Ian Berry to show a the “Birth House of Levi Strauss Jeans Museum”
On September 13th Ian Berry will open an exhibition at the birthplace of the inventor of the modern jean, Levi Strauss. In a museum that looks back over the life of one of the world's most iconic names, it will also examine the years of Ian Berry's work who of course makes all of his work out of the material so synonymous with the man who emigrated from Germany to make his fortune: Denim jeans
Details
13 Sept - 8 November 2020
Marktstr. 31-33 96155 Buttenheim
Phone: +49 95 45 - 44 26 02
email: levi-strauss-museum(at)buttenheim.de
For the last 15 years Ian has been crafting his work out of the indigo dyed textile and this will commence two years of museum shows for the Yorkshire born artist. Many works will be on display including from the Behind Closed Doors and Hotel California collections and the exhibition will help mark the special 20th Anniversary of the museum.
'When Dr Tanja Roppelt the curator got in touch with me a couple of years ago it made sense - the old romantic in me loved the idea of the work showing in the birthplace (of Levi Strauss)
‘Together with other the museum shows we managed to loan works back from clients who have collected over the years to show a range of the work, as well as showing the development. With many of the other locations having a textile or denim history past, it is so fitting to show here at the birthplace of the man who made denim what it is today as well as for myself to step back and reflect on my career with the material.' Said Ian Berry
It will be Berry's first showing of his work in Germany and he will be there to meet the guests at the opening that will of course be under social distancing rules.
An exhibit at the Levi Strauss museum in Buttenheim and Levi Strauss.
About the Museum
In the spring of 1983 a lady from Milwaukee, was trying to organize a “German Fest” and wrote to the former Mayor of Buttenheim, asking for information about the birth of Levi Strauss. This started intensive research to be conducted in the register of births and deaths of the Jewish community of Buttenheim and the emigration documents of the Bamberg state archives and finally it proved that Levi Strauss was born in Buttenheim, a town in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg. He was born with the name Loeb in 1829 and in 1847 he would emigrate to the USA and by 1850 took on the Americanized name Levi - and what would become one of the most famous names in the world.
This discovery initiated the founding of a museum.
Further research found that the original birth house of Levi Strauss was still standing. It is one of only a few preserved objects from his life and one of the oldest houses in Buttenheim. The district council decided to buy the house in 1987, which was built approximately in 1687 and today is classified as a historical monument. An elaborate renovation of the dilapidated half-timbered house began, during which the house of birth of Levi Strauss was reconstructed as true to the original as possible. The idea to donate a museum to the history of indigo and denim took shape.
The museum opened in September 2000 and revolves around the world’s most famous pair of pants. With the biography of Levi Strauss, visitors can gain an insight into the lives of rural Franconian Jewish Community, the world of the immigrants, the beginnings of the textile industry and of course, all about the phenomenon of jeans. Short films, audio guides (in many languages), moving graphics and a collection of different pieces made from the legendary blue cotton cloth show the development of the jeans that serves as a meeting point for the curious, collectors, specialists and jean-wearers of every age. The museum also shows the struggles of a Franconian Jew in the 19th century, the hardships of a German immigrant in America, the boom of the textile industry and the history of jeans, all while honouring the tremendous accomplishments of Levi Strauss the man.
Sleeping Alone I, denim on denim, 2016
After over a decade of success, the Museum planned to begin its next chapter by adding on an extension to the Levi Strauss birth house. With the help of Levi’s great-grandnephew, Dr. Douglas Goldman in California, the Museum was ceremoniously opened on May 21st, 2011, marking the beginning of a new phase in the Museum’s history.
When the Museum opened back in 2000, hardly anyone anticipated its rapid success. Nevertheless, both Museum guests and professionals has seen the Levi Strauss Museum become a popular success and going strong in its 20th year. Every year, thousands of people visit Buttenheim from all over the world in order to experience the Museum and see where the idea of Jeans all began. Due to the high number of visitors and the many projects and events, the 130 square meters of the original birth house was almost always filled to its maximum capacity. Therefore, the Museum decided to extend to a neighbouring house, which would give the Museum over 500 square meters of available display space after renovations. The new extension allowed the Museum to continue to develop the Levi Strauss experience with a new archive to store the Museum’s historical collection and help preserve their historical pieces.
