2900 cards!

A short article in the financial times today tells us that there will be 2900 cards for sale this year - up there with the highest numbers of cards for sale in recent times (although in the 1990s there were a couple of years when 3000 cards plus were sold). It also tells us that Julian Opie is a contributor again. Finally there's images of a couple of cards we've not seen before.

Article in time out with images of some cards

There's an article in time out about the sale which is pretty unremarkable. BUT is does have a few images of some of the cards that will be exhibited. Click here to access.

Paula Rego and David Bailey confirmed as contributors

The college have confirmed on twitter that Paula Rego and David Bailey have once again contributed to the sale.

Small piece in the independent today

There's a small piece about the sale in the independent on sunday today. Full text repeated below

Answers on a postcard

The RCA’s Secret sale celebrates its 20th birthday this year. As usual, prospective art collectors will pay £50 for a postcard-sized work of art that could be by someone established (Grayson Perry, Jeremy Deller and Zaha Hadid) or might be the work of an RCA student or graduate. The works are available to view – without knowing who did what, of course – from 22 March, but one of this year’s established contributors has a point to make about the whole venture.

Pete Fowler is known for his Monsterism series of toys and merchandise. When asked why he has donated work for this year’s event, he says: “It’s a cause I’m happy to help as support of the arts is under attack and we must counter attack!” Right on! Changing the world, one postcard at a time.

Contributors so far

So, here's what we know so far by way of contributors, in no particular order at all. These have come either from the press articles to date or from twitter/facebook feeds. Apologies for any spelling mistakes or omissions.

Grayson Perry
Richard Long
Maggi Hambling
Yinka Shonibare
John Baldessari
Anita Klein
Shane Bradford
Daniel Clark
Sarah Kurdika Davenport
Rebecca Arnold
Sophie Collier
Kevin Broughton and Fiona Birnie
Vanilla Beer
Mark Essen
Tomi Vollauschek
Neasa Terry
Stuart Layton
Nicholas Middleton
Jennie Edwards
Emma Russell
Nadege Meriau
Charlotte Bracegirdle
Angela Lamb
Roel Paradaens
Lee Borthwick
Wayne Chisnall
Holly Slngsby
Annabel Tilley
Molly Rooke
Babette Wagenvoort
James R Ford
Louisa Chambers
Masayo Matsuda
Julie Brixey-Williams
Michael Bartlett
Isobel Wohl
Olenna Mokliak
Pete Fowler

First concrete contributor news

The college have posted on their facebook page this new article which it appears may have been in the evening standard on Friday night. Anyway as you can see it contains the first concrete contributor news: Grayson Perry, Yinka Shonibare, John Baldessari, Maggi Hambling and Richard Long are all listed as contributors this year.

All those names have contributed to the show in the past although Perry didn't contribute last year and Richard Long hasn't done so for a few years. Exciting stuff.

Lessons learned and preparation

By John:

Did you go to RCA secret last year?
Did you get what you wanted?
Did you like what you got?
Do you STILL like what you got?


2014 isn't my first year at the RCA secret! and boy I've made some fantastic mistakes buying cards that I really didn't like, but I so convinced myself I was buying something from a "famous artist" that I got carried away. Quite an expensive mistake that I've (mostly) learned from.




This years RCA secret approaches, and I'm getting excited. But apart from being an idiot again and buying things that I am never going to like, there's nothing I can really do until the exhibition opens and we see the 2014 cards, is there?

The answer is yes yes yes. loads of practical stuff from making sure I'm free on the day (getting out of any birthday parties/weddings etc), to making sure I know where my warm gloves are, and that flask I use once a year.

But with regards to preparing for the exhibition itself, there are a number of things you can do, this is my routine...

Firstly I take a look at what I got last year, and ask myself if I still like them as much as I did the day I got them. And if not why not? It's good to be clear with myself as to what I like and what I "liked the look of but got bored" with. "The love is no longer there" you may sometime hear me say.



