Varoom 18 Launch and Event at The Foyles Gallery

PRESS RELEASE May 2012

ILLUSTRATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND THE AGE OF DISTRACTION PANEL EVENT AND LAUNCH OF VAROOM! MAGAZINE ISSUE 18 : THE ENTERTAINMENT ISSUE

AT THE FOYLES GALLERY ON THURSDAY 14th JUNE

VENUE: The Foyles Gallery, Third Floor, 113 – 119 Charing Cross Rd London, WC2H 0EB

TIME: 18.30

In an era of social networking, texting and ‘always-on’ smartphone culture, the way we access and consume our entertainment is rapidly evolving. To coincide with the launch of Varoom issue 18: The Entertainment Issue at Foyles Gallery in London on 14th June, three distinguished panellists from different areas of the industry will discuss illustration work, that in the age of ‘fast food’ media has taken the idea of entertainment in bold new directions. The debate is chaired by Varoom’s editor, John O’Reilly.

The panellists are:
Emma Hayley - publisher

Emma is Director of SelfMadeHero, a new independent publishing company specialising in original graphic novels, who aims “to create a publishing house relevant in the 21st century, developing new inspirational concepts and publishing across multi-platforms.”

SelfMadeHero’s latest books include a version of Freud’s classic case study, The Wolf Man, and When David Lost His Voice, a personal account of a family dealing with a father’s battle with cancer.

Grant Orchard - filmmaker

Grant is the director of animated short film ‘Morning Stroll’ which received both Oscar and BAFTA nominations, and won the Jury Prize at Sundance. This hugely successful interpretation of a story in a collection edited by Paul Auster about a chicken going for a walk, was entirely self-funded by Studio AKA, an animated production company whose clients include Guinness, BBC, and Lloyds TSB.

Adam Simpson - illustrator

With its five different covers representing each of the Best Film nominees, the BAFTA Film Awards 2011 brochure is now a highly desirable and collectible item. Adam who created the iconic images talks about the project’s intense deadlines and how to slow down and encapsulate a movie into a still, single image.

Admission is free, but pre-booking required. For further information and bookings, please email: events@foyles.co.uk

Varoom! is the award-winning, quarterly magazine which celebrates the cultural, political and social ideas in contemporary illustration from around the world.

Varoom! 18 is available from selected book shops and can be purchased online from: www.varoom-mag.com

If you have any press enquiries and image requests, please contact:

Paul Smith - press@theaoi.com tel: 020 7613 4328

Note for editors:
The Association of Illustrators (AOI) is a non-profit trade association with a membership that includes freelance illustrators, agents, clients, students and colleges. Established in 1973, it is the only organisation to represent illustrators and campaign for their rights in the UK and has successfully increased the reputation of illustration as a profession as well as improved the commercial and ethical conditions of employment. It produces the annual ‘Images’ prize and touring exhibition, now in its 36th year, which celebrates the best in contemporary British illustration. www.theaoi.com

Association of Illustrators, 2nd Floor, Back Building, 150 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3AT