#iclapfor project by Ian Berry
About the Artist: Ian Berry
Ian Berry has been working with denim for the last 15 years, but he is more than the material he works with. During the Covid period his work took on a new life, having spent years portraying isolation. His Behind Closed Doors body of work became life for most of us, he had painstakingly crafted beautiful homes out of only denim but with a haunting scene of loneliness. Even his bar scenes or the work from Hotel California depicted a perception of solitude.
He works from photoshoots he either takes, or directs, and all of them were cancelled in the first week of lockdown. Many people sent him photos of their home isolation. Then, along with his son Elliott, 6, he made two applauding hands. Clapping for the health heroes had been a big part of British life for the first ten weeks of the Covid period. Ian’s son was particularly captivated and it enabled Ian to explain more what was going on while he was engaged. What started as a personal project between father and son, ended up been beamed all over the world via projections. It covers the whole of the UK and Ireland and was seen as far as Australia, Colombia and Brazil amongst many others. It became a big campaign called #iclapfor and a film will be shown at the museum - as well as a special projection at the opening.
Ian Berry shows the making of one of the pieces in the show in Germany.
Ian, original from Huddersfield lives and works in East London amongst thousands of pairs of jeans that he recycles to create almost photorealistic pieces and installations. He has been named a top 30 artist under 30 in the world as well as a top 50 name in denim worldwide in 2019 and now he will show at a historical home of one of the materials of our time.
This will start a series of museum shows. On November 28th Ian Berry will open Splendid Isolation at the Museum Rijswijk in Holland. The show at his home town of Huddersfield (in the center of the industrial revolution) is under doubt regarding Covid but in the fall of 2021 a large solo show will open at the National Museum of Textiles (Textiel Museet) in Boras, Sweden. Further shows are TBA due to covid issues.
Levi Strauss historian Tracey Panek, mayor Michael Karmann and museum manager Tanja Roppelt with a 19th century jeans in front of Levi Strauss's birthplace
In 2018 Ian Berry visited the Levi Strauss archives in San Francisco - Tracey Panek selected some special jeans to show him as well as Albert Einstein’s leather jacket.
*Due to the current situation, the planned two-day anniversary celebrations cannot take place within the planned framework and will be postponed to a later date.
When the Clapping Ends, the Caring Continues
A creative community claps
Ian Berry has formed a collective of over 20 international artists who all made their Clapping Hands to show their gratitude to health workers and others in this period.
Ian has seen his hands projected all over the world after making two hands in denim with his son.
For the last two months his hands have been projected on buildings as far away as Colombia, Mexico City, New York, Sweden and Brazil and here in the UK on 70 different areas walls from Land’s End to John O’Groats, the most Southern and Northern areas of Britain. They were seen on places such as the Baltic in Gateshead, Edinburgh Castle, the South Bank Centre and the BT Tower in Birmingham – it was even on the white Cliffs of Dover!
They can now be seen with more artists hands including his sons, only six, who inspired the whole project. Elliott loved the clapping here in the UK on Thursday nights at 8pm. ‘It enabled us to be able to talk to him about it while he was engaged and interested. We could tell him about his auntie who was on the Covid team in Lund, Sweden and our friends on the frontline. He now sees the NHS workers as heroes and gets excited every time he sees the logo. That’s why I think the clapping is great, while I understand the arguments if kids can grow up seeing health workers and others to be respected then we have more hope for the future.’
Elliotts hand clap
Ian managed to get his projections to Land’s End prior to the last clap on the tenth week after the ‘creator’ of the clapping Annemarie Plas called for it to end. ‘I can imagine the pressure she was under when It got political’ Ian said. The night before Ian was also at a projection himself in Greenwich, ‘We thought fitting as time was running out just as momentum had really started’.