Next I look at my list of cards that I didn't get, the ones crossed off while waiting for my turn. At the moment it's great because I can still type their numbers into the RCA Secret website and see who the artist was (until they take down the 2013 cards from the site in a few weeks). I sometimes google them to do a bit of research on them, to see if that may help me identify their cards in 2014 (if they submit them, although there a lot of serial contributors). Also, some cards that initially appear dull or uninteresting can be suddenly more attractive when you understand something about the artist that create them.

Finally I look at the framed cards on my walls and wonder "what would be good alongside the stuff I already have on the walls". I find it really helps to give me focus to know that I'm looking for something for my living room/bedroom/hallway/office desk/etc. For example this year I will look to get a monochrome card that will go with a pair I got from previous years and put in. The hallway.


So when the exhibition opens, it's not like I am suddenly an expert or anything, but I will go in with a sense of knowing what I like, what I want, and what will make a card "tick the right boxes" so I know how high or low to put it on my list (ordering your list as an art in itself). And getting a card that I like and know what I will do with is success for me.

10 artists that make RCA Secret

We first did this feature a few years ago but thought we would re-run it in the run-up to the 2014 sale with 10 different artists, all of whom are regular contributors to the sale. These names may not be the household names that trip off everyone’s tongue but they are all artists who have supported RCA secret every year for many years and therefore deserve a mention and support. This is just my personal list - what is yours?



1. Paul Benjamins – working out of his studio in a Victorian house in Peckham Paul Benjamins has been producing his extraordinary abstract paintings for many years. He has been contributing cards to RCA secret for as long as I have been going – miniature examples of his colourful abstracts that draw influences from the urban environment in which he operates. He’s also a top bloke as well even though he is a Chelsea fan. He hosts regular open houses in conjunction with the Dulwich Open House season and I would thoroughly recommend going along for a glass of wine and a look at his amazing works.



2. Ray Richardson – another south Londoner Ray invariably puts pencil to card for his RCA secret contributions of dogs and south london “geezers” as he describes them. His cinematic figurative paintings have led to him having a loyal following with many collectors. A contemporary of Damien Hirst at Goldsmiths college Ray has admirably ploughed his own furrow, eschewing conceptual art for painting.



3. Richard Davidson – a former lawyer who sensibly gave up law to pursue his love of paintings Richard still paints the trappings of his former life – office shoes and shirts etc. Look out also for the odd tree, pillow or even a cupcake!



4. Guy Allott – robots, space, mystical worlds seen through holes in trees, what’s not to love about the work of this hugely talented painter and print-maker based in London but with a raft of international shows coming up for 2014.



5. Glen Baxter – whimsical paintings and drawings of his trademark characters are classic Glen Baxter, often with his own joke at the art-world’s expense. His drawing in 2013 of the man putting his hand through the Mondrian was genius. Well done to whoever picked up that card.



6. Elinor Evans - a painting graduate of the college a few years ago who now lives in spain with her menagerie in spain including picasso, whisky and coke and various others all of whom feature in Elinor's fantastic paintings.



7. Vicky Finding Vicky has been contributing paintings to the sale for years. In 2009 her style was confused for Gerhard Richter's - not a bad compliment. I think she turns out beautiful abstract paintings on thick card that really stand out. I have a lovely one myself.



8. Baroness Carrie Von Reichardt - spot a ceramic tile with a political message and you've probably noticed a work by the self styled renegade potter whose projects away from RCA secret inspire and awe in equal measure.



9. Rose Wylie - What to say about Rose Wylie whose contributions to RCA secret often seem to go unmentioned and uncommented upon despite Rose being in the autumn of her career with a retrospective at the Jerwood gallery under her belt. Hopefully this redresses that slightly!



10. Nicholas Middleton - extraordinary photorealistic paintings of ordinary scenes are Nicholas Middleton's stock in trade. Flick through them on screen and you will decide they are a photograph. Study them in person and you realise, amazingly, that they are not.

