Wayne Hemingway - The Story So Far

One of the perks of my job at Glasgow Concert Halls is being involved in the smooth running of some very interesting events and great gigs.

Tonight was one such example as I was working at the Wayne Hemingway - The Story So Far talk at The Old Fruitmarket.

Wayne Hemingway is bringing his award-winning Vintage Festival north to Scotland for the first time this July as part of the Merchant City Festival 2013.

The Red or Dead co-founder had a shop in Glasgow's Buchanan Street in the mid-nineties, and is delighted to be back! As well as producing Vintage Glasgow, Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway will be mentoring up-and-coming students, artists, and designers in Scotland.

 

Wayne and Gerardine started their fashion empire from a stall in Camden market in 1981 and built up a multinational brand in the shape of Red or Dead. Now they design everything from social housing to sofas.

Wayne talked about how his career has developed, starting off with Red or Dead, moving on to multi-disciplinary social design agency Hemingway Design, and the Vintage Festival brand. 

He challenged the notion of needing an architecture degree in order to design housing, stating that the experience of living in social housing throughout his life meant that he knows what is necessary to design excellent social housing.

Rather like how I was taught on my Environmental Art degree Wayne believes specific practical skills can be learned as and when necessary, but ideas and the desire to change the world for the better comes from within the individual and life experiences can be invaluable.

I enjoy having an art practice that is varied, working in different materials and being involved in different activities, and Wayne expressed a similar wish to have a diverse practice.

I am looking forward to experiencing Vintage Glasgow in July as part of the Merchant City Festival.

Vintage Glasgow is produced in Scotland by The DollsHouse http://www.dollshousecreative.co.uk in partnership with Hemingway Design www.hemingwaydesign.co.uk.  

For more information please visit

http://www.merchantcityfestival.com

http://www.hemingwaydesign.co.uk/

http://www.vintagefestival.co.uk