Ian was starting to get back into the studio for his museum shows later in the year when a call came in, the clapping was back! For Sunday the NHS celebrates its 72nd year and have asked for a clap not just for them, but all on the front line. This was actually Ian’s angle all along, and this projection on the Angel of the North shows many of the answers to who do you clap for. Ian used the hashtag #iclapfor
‘All the opportunities that had faded suddenly came back, and then more. A lot came in and led nowhere, no one sees all the time put in, but this week should see a lot of different projections and events! My phone has never been used as much’
One that is a great development is that Ian isn’t alone, he had many artists submit their hands, traditionally one of the hardest body parts to make. ‘I’ve avoided them for years!’ Said Ian. No one wants to clap alone, and nor did Ian. The isolation was bad enough for him, and now feels a part of a wider community with artists like Dutch artist Max Zorn who sent in his hands with brown packing tape, Daisy Collingridge’s amazing creatures hands, Andre Veloux who makes his work with Lego and Kirstie Adamson who makes collages out of magazines.
Jess Wilsons Hans clap in Newcastle
There were some really successful artists join with more traditional materials like Benjamin Murphy, Will Rochfort, Ruth Fox and Saatchi’s “Top 20 artists to watch in 2020” Marcus Aitken. Illustrator Jess Wilson of Jealous Gallery made a bold one with a yellow emoji hand that is striking when projected.
With Ian being a unconventional textile artist, he got many submit with textiles like Sophie Standing, Alice Kozlow, Cas Holmes, Terry Aske, Béatrice Beraud, Barbara Shaw, Rachadi Zahira, Clockwork Press, and Juan Manaul Gomez and of course little Elliott who also got an added treat, a trip to the top of the Shard with his dad and be the only ones there!
In the final week culminating in the NHS birthday it was shown in various sites in London, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Halifax, Shrewsbury. In Halifax it was at Yorkshire’s ‘Number One building’ The Piece Hall, for the artist from neighbouring Huddersfield. Ian famed for using denim jeans in his art and it will be shown in the region’s iconic old cloth Hall. They made a film of it with videos of people saying who they clap for which Ian has been asking in this period.
The angel of the North’s projected final message
‘By asking the question who do you clap for?, it made it personal, but also as well as getting friends and relatives answers, we got certain groups of people like prison officers, unpaid care workers and volunteers - many who had felt forgotten. We projected their names and I know there were many happy to be included when they saw it.’ Ian added.
It all started by accident, Ian’s son Elliott loved the clapping and it gave Ian the opportunity to tell him what was going on and who it was for – and to talk about their family and friends on the front line while he was engaged. He now sees the NHS workers as heroes and gets excited every time he sees the logo. Elliott took the photo of his dad’s hands and sat with him while he made it in his studio.
He was certainly excited to see a mural made of it in Walthamstow, North London. He even painted a part of it with Wood Street Wallsand Atma. The painting of the now iconic clap was on the side of a Doctor’s Surgery and was liked by the neighbours. At 5pm on the Sunday of the NHS birthday Ian and ATMA clapped with the residents of the street at 5pm.
‘I know by the tenth week the clap had its detractors and I understand the arguments. But I have seen children engaged in this and let’s hope they grow up to respect the Heath Service, it’s that well used phrase, they are the future. We live in a country that made the court jesters kings and I think many are starting to see who we should value. And (laughing) I’m aware of the list that placed Artists on the least valued workers in this period.’
the pins of Pin Your Thanks on the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London
His son now proudly wears the Clapping Hands as a badge. Ian was one of the names behind Pin Your Thanks that also includes Kiera Knightley, Ringo Starr, Anoushka Shankar, Rita Ora, David James and Joe Lycett as a way of showing thanks to those in this time. They are raising money for NHS Charities Direct and Volunteering Matters and backed by the likes of Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Oscar winning Costume Designer Jenny Beavan. And it was all launched by.. you guessed it, a projection, and at London’s Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank.
Ian’s no longer known by just art in denim, perhaps projections are his new medium.
But as Ian says. ‘When the clapping ends, the caring continues.’
The dedicated Iclap website
Have your isolation photograph displayed in a museum
…And perhaps even turned to denim.
Ian Berry has been making isolation images in denim for years. Blue, 2012
Ian Berry may have captured the world’s press imagination for years with his medium, denim, but of course the other consistent theme in his work has been isolation. And now he is wanting to see your isolation shots Behind your Closed Doors that could show in a museum.