Hockney and Richter to contribute this year?

According to this entry in the Daily Telegraph (you may need to register to view) amongst the contributors to this years sale are Gerhard Richter and David Hockney. Seems a little too good to be true doesn't it? I suspect the telegraph journalist has just got it wrong, confusing previous years contributors but we shall see.

Full text of the article below

The Royal College of Art’s annual postcard exhibition and fundraising sale is back for its 20th year with one-of-a-kind works by some of the world’s most renowned contemporary artists, designers and illustrators including Gerhard Richter, Julian Opie, Yinka Shonibare, David Hockney, Yoko Ono, Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry and Sir Paul Smith. So what’s the secret? The 2,500 pieces are exhibited anonymously.

Every year the RCA asks a mix of professional artists and designers, plus up-and-coming art students and graduates to make and donate a piece of work – postcard-sized and signed on the back. Artists may choose to paint, draw, sketch or even produce a 3-D sculpture as long as it meets said criteria.

All the mini artworks are exhibited anonymously for a week and are then sold to the public in a one-day sale. Each costs £50 and profits go towards supporting RCA Fine Art students with scholarships.

The exhibition opens to the public on 13 March 2014 and ends with the sale day on 22 March 2014. All prospective buyers must first register online.

What we know so far.

1) The cards have all left the building...

2) Some artists have posted on twitter that they have returned cards to the college - Anita Klein being a good example.

3) Artists are asked to complete an "Artist Profile" when they return their cards (it's not clear what gets done with this).

£50 for next year's sale

The price of cards will go up to £50 for next year's RCA Secret sale according to an email sent out by the college.

Yinka Shonibare cards up for sale

Here's a link to a couple of Yinka Shonibare cards for sale next month at Dreweatt Neate.  This is the second time these cards have come up for auction, the first time they failed to sell and the estimate has been reduced to £600-£800 for the 2.

Dates for RCA Secret 2014 revealed

The college has revealed the dates for next year's RCA Secret sale.  It's in March again with the exhibition opening on 13 March 2014 and the sale being on Saturday 22 March 2014.  An exciting date for your diary then!  The sale is also named after its sponsor - Stewarts Law RCA secret.

All details on the college's website for the sale.  

November is the cruelest month

This year anyway.  Normally by this stage preparations would begin in earnest, research done, art fairs coming up, twitter scoured for eagerly awaited news.  Hey ho, a few more months to go.  Lots of things to do art wise this month so I may see some of you at the various fairs and stuff in London.

Did you see the Emin card which went under the hammer at Christies in September?  I have to confess this one completely passed me by.

Rego card for sale too

A Paula rego card from 2005 is also for sale at
Bonhams tomorrow.

5 RCA Secret 2013 go under the hammer

No less than 5 RCA Secret 2013 postcards are going under the hammer at Bloomsburys auctioneers tomorrow.

RCA Secret 2013 postcards at Bloomsbury, auction on Thursday 27th June at 2pm

134. John Baldessari (b.1931) Was It Worth It? I Suppose So.
two unique rubber stamp prints on postcard, 2013, each signed in blue
ball-point pen verso, produced to raise funds for the Royal College of
Art, London, as part of the RCA secret, on wove paper, with full
margins,
each sheet 147 x 105 mm (5 3/4 x 4 1/8 in)
£1000 – £1500
auction link


248. Yinka Shonibare (b.1962) Untitled 1 & 2
two unique pen and ink with applied gold leaf and collage of printed
fabric on postcard, 2013, each signed in black felt-tip pen verso,
produced to raise funds for the Royal College of Art, London, as part of
the RCA secret, on wove paper, with full margins,
each sheet 147 x 105 mm (5 3/4 x 4 1/8 in)
£800 – £1200
auction link

