Monday 17 December 2012

Merry Christmas and God Jul!

The Alternative Christmas Market is now officially over!

We made some extra sales during the extra weekend, and plenty of wishes for our artist led Yoko Ono Wish Tree.




We were also pleased with feedback from visitors, saying what a nice surprise it was, and what a lovely space it had become, so thanks to everyone that visited and enjoyed the Alternative Christmas Market, thanks to all the artists that took part and got involved for this artist led event, thanks to Revival for their continued support, and thanks to Revival Sing for bringing some Christmas Carol singing to the Alternative Christmas Market.

Thanks to other artists that came to speak to us.




We hope to be back next year, hopefully with some funding next year, planning a much bigger and better event, so for now, we're off to put our feet up and drink some gløgg! Skål!
drawings by Terry Martin of Murky Depths
Illustrations by Helen Dearnley
Beast Jesus Christmas Cards by Helen Dearnley

Merry Christmas, Beast Jesus, and God Jul!


Tuesday 11 December 2012

Alternative Christmas Market - day 4

Sunday was the best days, we made lots of sales, and were joined by Revival Sing, who came to sing Christmas Carols for us, which was lovely!

However, as we haven't made enough sales to cover our costs, we plan to continue the Alternative Christmas Market next weekend, Saturday and Sunday 15th / 16th Dec without the main Christmas Market to distract people looking for unique Christmas pressie ideas.

Thanks to everyone that came and supported us, to all the artists involved, to Revival for continued support. 

Alternative Christmas Market - day 3

follow the moose to find us!



Saturday was another slow day, due to the one way system again, and despite the fact that the steam train was at the station. Which meant that we didn't get around to the Lincoln Uncut Starbucks protest, but we supported it with a sign on the door though :-)
We were joined by the incredibly talented Sam Derby.
Sam Derby

Sam Derby

Sam Derby

Sam Derby

Mel Gazda prints

Mel Gazda prints


Friday 7 December 2012

Alternative Christmas Market - day 2

Yesterday went really well, we had several visitors, and everyone made sales, however, today has not been as good at all. A few sales, but not many visitors. This is partly because of a really stupid sheeple one-way system that the council invented, so that visitors can't go where they want to. Even The Collection cafe lost sales because of it.

And one artist suspects that one of her pieces has been swiped.

Our first visitor to the Nordic art installation was so impressed with the Apparatjik video art, that he said he'll come back, and Terry's books and comics continue to prove popular.


Follow the moose to find us!
With the weather forecast The Beast From The East, Beast Jesus Christmas Cards are only available here.

We're hoping sales pick up and there are lots of visitors tomorrow, when we will be joined by the lovely Sam Derby and Mel Langton, and don't forget to come and make a free wish for the Yoko Ono Wish Tree!



Meanwhile, as it's been slow, we've been illustrating portraits of each other, 


Terry Martin of Murky Depths by Helen Dearnley


and some mistletoe, for the romantics out there! 




Thursday 6 December 2012

Alternative Christmas Market - day 1

Helen Dearnley Fine Art & Illustration

Terry Martin - Murky Depths

Yoko Ono Wish Tree
All are welcome to contribute to our Yoko Ono Wish Tree, all wishes will be sent to the Imagine Peace Tower in Reikjavik, Iceland after the Christmas Market is finished.

Helen Dearnley Illustration prints

Helen Dearnley Illustration prints and cards

Alternative Christmas Market window display


Beast Jesus Restoration Society - Lincoln Cathedral Jesus restored Christmas Cards!
 You can even have your boring commercial mass produced Christmas Cards restored with us!

Kendell Geers / Nordic art installation
Our Nordic art installation has some scenes from the Norwegian Julemarked, Apparatjik, and Kendell Geers poster from the Nobel Peace Centre, curated by Helen Dearnley exclusively for the Alternative Christmas Market.

Apparatjik video for Nordic art installation

Mel Langton art canvases

Heather Lyon fine art

Mel Gazda photographic prints, cards and crafts

Robert Deaton wooden crafts

Thursday 29 November 2012

Yoko Ono Wish Tree

We will be including a Yoko Ono Wish Tree

Visitors to the Christmas Market can add their own wishes to the tree, which will  all be sent to the Imagine Peace Tower in Reykjavik, Iceland, after the Christmas Market has finished. This is a non-commercial unique and special addition as our Christmas gift to you.




Make an IMAGINE PEACE Wish Tree
For your school, workplace, community.*

You will need: Tree, pencils, Wish Tags.
Wish Trees are traditionally native, local and indigenous.
Olive, Apple, Pomegranate, Ficus, Birch, and Juniper trees are all popular choices.
For Wish Tags you could use paper and string, or pre-strung white shipping tags.
Download and add the IMAGINE PEACE sign
Download and add the WISH TREE instruction
That’s it!
When the tree is full of wishes: 
email us
 a photo and tell us your story
mail all the wishes to IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, PO Box 1009, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland.

Norwegian -themed installation

Wish we were here

Our Nordic - themed installation features prints from the Norwegian Christmas Market in Oslo, snowy Norwegian landscapes, digital audio/video work by Apparatjik, Kendell Geers poster sourced from the Nobel fredssenter / Nobel Peace Centre, and in addition to this, there will also be traditional Norwegian pepperkaker (gingerbread), Nordic hearts, and possibly more besides!

Morten Harket is otherwise engaged, so we have our own Viking!


Velkommen, God Jul!

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Helen Dearnley Fine Art & Illustration

Helen Dearnley Fine Art/Illustration
Work available online via Helen's website or directly here

Illustration prints, framed or mounted, cards, limited edition comics etc.

Saturday 24 November 2012

Terry Martin / Murky Depths

Murky Depths

Terry Martin is bringing his Murky Depths comics and books to the Alternative Christmas Market, we look forward to having him!
Thanks to Terry for coming to help organise the space for us to offset his stall costs :-)

Monday 12 November 2012

Lincoln Christmas Market

Nate Lowman (1979, USA) We'll Be Dead Soon 2011 - image courtesy Helen Dearnley @ Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo, Norway, 2012
Christmas Market at Sincil St!!! 6th - 9th Dec 2012. In a good location between the train station and bus station, offering a cheaper alternative for artists to promote and sell their work than the expensive stalls uphill. We'll be having a Nordic themed area, and our Viking re-enactor, with a range of fine art, illustration, crafts and creativity, unique Beast-Jesus Christmas Cards (probably!), and a Yoko Ono Wish Tree, all lit up with glorious Skegvegas lighting effects! Poundland it isn't. Quality creative products for people looking for something a bit special :-)

Artists involved are asked to share time / resources as a mutually beneficial collaborative effort - we need you to make time to look after the place when I'm not around, bring your own tables if you have them, cakes, mulled wine etc, and any contribution of funds or support preparing the space and organisation is very much appreciated!

The cost is £10 per day and/or a percentage of sales to cover Revival's overheads at your discretion. Email with LAN Xmas Market in the subject line to contact.lincolnartistnetwork@gmail with a link to your work/photos/website.

In terms of set up, artists should plan to come early (like the Tuesday before) to see the space and arrange space. We have SOME tables - about 5. We have some display blocks - about 5. We don't have easels, but we do have some wall space. So come for a meeting this Friday 16th November 8.00p.m. and talk to us early on about the space and what you need. 

Thursday 25 October 2012

Thursday's Mail Art additions

Jonathan Wells' piece with added Mail Fail

Emma Keller, currently studying BA (hons) Illustration


The Grey Arrows via The MOP - Ministry of Pretense
The Grey Arrows are a Pigeon/Pencil Display Team based in Lincoln.