The months prior to lockdown Ian had been planning photoshoots in some well known people’s homes, as his work is based on photos. The week of shoots was the first week of lockdown. Not ideal with two years of museum shows upcoming.
Compared to what is going on, he knows it’s not the worst thing but he did have a problem to find a solution for.
Ian became a professional artist after losing his job as an Art Director in the last financial crisis. The museum shows were going to look over this period of work (loaned back from clients) and he was complimenting it with new work that continued these themes.
Now we all find ourselves in isolation.
Some of Ians work on isolation in Behind Closed Doors.
Speaking with friends he soon realised many were photographers stuck, but safe, in their own homes. They volunteered to take photos, many were sent but Ian’s work is time consuming, he couldn’t do them all. He had also realised he was isolated in his own home and studio, with a camera.
‘It’s at times like this you realise what is in front of you and what you have. I had been planning on going to other peoples homes as well as returning to LA to shoot, ignoring what was in front of my eyes.’ Ian Berry
Your isolation images to show in Museum Rijswijk Holland
With seeing many great photos and knowing many photographers had lost work, like him, during this period he spoke with the Museum’s Curator Diana Wind where he will have a solo show later in the year and they decided they should show some at the Museum by The Hague in The Netherlands. Ian will then have further shows in Germany, Sweden and Yorkshire UK with more to announce.
‘Photographers and the public should be, and will be, documenting this period and their experience of this, so we invite them to submit their photographs during this period that will be chosen by the curator of the Museum Rijswijk Diana Wind and myself, and then displayed alongside my show but in a dedicated gallery.’
The work need not be as melancholic as Ian’s scenes, nor isolation alone, it can be a family playing a game, a couple both working from home or many on a zoom meeting, it is your experience. If Ian does see one that he can see in denim, he will have that conversation but the main purpose is to see your photographs and display them like that.
Submissions should be sent to mail@ianberry.art titled Stay Behind Closed Doors
You can find out more about submissions here and also follow the instagram page
You can see some of the early submissions above and also here.
Ian Berry in Isolation
Ian Berry is isolating in his East London studio beside the Limehouse Cut Canal and with his 2 to 3,000 pairs of jeans. Prior to lockdown Kasper Daugaard visited and filmed a VR in Ian’s studio and you can have a look at Ian’s studio where he is now working away.
And just days before the lockdown Debbie Bragg shot in Ian Berry’s studio and workplace.
360° of Ian Berry's London Studio
Welcome in to the hidden world of Ian Berry - in full 360° of indigo blue. Filmed in his London studio it follows Ian Berry around as he speaks to Kasper Daugaard of SYS Visual in some of the different sections of his atelier. Please use the guide in the top left hand corner to see in all the different directions as you move around.
Ian says ‘The technology has really advanced and I was really impressed with the guys at SYS Visual with what they could achieve. I think the added interview part gives it another element as I always wanted to show more people around the studio but never really knew how. This is the closest thing to being here yet’
This is the first episode as we take a tour into Ian’s world at his East London base. Whenever people visit the studio they are always amazed by the ‘organised mess’ and to see so many shades of denim jeans all in a palette and arranged by shades. There’s denim hanging on the walls and his tools of his trade with all kinds of store rooms leading off from the main studio room.
‘I’ve never been able to really show online what the studio is like and, like my work, seems only good in real life. People’s reaction as they walk in are always something quite special. I’ve had great photographers in and it shows a section, but as the ceiling is low at the front (only 2 meters) it always looks a bit strange. It never really shows the large size of it and all the areas - and always looks a mess! With this it really shows the feeling of the studio and where I work.’ Ian added.
SYS Visual came in and filmed over a morning and then stitched it together in the edit room and in this episode you see Ian Berry’s working area, they filmed throughout his home (above the studio) and where he lives at the Limehouse Cut canal area of East London. Watch out for further episodes where you see his own art collection, and even in his kitchen and living room of this amazing factory conversation in the old Spratts Factory that survived the war. Ian overlooks the oldest canal in London, the Limehouse Cut were you can see barges going up and down as well as swans and all kinds of wildlife.
