describes her customers as ‘people who love to see the beauty in every day life: the shadow in the underbelly of a petal, the contours of a light bulb filament, the dimples of a rock’. In addition to coasters Julie creates prints and notecards, all based on her beautiful photography.

Buy online at www.jbirkemeierphoto.etsy.com.

Where has January gone? On Sunday it will be a month since Christmas Day. And no sooner is Christmas over, we have Valentine’s Day to contend with.

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s gift that’s a little different; something simple but with lots of meaning, you should take a look at Jennifer Squire’s Etsy shop. Her photographs range in theme from everyday objects, to lighthearted, to romantic.

Go to www.jennifersquires.etsy.com for more information.

And the onions? They brought to mind Carol Ann Duffy’s Valentine poem.