 At approximately 8am, Sunday 20th December, an explosion ripped through the lower part of our apartment block. With pieces of ceiling fragments pinning us to the bed my partner Paulo and I couldn’t work out what was happening. It took a fair amount of fumbling in the dark and dust filled room to find the door, to understand that half the apartment was gone, to locate his daughter Noni who had landed two floors below, and to climb precariously over what was left of the first floor in front of a crowd of shocked onlookers. The fireman had now arrived, a look in their eyes that could witness what we had only started to comprehend, that the building was about to go up in flames. The rest is a blur. The ambulance sirens, the hospital and the cold hall of the fireman's office where we were later left, in donated coats and hospital slippers, the advice to ‘call someone'... the headline news, first of all our home up in flames, then later the reports of a body found in the wreckage. Our neighbour, young musician Gastão Reis, age 24. Two days later his father passed away in the hospital from smoke damage. The ebbing and flowing of awareness that we had nothing left, not even shoes, and thanks only to the kindness of family and friends and the speed of their reactions could we find ourselves, just over two weeks later, slightly unsteadily back on our feet.
It's been difficult to write this for a number of reasons. Firstly, sometimes it feels like it was all a bad dream, in actuality we are here, walking, breathing, unharmed. How appropriate is it to tell this story, in a time already filled with difficulties, loss and sadness. Why add to it? How can I possibly distance myself enough from this to write a ‘newsletter’ about it - should I just be factual, should I ignore the fact that life will never be the same again, for worse and also for better, that everything has been reshuffled and put into a different place to where it was before? It’s something that is difficult to ignore, a part of our personal story that will shape everything to come. Everything to come depends on how we go forward now, and already we are witnessing some incredible gestures of support from so many individuals. In just two weeks we have temporary accommodation, tools to start work, clothes, offers of furniture, instruments.. It's truly astounding, and has reinstated my absolute belief in mankind, really. The only thing that remains to be said at this moment is that the journey has just begun. If you wish to help us along the way, we are eternally grateful for support. Its not easy to take a lot of large items at the moment, but there are several different ways to help, listed below; Donate to Gofundme Fundraiser in English pounds, organised by Ali Murfitt Donate to Gofundme Fundraiser in Euros, organised by Atelier Concorde Donate to Noni's Fundraiser to help her become independent Transfer money through MBway if you have it - 920025717 Join the Facebook group where we will slowly request for second hand items and other support. And thanks to everyone who has already showed us love, I haven't had a chance to thank you all individually yet but I hope to soon. Wishes for a brighter 2021 to all, Nina x  I am delighted to offer these exclusive limited editions from the Menagerie series that were exhibited at the Natural Science & History Museum in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2019.
Print details: Edition of /50 + 5 Artists Proofs Signed, stamped & numbered by the artist Bockingford Archival Watercolour Paper 190g/m2 Measurements: 48.3 × 33 cm (A3+) Print run created: 2019 Price: 90€ - includes EU Shipping (ships in a roll)* Please follow this link to purchase. Contact me for further information / other postage costs. *shipping usually takes around a week. For quicker delivery please contact me. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and more optimistic 2021.   I WILL TAKE THE RISK collective exhibition at Azan Contemporary Art space
13 - 15 November This show is part of Lisbon Art Weekend 2020 Gallery address: Rua Afonso Annes Penedo 50, 1950-014, Marvila - Lisboa Project - Tomaz Hipólito e João Simões Production - Beatriz José  SUPERSONIC is a digital platform offering cultural activities, including open calls, online exhibitions and interviews. Created by artists through our studio association ‘Atelier Concorde’ and financially supported by Lisbon City Council, our program reinforces the artistic community of Lisbon while creating a broader international network. In a time when social distance redefines our relationship with reality, SUPERSONIC embraces the concept of velocity and speed - an instant presence beyond physical distance. » www.supersonic.pt
 3rd edition of International Collage Exhibition 2020
Sep 29th – Dec 31st Retroavangarda Gallery Al. Jerozolimskie 146D, Warsaw - curator: Anna Kłos
During august I was happy to be selected to participate in this four week, virtual/online collage lab with Tulane University Special Collections. Collage Labs, produced in concunction with Kolaj Institute and Kolaj Magazine, include specific discussions about the medium including the challenge of creating large work and issues of appropriation, copyright, and fair use and explore how the artist’s choice and understanding of material shapes the narrative of the artwork. more»
 As part of Hertfordshire Year of Culture, St Albans Museum + Gallery and UH Arts decided to launch the first Hertfordshire Open in digital form rather than the planned exhibition in St Albans. This showcase introduces artworks by 50 artists connected to Hertfordshire who were selected from nearly 200 submissions. The wealth of visual art mediums is celebrated across painting, drawing, sculpture, prints, textiles, film, photography and found objects. The 80 artworks are presented across four virtual gallery spaces, to offer viewers a curated selection of pieces that share thematic similarities and/or aesthetic sensibilities. Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the Hertfordshire Open provides a vital snapshot of art production within the county at the start of a new decade. Immersion in the exhibition reveals the talent, diversity, commitment and ambition within the artist community. We hope that this exhibition and future initiatives will further establish this critical mass of artists and shine greater light on Hertfordshire’s rich creative ecology. Click on image above for virtual tour. You can see my chosen works here. This exhibition is part of the Hertfordshire Year of Culture #HYOC2020  MOSTRA 2020 has been extended until 17th June so hopefully it will be possible for those based in Lisbon to see it for real at some point. I will let you know as soon as this is the case. Click on link above for virtual walk through of the whole exhibition!   Open studios - Nina Fraser & Inês Teles Atelier Concorde | 18th Dec 2019 On December 18th we open the top floor studios to friends and onlookers. Come and meet us in our workspace in an informal and festive environment. Expect a fusion of Portuguese and English Christmas treats and drinks. If you are feeling inspired why not try a workshop exploring the endless creative possibilities of paper.
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