Spratts made pet food and the factory at one point was the largest dog food factory in the world. Built in the late 19th Century with beautiful red bricks and having the original writing still on the building. It was the first live work building in London and has been home to the likes of the Queen's tapestry restorer Ksynia Marko, Roger Law of Spitting Image, sculptor Michael Green and ceramicist Elizabeth Fritsch along with many other creatives. With Ian Berry and many notable others now, it carries on the tradition of being an artists building.
Another interesting fact also shows there was a dog-show department, possibly owing to James Spratt's initial 14-year-old assistant, the future dog show founder Charles Cruft. During the war they made dog biscuits for the soldiers on the front line.
After the imposition of purchase tax on pet food in 1969, the factory closed down, left derelict for many years.
Spratts factory on Limehouse Cut, by Debbie Bragg
Watch out to see further episodes to see more of his Studio, home, and the building.
made by www.sysvisual.com
produced by FARDI: +44 7968 538 767 fardi@sysvisual.com
Ian Berry at London Art Fair 2020
From 22-26th January Ian will be exhibiting new works made in his trademark all denim at the London Art Fair, Stand G38, Business Design Centre, Islington. Carrying on with his successful Solo show at the Catto Gallery in the summer there is three original pieces building on Hotel California.
ONSITE INSIGHTS
Ian Berry will host an onsite talk at 4pm on Sunday January 26 at the stand and you can reserve your place here
OPENING TIMES
PREVIEW EVENING
Tuesday 21 January | 6pm – 9pm
PUBLIC FAIR HOURS
Wednesday 22 January | 11am – 9pm
Thursday 23 January | 11am – 9pm
Friday 24 January | 11am – 7pm
Saturday 25 January | 11am – 7:30pm
Sunday 26 January | 11am – 5pm
TICKET TYPES
Join us on Tuesday 21 January from 6 – 9pm for our Preview Evening – London Art Fair’s 2020 opening celebrations and be one of the first to explore and discover the exceptional art on display.
These tickets are limited.
Day Ticket
Pick your day to attend between 22-26 January. Whether you’re an art connoisseur or just culturally curious – come with an open mind and prepare to have it broadened.
Thursday Late
Visit the Fair after work for an inspiring late night of art. Enjoy the extended opening hours and experience live music, insightful talks, film screenings and more.
Premier Pass
Never miss a beat with the London Art Fair Premier Pass. Attend every day plus the exclusive Preview. This six-day ticket provides access during the exclusive Preview Evening and five public days of the Fair.
A La Carte + Art
Enjoy a sumptuous two course meal and a complimentary glass of wine at Radici, our 2020 Restaurant Partner
Includes 1 Day Ticket to London Art Fair.
Fair Guide
Make the most of your visit to London Art Fair by purchasing the official Fair Guide for £4, the guide can be purchased in advanced or at the Fair
GETTING THERE
VENUE
Business Design Centre
52 Upper Street
London N1 0QH
View map
There is full disabled access to the Business Design Centre, please call 020 7288 6475 for further details. businessdesigncentre.co.uk
Large bags and rucksacks will not be permitted inside the Fair. A cloakroom is available at the venue at a cost of £1 per item.
TRAVEL
For Public Transport to the Business Design Centre:
Angel tube station (Northern Line) – 5 minute walk
King’s Cross St Pancras – 15 minute walk
Highbury & Islington stations – 15 minute walk
A wide range of busses also reach the venue. More information
BBC London Interview
Alice Bhandhukravi Art Correspondent from BBC London came to visit his exhibition Hotel California at the Catto Gallery in London and interviewed him about his work in denim. She was amazed to see the work in real life. Watch her look around Hotel California taking in the pool pieces and his record store that framed the Hotel California album cover by the Eagles.
Ian Berry on 60 Seconds Docs
Ian Berry was filmed and featured on 60 Second Docs. The textile artist known for his work with denim crammed his 15 years career into one minute and to a great response, with three quarters of a million views on facebook and a further 40k on instagram.
The artist recently named a Rivet 50 influencer in denim was shown working on piece as well as images of work ranging over the last ten years. Shira Pinson, who filmed Ian for AJ+ three years ago was chosen to film him again for LA based 60 Seconds Docs. They filmed in his Poplar, London studio and in his gallery in Hampstead during his solo exhibition in the summer.
