One of our favourite annual events in London makes a return next week when Somerset House again plays host to the Pick Me Up graphic arts festival.
Now in its fifth year, Pick Me Up is a great opportunity not only to peruse new work by established and future artist, but, as most of it is also eminently affordable, to buy some for yourself. Collectives and galleries are each given a space in which to display their work and to host events. Highlights are set to include Camberwell Press’s renowned Let’s Get Quizzical creative industries-focused pub quiz (1 May) and Puck Collective’s Andy War Wall event, in which the public will be invited to join in an interactive battle game, complete with Puck-made weaponry (2 May).
This year’s festival sees a special focus on fashion illustration. Art director and animator Jo Ratcliffe (of Lady Gaga’s Applause video fame) will present a giant zoetrope, which visitors can enter to view a spinning portfolio of the artist’s work; while cartoonist and “Pugs not Drugs” inventor Gemma Correll will be holding court on 27 April; and fashion artist and Hed Kandi originator Jason Brooks will host a day of workshops on 3 May.
Visit on 3/4 May to see a repeat of the popular Children’s Choice Weekend, with the headline acts being Rastamouse creators Michael de Souza and Genevieve Webster, who will hold drawing classes; and Mog and The Tiger Who Came To Tea author Judith Kerr will be in conversation, offering kids the chance to indulge in a tiger tea-party. There are also plenty of children-friendly events spread throughout the festival, such as Anthony Burrill's sticker-themed drop-in workshop on 25 April.
Pick Me Up is a treat for the ears as well as the eyes, with bands and DJs playing a number of evening events. Pick of the bunch is The Coward, led by Nico Jullien with graphics by his brother, the celebrated French observational artist Jean Jullien: the pair are performing 25 April. The festival is also inaugurating its very own radio station, Pick Me Up Radio presented by Comms Bureau, with special guest interviews throughout the week.
The opening weekend will see the Blinkink showreel of animation and moving image work from nine award-winning directors. On both days there will be panel discussions featuring John Lewis Christmas commercial ‘The Bear and the Hare’ director Elliot Dear and lauded designer and director Noah Harris. Pick Me Up
Somerset House, London
24 April – 5 May 2014, 10am – 6pm Daily. Late night openings on Thursdays and Fridays until 10pm.