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HOT RODS AND HAIRY BEASTS
Illustration Show
Opens Monday 29th September 2008

Coningsby Gallery, London
Monday 29th September until
Saturday 4th October 2008 10am-6pm
Further info www.hotrodsandhairybeasts.co.uk

Hot Rods, Hula Girls, Hairy Beasts, Himalayan Head Hunters and the Holy Bible are just some of the subjects under discussion by illustrators Linzie Hunter, Rod Hunt, Nishant Choksi and Allan Sanders. No subject is too small for this group of seasoned professional illustrators and adventurers. With clients spanning the world of advertising, publishing, design and editorial this band of battle scarred buccaneers are prepared for the eventuality of just about anything. Their motto is simple : to illustrate the obscure ...and beyond!

And here's an exclusive preview of some of the work from the show


Meet the Hairy Beasts

Linzie Hunter The terrifying Linzie Hunter originated from the barren highlands of Scotland but now resides in a North London suburb where she feasts on worms and grubs whilst working for clients including Random House, BBC, The Guardian & Little Brown. Linzie recently hit the headlines with her lettering work based on the spam e-mails in her inbox. Her book “Secret Weapon: 30 hand-painted spam postcards” is published by Chronicle Books in Autumn 2008. www.linziehunter.co.uk

Allan Sanders Born in the frozen tundra of the Northern wastelands, the horrendous Allan Sanders, a mostly hairless biped, now resides near the water in a settlement known as Brighton. Existing on a diet of rock pool delicacies, Allan has produced quirky, character-based and often humorous illustrations for clients including New Scientist, The Economist, The Guardian and The LA Times. Last year Allan became the poster boy for The Oregon Humane Society’s “End Petlessness” campaign. www.loopland.net

Nishant Choksi The monstrous Nishant Choksi originated from a murky lagoon in the centre of London and is now often found foraging in the wooded areas of Crouch End. A real life B-Movie monster, Nishant is inspired by advertising of the 40’s and 50’s and has worked for The Washington Post, The Guardian, JWT, Macmillian and others. Nishant recently worked on a prominent print ad campaign for Vodafone and has just completed work on his first TV spot for them. www.nishantchoksi.com

Rod Hunt Born in rural Dorset, the diabolical Rod Hunt now inhabits the swampland of Greenwich, South London where he feeds mostly on shrubs and berries. Rod has developed a reputation for retro tinged illustrations & detailed character filled landscapes and among his client list he includes FHM, Maxim and Vodafone. Notably Rod illustrated the cover of the best selling environmental book “Change the World 9 to 5” published by We Are What We Do. He is also Deputy Chairman of the Association of Illustrators. www.rodhunt.com

Hot Rods and Hairy Beasts
is showing at the Coningsby Gallery from Monday 29th September until Saturday 4th October 2008

Private View Thursday 2nd October from 6.30pm

Sponsored by Tinymeat www.tinymeat.com

For further information
Web: www.hotrodsandhairybeasts.co.uk

Coningsby Gallery 30 Tottenham Street, London. W1T 4RJ. United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 7017 Email [email protected]
Web: www.coningsbygallery.com

Hot Rods And Hairy Beasts
An Illustration show - Coningsby Gallery
Monday 29th September until Saturday 4th October 2008

Hot Rods, Hula Girls, Hairy Beasts, Himalayan Head Hunters and the Holy Bible are just some of the subjects under discussion by illustrators Linzie Hunter, Rod Hunt, Nishant Choksi and Allan Sanders. No subject is too small for this group of seasoned professional illustrators and adventurers. With clients spanning the world of advertising, publishing, design and editorial this band of battle scarred buccaneers are prepared for the eventuality of just about anything. Their motto is simple : to illustrate the obscure ...and beyond!

Hot Rods And Hairy Beasts website



Meet The Hairy Beasts...

Linzie Hunter The terrifying Linzie Hunter originated from the barren highlands of Scotland but now resides in a North London suburb where she feasts on worms and grubs whilst working for clients including Random House, BBC, The Guardian & Little Brown. Linzie recently hit the headlines with her lettering work based on the spam e-mails in her inbox. Her book "Secret Weapon: 30 hand-painted spam postcards" is published by Chronicle Books in Autumn 2008.