Have a watch.
Ian Berry in the Rivet 50
Ian Berry joins Hailey Bieber and Bella & Gigi Hadid being named as a Top 50 influential figures in denim for 2019.
The Rivet 50 was announced by a leading denim industry magazine, Rivet, and named the London based British artist on its list alongside fellow Brits of the calibre of Stella McCartney representing the movers and shakers of the denim industry.
RIVET 50 serves as an index of the most creative and forward-thinking leaders driving change in the global denim marketplace. And this year, those individuals were nominated and chosen by the denim industry. Thousands of online votes determined who made the list. From mill to runway, designers to celebrities and of course, the artist that made his name using denim, Ian Berry.
Of course it is not the first accolade for Ian Berry, in 2013 he was named in the Top 30 Artist under 30 in the World by art Business Magazine and his success just grows. This summer he had another sell out show in London and has shown all across the USA, Brazil, as well as many European galleries. 2020 will see the start of a museum tour across Europe.
Ian said ‘It was a total surprise to be nominated to start with as I don’t see myself ‘in’ denim and really I keep a distance from the industry. Denim, It’s just my medium. It was great thought getting many messages from people in the denim industry offering their support and saying they are voting for me - reminding me of how many amazing people I have met over the years I have been working with jeans.’
Extract of the Rivet 50 article.
The shortlist of 100 was announced earlier in the year and split into sections. Executives, with the winners including Levi’s CEO and President Chip Bergh, Designerslike Brit Martine Rose and Mary Pierson of Madewell, Retailerswhich included iconic London store Son of a Stag owner Rudy Budhdeo and Rivet and Hide’s Danny Hodgson (6 of the 50 were British) Supply Chainwhere Alice Tonello of Tonello which is at the forefront of pushing sustainability in the industry and has worked with Ian to help make some of his famous installations, notably the Secret Garden. Ian’s group was the influencersection that included Justin Bieber’s new wife Hailey who is the face of the Levi 501 and the supermodels the Hadid sisters.
‘The flip side of knowing many in the industry meant I was up against many of my friends. All who merited their place on the list. More so than me. Some got in, some didn’t. But I’m happy to see my friend Mohsin Sajid on the list as he puts so much effort in to educating the next generation and his knowledge in denim is amazing.’
Ian has done projects with schools and many schools and colleges do projects on him around the world and believes in giving back and education. In December the former Greenhead College student with return to the college and give the awards and the annual awards evening at the Johns Smiths Stadium.
Ian concluded.
‘I’m happy to be alongside many on the list who I consider friends in addition to those mentioned like Tricia Carey, Alberto Candiani, Fox and Jeff Garza of Foxhole, Maurizio Donali, Panos Sofianos, Henry Wong and Andrea Venier amongst others.’
What is Rivet 50?
Rivet’s Influential 50 is an index of the most creative and forward-thinking leaders driving the global Jeanswear industry. The Influential 50 represent the upward direction the denim community strives for with each new collection, innovation and technology.
Ian Berry X NUDE at Stolenspace Gallery
Sat/Sun - 28-29 September
BEN EINE / IAN BERRY / REMI ROUGH / NOMA BAR / DAVID SHILLINGLAW / DESSY / SI SCOTT / PENNY / ROB DRAPER / GÉRALDINE GEORGES
Ian at the opening
Ian Berry has collaborated with Nude to be their tenth artist, and as it’s the tenth year anniversary of their art series, there will be an exhibition in London. Featuring works by ten prominent artists and celebrating the 10th release of the 'Nude Collaboration Series' of Limited Edition works created with the simple brief of ‘Nude’. For the first time ever, all ten pieces are being displayed together alongside new work by the artists at StolenSpace Gallery in Brick Lane, a venue famed for showcasing leading urban and contemporary art.
For Ian’s series, he made the Garden installation with the flowers layered by Tonello of the previous artists work marking the special occasion and providing an opportunity to look back over the decade of the Nude Series.