262. Lawrence Weiner (b.1940) Caught between Ships Passing in the Night
unique rubber stamp print with paper collage and hand-colouring in red
crayon and green watercolour, 2013, signed in black ink verso, produced
to raise funds for the Royal College of Art, London, as part of the RCA
secret, on wove paper, with full margins,
sheet 147 x 105 mm (5 3/4 x 4 1/8 in)
£1000 – £1500
auction link

Raffle open for Oli Postcards

The raffle is now open for first 30 places in the virtual queue.  All the details below

Sale date: Friday 21st June 2013, 6.30-8.30pm
Venue: Westminster School, London SW1P 3PB

Oli Bennett Charitable Trust Anonymous Art Fair

Nearest tube: St. James’s Park or Westminster.

 

The school is just south of Westminster Abbey.

 

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=530021&Y=179357&A=Y&Z=110

If you wish to attend the sale please email us - olipostcards@btinternet.com to be put on the guest list.  Please note that places are limited are the night of the sale.  Please note that since this is a central london school in term time security is tight.  You will not be admitted unless you are on the guest list. 

The cost of the cards this year is £40.

As last year we will be holding a raffle for the top 30 places in a virtual queue so that whether you are able to attend the sale or not you will still have a chance of buying the cards you would like to buy.  Raffle tickets are £1 each and you can buy a maximum of 20. 

The raffle is now live.  Please visit
http://www.justgiving.com/olipostcards2013

To make your donation.  Here is a timeline for the raffle:

15 June 2013 - Raffle opens
6pm on 18 June 2013 Raffle closes.
Evening of 18 June 2013 - Winners notified
End of 19 June 2013 - deadlines for supplying raffle selections and making payment for cards (£40 each)
20 June 2013 - raffle winners are informed which cards they have purchased.

VERY IMPORTANT - once you have made your donation please email olipostcards@btinternet.com stating the name under which you donated and the amount. For some reason Justgiving no longer provide us with the email address of the payee, even if you tick the box that says you are happy to share that. IF YOU DON’T EMAIL US YOU WON’T BE IN THE RAFFLE. Many many thanks

All remaining cards not sold in the raffle will be sold on the night of the sale.  Any remaining cards after the evening sale will be advertised for sale on this site on a first come first served basis.

Contributor news for Oli Postcards

I'm pleased to announce the following confirmed contributors to Oli Postcards this year. Please note contributors are only confirmed when we have the postcards in hand, there are plenty more exciting contributors promised...

Sir Peter Blake
Anita Klein
Paul Benjamins
Guy Denning
Remi Rough
Adam Bridgland
Antony "ABC" Collings
Bram
Florin Ungureanu
Ida Taavitsainen
Eeva Rinne
Petra Semerdjiev
TRXTR
Wattts
Caroline Payne
Bram
Zibi
Boon
ANX

And many others

Keep your eyes peeled to the website for more info.

Sneaky peak of some Oli Postcards

Here is a sneaky peak of some of the first Oli Postcards received!  Keep your eyes peeled here for more news and remember it is not too late for artists to contribute, just email olipostcards@btinternet.com 

Oli Postcards is Back!

Yes I've been persuaded to do it all again. The Oli Bennett charitable trust will be running a secret art postcard sale that bears a passing resemblance to the RCA secret sale....

Last time we ran the sale it was a raging success, raising over £8000 and generating a lot of publicity for the charity and the artists involved.

All the postcards from that sale can still be viewed on the website www.olipostcards.com until 31st May. We had donations from, amongst many others, DFace, Sir Peter Blake, Candice Tripp, Anita Klein, Remi rough and Josie McCoy and actors Eddie Redmayne and Clemency Burton-Hill.

This time the sale will be on 21st June 2013.

If there are artists reading this who would like to donate a postcard or three then please email me your name and address to:

olipostcards@btinternet.com

I'll will get a pack sent out to you.

Thanks for reading!  The above is a sneak peak of one of the first cards donated!