Rod Hunt Born in rural Dorset, the diabolical Rod Hunt now inhabits the swampland of Greenwich, South London where he feeds mostly on shrubs and berries. Rod has developed a reputation for retro tinged illustrations & detailed character filled landscapes and among his client list he includes FHM, Maxim and Vodafone. Notably Rod illustrated the cover of the best selling book “Change the World 9 to 5” published by We Are What We Do. He is also Deputy Chairman of the Association of Illustrators.

Nishant Choksi The monstrous Nishant Choksi originated from a murky lagoon in the centre of London and is now often found foraging in the wooded areas of Crouch End. A real life B-Movie monster, Nishant is inspired by advertising of the 40’s and 50’s and has worked for The Washington Post, The Guardian, JWT, Macmillian and others. Nishant recently worked on a prominent print ad campaign for Vodafone and has just completed work on his first TV spot for them.

Allan Sanders Born in the frozen tundra of the Northern wastelands, the horrendous Allan Sanders, a mostly hairless biped, now resides near the water in a settlement known as Brighton. Existing on a diet of rock pool delicacies, Allan has produced quirky, character-based and often humorous illustrations for clients including New Scientist, The Economist, The Guardian and The LA Times. Last year Allan became the poster boy for The Oregon Humane Society’s “End Petlessness” campaign.

Hot Rods And Hairy Beasts is showing at the Coningsby Gallery, London from Monday 29th September until Saturday 4th October 2008.

Coningsby Gallery 30 Tottenham Street, London. W1T 4RJ. UK.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 7017 www.coningsbygallery.com

Esme Raji Codell is an author and certified readiologist. I first learned about Esme, a young urban teacher with big dreams in her acclaimed memoir, EDUCATING ESME. Years later, I began reading her children’s books, and was delighted when an advance reader copy of VIVE LE PARIS arrived in my mailbox for review. I was immediately pulled into the story, promptly took off my reviewer hat, curled up in a chair and savoured every page. When I learned the book was awarded the Sydney Taylor Honor Award for “outstanding contribution to Jewish Literature,” I was not surprised!

Esme is passionate about books, literacy, and children. I am thrilled beyond measure that she was willing to share her thoughts and insights on my blog.

VIVE LA PARIS is about the relationship of an urban African American girl, and her piano teacher, a holocaust survivor. What was the inspiration for writing a story about the connecting of diverse cultures?

When I was teaching the fifth grade in Chicago to an inner-city classroom of about thirty five kids, I read aloud a book called Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, about children and the Danish resistance during WWII. It was very indirect as to the particulars of the Nazi threat, and none of these children were Jewish or had any prior knowledge of the Holocaust. I was happy to skirt around the atrocities. When the book inspired more probing questions, I answered with the academic equivalent to “Go ask your father,” which is, “go to the library.”

Well, one day, I saw one of my students writing and crying so hard that tears were falling on the page. When I went to see, she was making a word search with words like NAZI AND CREMATORIUM. It turned out that she DID go to the library, and making this word search was her was of processing this information that she had found. I realized that I had chickened out, but I needed something to help me, as a teacher. I needed a book that spoke to all children, especially inner-city children who fight their own wars and injustices every day. I wanted a book that spoke to children now, who are so inundated with media, with images of Rwanda and 9/11 and the Asian tsunami and images from Katrina. So I wrote VIVE LA PARIS specifically from a diverse cultural point of view because I hoped it would be useful in reaching kids from all kinds of backgrounds as a springboard for a larger discussion: how do we deal with the bullies of the world? And, how does history repeat itself, in big ways and in small ways? These questions belong to all cultures. The book can be looked at in this context, but lots of kids also enjoy the straightforward tension of the plot; the idea of a fifth grade girl bullying an eighth grade boy is a big problem, and Paris, the boy’s sister, just gets madder and madder and madder. I think a lot of kids can relate to the idea of an escalating situation, and the desire to solve things peacefully...and just how hard that can be.

VIVE LA PARIS is a companion novel for another book I wrote, SAHARA SPECIAL. Characters appear in both books, so kids who enjoyed SAHARA can see their old friends again, but I was very careful to make sure each book stands on its own. You don’t have to read one to enjoy the other.

Paris, the main character in the book, had no previous knowledge of the Holocaust. Do you think today’s children are lacking exposure to the struggles of previous generations?

I think there’s a fine line between teaching kids the struggles of past generations and discouraging them with the incredible inhumane episodes that recur again and again in the world invented by grown-ups. But in answer to your question, yes, I think generally children could afford to know more about what previous generations have contributed to the present, but then again, I think everyone could afford to know more. I hope history would be approached with a sense of gratitude for what has been sacrificed and endured to arrive at this moment, and with some optimism about the future. Since most history is traditionally taught within a contextual timeline of war, this requires some conscientious effort.

