Bren O'Callaghan » commission

Peaky Lady

bren — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:55:02 +0000

image: Linda Matthew

I love this picture, it only recently arrived amongst the final batch from our photographer at The Call of Cthulhu event at the EIFF. No reason to post, other than it being MY website and you SEE what I decide. Tomorrow, a picture of a kitten in a blender.

Bubbletastic

bren — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:34:52 +0000

image: Rachel McHaffie

Review and picture gallery now up from Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents My Beautiful Laundrette. An added bonus was the left-over tequilla, Blue Curacao and vodka. Hic! Limited edition screenprints by poster artist Simon Misra, signed, with an extra signature now on the reverse from actor Gordon Warnecke (who plays Omar in the film) are still available at only £10 plus £2.50 p+p. I'll also throw in a scratch card or two for you to recreate the experience at home!

Purple Polly

bren — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:53:37 +0000

Purple Polly is a proposal submitted to the Summer 2010 round of the Umbro Industries creative grants, who dish out up to 10k each quarter for innovation in Manchester across art, culture, music, fashion and 'other'. Heh. It's quite unlike anything I've attempted to pitch before, but why not ? During the last round I made the shortlist but didn't get invited to interview. I didn't mind - I was fortunate to find a partner to make it happen anyway. This one is a little different. I very definitely need to call in the professionals! More information and a project outline over at the official site where votes and comments (nice ones) will help, but are not essential. Hint.

Soap gets in my eyes

bren — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:30:23 +0000

Image: Rachel McHaffie

A couple of pics from last Saturday's Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents My Beautiful Laundrette at Hub Gallery and Innovation Space, Salford as part of Hazard MMX. More to follow. I didn't think I'd bother shaving hence looking like a member of The Ant Hill Mob from Penelope Pitstop. Or maybe I look more like Penelope in that shirt. My eyes are closed because they are spattered with detergent from the bubble machine over my shoulder. The things we do in the name of creative play! If you came along, thank you so much. Without an audience I am nothing. All in the right context of course, I mean, I don't want you following me into the bathroom.

Image: Rachel McHaffie

Washday screenprint

bren — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:58:31 +0000

Simon Misra screenprint: limited edition of 50

A new limited edition screenprint from Simon Misra for my forthcoming event Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents My Beautiful Laundrette is now available at the frankly astonishing price of just £10. That's right! Around the same as three-and-a-bit beers! And when they're gone, they're gone. For those attending on the evening of Friday 16th July, actor Gordon Warnecke will be attending in person to sign copies, but if anyone wants to reserve one in advance just get in contact via the tab at the top of this page. Have you got your free ticket yet? Friday is almost fully booked, with Saturday heading the same way once the press coverage kicks in. Hope to see you there.

More tea, vicar?

bren — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:50:47 +0000

Emma Rios

A mere glimpse of the super-fantastico illustration that Emma Rios has provided to adorn our doll's tea party at Inspace for Blood Tea And Red String. Finnish artist Sara Bjarland will also be contributing a piece to the projection screens: Blossom (2008) features brightly coloured carrier bags crumpled into balls which slowly unfurl to mimic flowers in time-lapse documentation, providing a complementary backdrop to our homemade soiree. Officially-cannot-wait.

The view from here

bren — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:58:55 +0000

With only hours to go the window is complete and the origami apple orchard is in place, although the branches appear to be standing up through fairy magic alone. I have blisters on my fingers from knotting string but we're not done yet. Sam and Harry have arrived with the Hendricks and additional help. More tree branches are being dragged in to help form The Transformation Station, dressed with tangled hair, scores of plastic rosaries and bolts of red velvet. Outside, the sun is starting to wane in the sky above Grizedale Forest. Pause for thought. How lucky am I?

Pucker up and blow

bren — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:58:31 +0000

It's Wednesday night and we have been furiously folding origami box apples for the concept window display in The Yan. After a little difficulty rounding up volunteers and convincing them that paper folding can be fun, everyone suddenly really gets into it and large piles begin to form, as do myriad paper cuts (ouch). Particular thanks to Lisa (left) and Gaby (right), without whom I would have crawled weeping into the cleaning cupboard at the onerous task ahead. I did try but it was locked.

Here be wolves

bren — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:34:01 +0000

We're here at Grizedale Forest and preparation for Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents The Company of Wolves is finally underway. I arrived at 9am with our poster artist Simon Misra, who agreed to step in at the last minute to help out with some set dressing, subsequently spending the day painting up these fierce boxes to form two giant totems either side of the screen.

We'll be adding red LEDs to their eyes to mirror the reflective glare of the attacking wolf pack in the opening scene as Rosaleen's sister Alice meets a sticky end by the back of the giant toadstool patch. A love-bite behind the bus shelter it ain't. Well, if she will go wandering through the Freudian subconscious in a flimsy gown and red heels, what did she think was going to happen?

Simon Misra screenprint

bren — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:01:12 +0000

If you see this man, kiss him.

Not long to go now until our much anticipated contribution to the AND Festival across Cumbria with Scratch 'n Sniff Cinema presents The Company of Wolves. Tickets are on sale later today via the website for the public screening on Friday 2nd April if you're not fortunate to be on the guest list for Thursday 1st. As well as incorporating eight different scents into the experience (animal dung, anyone?), we have a swagbag of extra trimmings... from a His & Hers Transformation Station to these frankly INCREDIBLE limited edition screenprints from the eye-wateringly talented Simon Misra.

Limited edition print by Simon Misra

Hand-pulled at Hot Bed Press, Salford, and limited to just 50 prints, they will be on sale at the event for a piffling £10. Bargain! Anyone quick enough to realise how fast they will fly out of the door/forest might want to get in touch to reserve their copy now...