Limited edition pieces for sale as well as 10 beer can with each artists work on. All profits from the show will be donated to the charity, Shelter, which aims to end bad housing and homelessness.
For updates, follow @tenoftenbynude on Instagram
open til 6:00 PM
StolenSpace Gallery, 17 Osborn St, Shadwell, London E1 6TD, UK
Ian Berry supports Jeans for Genes charity
Ian Berry with Newton Faulkner and Laura Pattison of Jeans for Genes at an event in their honour at Catto Gallery
Jeans for Genes Day is the annual fundraising campaign for Genetic Disorders UK, the national charity that supports individuals and families affected by a genetic disorder and Ian Berry is one of their ambassadors and hosted a party for their benefit at the Catto Gallery in London.
Monies raised by Jeans for Genes Day fund the work of the charity and provide grants to organisations for projects that aim to transform the lives of children with genetic disorders.
While their main week falls in September, they are working tirelessly all year round with many events, as well as selling the tee shirts - like the new Batman collaboration with Warner Brothers. Ian’s event is another example of how people support the cause throughout the year.
Ian Berry modelled the shirts that you can buy here and the special Batman shirts for children are only £9, here. This years Jeans for Genes Day covers the week of Mon 16th to Fri 20th September 2019, so get your workplace or school to join the program.
Ian’s event at the Catto Gallery on Thursday 25th July was a fun night, where Danish Gin makers Kongsgaard Raw Gin provided refreshments, much needed on the hottest day of the year, they also showed their newly designed Limited Edition bottles by Ian Berry.
Ian Berry with Kelly Harrington at the event
For one time only, Ian allowed some of the individual albums from the Record Store to be sold off in aid for the charity as well as the Limited Edition bottles.
The night was capped off by a special performance by Newton Faulkner.
Newton needs little introduction. The English singer-songwriter and musician known for his percussive style of guitar playing In 2007 his debut studio album Hand Built by Robots was certified double platinum in the United Kingdom. The album topped the UK Albums Chart in August 2007. From that album he played "Dream Catch Me" as well as rounded off with Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Ian Said ‘Having Newton perform was extra special, as in 2007 and ‘08 he was the soundtrack to my summers when I lived in Australia. I was working with denim when I left for Australia but it was there I decided to not do ‘the day job’ and concentrate on my art. So it has great memories. I loved that everyone got involved and enjoyed the night and took part with him singing.’
Ian presenting Newton Faulkner to the crowd
The event capped off a successful month for the artist after a sell out show and one that was named a ‘Must See’ by the Londonist and ‘Top seven show in London in July’ by Fad magazine' and filmed for BBC. Follow for more stories for what is coming in a very exciting 2019 for Ian Berry.
Ian Berry x Tonello x Juan Manuel Gomez
A week before Ian Berry opened his solo exhibition in London, he was in Barcelona installing a version of the Secret Garden installation in the Catalan Capital.
The Secret Garden was first shown at the Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York in 2017 and then in Tarn in France. A giant one was installed permanently in San Fransisco - soon to be revealed. All of these were made with the help and technical assistance of Tonello in Italy.
So of course when they wanted a night to mark ITMA, the most important textile & garment technology exhibition which takes place every 4 years, Ian happily obliged to create something with his Italian friends to celebrate their successful collaborations. And friendship was key, and it was also with his long term friend Juan Manuel Gomez that they collaborated.
Ian and Juan or ‘Juanma’, have talked about doing something together for a number of years. Colombian Juan is very talented in both the denim industry, having worked in laundries and now working with Officina +39 in Italy and as an artist in his own right.
‘I’ve respected Juanma’s work for a long time, as well as his style. His knowledge in denim is just brilliant, yet he’s humble and is a universally liked character. We’ve both worked with Tonello and it was a perfect time to work together, so we brought Juan’s magic into the garden trellis adding even more texture, depth and life.’ Ian said.
No Bleach, No Paint, No Dye
Ian himself visited Officina +39 last year in Biela, Italy and learned about their sustainable garment finishing on a tour with Andrea Venier and Juan.
‘Learning more about Recycrom was brilliant and while I say I don’t use no paint, dyes or bleach this became an acceptable exception as it is the tools of the denim industry now to make it more sustainable. Recycrom a revolutionary and sustainable way to transform textile waste into colored powder dyestuffs. Here of course with denim and indigo.’ Ian said.