Did you do a lot of research or is VIVE LA PARIS based on personal knowledge and experiences?

I was already well versed in the events of the Holocaust, though lots of facts were checked and re-checked. I did read up a lot on the entertainer Josephine Baker who is referenced in the novel. She really did lead an incredible life, working for the Resistance and dedicating so much of her personal life to the celebration of diversity. But most of VIVE LA PARIS is inspired by my own family, neighbors, children I have taught. There’s no fiction that isn’t born out of a seed of truth.

In HANUKKAH SHMANUKKAH! (Hyperion, 2005), a Jewish version A Christmas Carol, you explore a different historical aspect of the Jewish experience, including the use of humor and Yiddish words. Like Vive La Paris, this story also seems to bridge gaps between generations and communities. Do you see this an a significant theme in your writing?

Gosh, good questions, Barbara! I guess everything about me goes into my books. I grew up in a diverse multicultural neighborhood, and a lot of colloquial Yiddish was used in my home. I had a strong identification as an American, and felt like all American history was my history, including African-American history, which I learned a lot about at home and at school. I was surprised as an adult with the idea that history could belong to one group and not another. Since all the cultures in America, in my mind, should come together in a sense of belonging here, I suppose that shows through in my work.

You began your career as a teacher. Did you always want to write books?
I wanted to be a baseball umpire growing up, and then I wanted to be a scientist, but through it all I always wrote books, diaries. Short stories, articles, poems...sometimes to publish, sometimes not. I have been writing since I was able. It has always been part of who I am, not who I ever wanted to become. I always remind children that being a writer means writing, whether or not you get published, and whatever age you are.

Did your experiences as a teacher inspire your stories?

Oh, yes. Absolutely. Virtually all of my books have something to do with school, and all of my books start with something I want to share with children. I am always conscious of how my book might be used in a classroom, and I always try to write things that are fun to read aloud, since that is the most beneficial classroom approach.

I think I’m obsessed with school because it’s such an ephemeral time. Every school story is also a ghost story, because children change out of their former selves into adults. When I teach, I feel so lucky, I get to experience people during this precious, fleeting time, to know them so early in their own experience of living...and here they are, in this strange place, together: a school. It’s the stuff of great literature!

You have written many books in a variety of genres. Do you have a favorite genre?

I like writing non-fiction best, because I like observing better than having make things up. Inventing a whole fictional universe is exhausting, and requires more choices than a Libra like me can handle. Though I do try.

What are you working on now?

I have three picture books from Greenwillow on the horizon. I am also planning on launching a podcast soon that celebrates the joys of reading and the wonderful work of other authors and illustrators.

What do you like to read?

I like to read children’s books, because they are fast-paced and usually funnier than literature for adults. Realistic fiction and picture books are my favorite genre, though I’ll give anything a go for a few chapters. When I was a child, comic books were my favorite thing to read.

What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween, Johnny Appleseed’s birthday (September 26th) and my son’s birthday.

Do you have hobbies besides writing?

Well, my husband says eating is not a hobby, but I do love everything to do with food: cooking, reading food magazines, trying new restaurants. I love to spend my time listening to music, dancing and singing (usually in the privacy of my own apartment). I am also a rabid collector (I like robots, old Fisher Price toys, anything to do with fairy tales, Halloween collectibles and of course, children’s books and videos), a sloppy but bountiful urban gardener, and I like to plan parties, make puppet shows, blog about my favorite books at www.planetesme.blogspot.com and read aloud. My very favorite thing to do is spend time with friends and family, and make sure they know I love them.

Do you have any pets?

We have two sugar gliders named Amelia and Philippe. They are very old and fat marsupials with a lot of personality. Definitely part of the family.

Can you share a few fun facts about you?

One of my first things I ever had published was a movie review in a newspaper when I was seven years old.
When I was a teenager, I had 200 penpals and often skipped school to write letters to them.
I worked as a doughnut finisher for Dunkin’ Doughnuts. I like their French Cruller and Strawberry Frosted best.
I secretly would like to run a museum, or have a radio show.

Esme, it had been a delight! Thanks for stopping by!

To learn more about Esme, check out her web site at www.PlanetEsme.com
Be a part of the PlanetEsme Plan! www.planetesme.blogpot.com