Tonello’s sustainable technologies were used - the most obvious being the the Laser Blaze - the laser cutter that cut the fabric.But others included the Core, ECOfree 2, and No Stone that are part of the latest Tonello innovation: the All-In-One System. Tonello is always pushing to make their laundry machines and technologies to support the denim industries drive for sustainability. The piece represented may of their qauities, and how better than portraying nature, hanging from a circular trellis.
We have been researching, experimenting and innovating since 1981. And we do much more than just build ‘machines’.
Tonello
Video editing: Carlos Londoño Sound editing: Nicola Cioffi
The Italian region where Tonello and Officina +39 are from has many decades of authentic denim history, designers as well as world famed brands and of course the supporting suppliers. Many were there on the night in Barcelona along with many of Tonello’s friends and partners from around the world.
Ian Berry and Juan Manuel Gomez in Barcelona for Tonello Inspiring.
The trio of Alice Tonello, Juan Manuel Gomez and Ian Berry presented the piece to the gathered crowd that fell silent. The video of the process playing in the back ground and sound editing by Nicola Cioffi set the ambient tone of the evening. They described their process but also their admiration of one another.
Ian added that it was the English that invented denim, pointing out that the word was born from not wanting it to be called ‘Serge de nimes’ ‘we didn’t want French sounding cloth!
Alice Tonello, Juan Manuel Gomez and Ian Berry presenting their collaboration.
Alice Tonello said of the event.
The combination and the interconnection of different arts give always life to extraordinary results, and I realized it since the first collaboration with Ian Berry. That’s why combining the art of Ian and Juanma with Tonello’s technologies has not only given birth to a multisensory experience, but it celebrated this wonderful connection that leaves you out of breath, for real. A contamination of arts ranging from music, images to denim which allows industrial technology to get a new kind of fascination. A project made even more pleasant from the close friendship that unites us for years, and that makes all our collaboration even more meaningful.
Andrea Venier Offcina+39 manager CEO added:
"Inspiring Night by Tonello, allowed all the participants to enter into an idyllic wonderland for a moment of tranquillity, away from the busy time of ITMA. The Secret Garden of Ian with Juan was like the oasis of inspiration in the centre of the Inspiring Night.
The immersive artwork of Ian and Juanma that uses both art and textile technologies bring all of us into the heart of the denim, simultaneously connecting and challenging our perceptions of the natural world.
The Video Art realized thrill in watching the Artists backstage, giving an unique digital shape of our denim and textile universe. It was the breath-taking end of an incredible Inspiring Night.
For all Officina+39 team was really inspiring support Alice, Ian and Juanma in this amazing project. Thanks Tonello, Ian and Juama!"
You can see more images of the piece here - and more of the event here
News
News from the studio of Ian Berry
NEW!
Ian Berry’s, SPLENDID ISOLATION is out now and available to order online. The book is a collaboration with publisher Jap Sam Books in The Netherlands with the Museum Rijswijk to coincide with the Solo Museum show of the same name.
The book includes
· a foreward by Museum Rijswijk curator Diana Wind and Director Arnoud van Aalst
· 160 page paperback book
· Over 150 images in full colour (well, full of blue)
· Looks over some of his 15 years of making his artwork using only denim
· Many images show detail shots of his work that have to be seen to be believed.
The book was launched at the 2020 Virtual Art Book Fair (VABF) organized by Tokyo Art Book Fair (TABF) with Jap Sam. The fair was originally scheduled for Fall 2020 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. It then debuted at the Museum shop at Museum Rijswijk and was popular with visitors. You can now get it here.
The book comes signed by the artist Ian Berry and you can also request a message to be sent. We can post around the world with the postages below, including a special launch offer.
Postage
· £2.50 to the UK (Free with FREESHIPPING code at check out)
Postage outside the UK will come up at Check out.
Along with Museum Rijswijk and Jap Sam Books the book was made possible by the museum show principle sponsor Pepe Jeans London, along with Tencel, Famore Cutlery, Cone Denim and Tonello.