Art as escape and a therapeutic outlet. Kat Toronto is Miss Meatface. Garry Vanderhorne the wrestling promoter told us about her in EP1 of Are You Creative? Miss Meatface is a photographic alter-ego for Kat. She was an escape for Kat to express how she was feeling at a dark time in her life in 2015 - like an art therapy. Kat uses latex masks to remove her identity and create the anonymous character. Kinky and kitchy. 1950s typical domestic scenes, made playful and surreal with latex. Miss Meatface was born in America. Kat studied photography at art school. And went on to become a librarian. The mild-mannered librarian that became a latex superstar. Miss Meatface has a wonderfully muscular Meat Maid who serves her and cleans her house in PVC. A strong part of the aesthetic is patterns and contrast. Shooting with vintage cameras and Polaroid and getting the aesthetic. Starting out art brut, a personal project with no aim for public consumption. Then moving to Instagram. Then building a global audience. Moving to the UK and discovering the differences between US and UK art appreciation. Kat’s artistic life, making hats, being in bands, creating art. Lady Viola was Kat’s ‘Ragwater Revue’ band alter-ego - she’d escaped from the circus and wore an eye-patch. Kat’s house is full of vintage clothing, props, and cameras. Kat buys props from Brentwood’s amazing charity shops. A weakness for vintage curtains, and using them as backdrops. Making mini meat-sets for photoshoots. The anti-Barbie! Miss Meatface ugly holiday sweater announcement. Styling a fondue shoot. Aspic chat! Microwave chat! Sangita has been buying lamb chops. The Miss Meatface origin story. Learning prosthetics. How a brush with mortality fired up Kat’s creative output. Talking about art brut - what even is art brut? A new obsession with vintage ventriloquist dolls. Going out in character - like Barkley Bandon in Dalston. Creating art for your own mindfulness. Nick has been enjoying Rivals and explains Bonkbusters. We love Essex’s number one actor Danny Dyer!

And that's how you fold a napkin!

Miss Meatface
Miss Meatface Shop
Miss Meatface on Instagram
Miss Meatface on TikTok

Are You Creative? recorded by Jaiden 'the ragga enforcer' at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

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Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

PROFESSIONAL violinist! Making money doing the creative thing that you love. Life as a musician can be hard. It’s not a 9-5 job, and there is a lot of practicing! Streamlining practice, and finding the time to do it. Diminishing returns in practicing. Setting goals for quality practice. What is score reading? Being inspired by an older sibling learning music and attending her cello lessons. Big up Classic FM - no adverts though please! Being inspired by BBC Young Musician of the Year. Attending a Nicola Benedetti concert and getting creatively inspired as a six year old. And Jennifer Pike listening to little Elodie playing violin. Five degrees of Benedetti - a chance spotting on TV leads to getting the greatest violin mentor. Getting to play a Stradivarius. Finding the right violin for you. Rich benefactors loaning out amazing instruments - thanks for supporting the arts and recent graduates! Elodie blind tested instruments to not be influenced by age and provenance and chose a modern violin. Performing a solo violin and choir piece with the BBC Singers. Difficult bits in gigs, and not being able to enjoy the performance until afterwards. Getting jobs as a freelance violinist. Word of mouth and recommendations are essential - especially with fixers. Fixers book musicians for sessions. Freelance vs salaried positions. Playing live with Ed Sheeran at Hammersmith Apollo and for Dave at Reading. Being on the Young Musician of the Year final 2018 - actually on Elodie’s 19th birthday! Exposing kids to high quality music early on in their lives. Nick goes on about Hackney Empire and watching My Neighbour Totoro live. Finding discounted tickets for classical music in London, especially for younger people. Elodie tells us about her upcoming show at Hot Box on Nov 15th 2024 with her amazing sister Miss Satin Beige. AND we’ve all had a creative week - Nick’s been canoeing over the world’s highest aqueduct with an ex-Blue Peter presenter, Sangita’s been hanging out with Big Narstie.

Elodie's website
Elodie on Instagram

Gig details for 15th Nov 2024 at Hot Box, Chelmsford

Recorded at City Sound Chelmsford with Jaiden and Paul
Edited by Nick.
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK

The Marilyn Monroe of Essex. The most chaotic episode ever. Goldy does EVEYRTHING creative! New rave. Nick’s Pot Trumps cards are now in the Chelmsford Museum recent additions cabinet. Is Chingford in Essex? Can you ever really refer to yourself as creative? Is Goldy the most glamorous person in Essex? Like a Parisian flamingo with mermaid legs - in the best way! - OFFICIAL! Editor of an aesthetics magazine, and presenter of awards and shows. Creating TikToks and doing the socials to promote shows. Spotting AI cats on the internet. Being a wrestler, a crochet-er, and a pin-up model. Getting painted with King Kong. Being invited to judge a Brazilian Booty Lift Award. Spongebob Square Bum. Jetsetting with the aesthetics industry. Working in journalism. Being a podcast producer. Goldy has done so much different stuff! Thanks ADHD! Being the Queen of thrifting. Collecting ALL the clothes, especially pink coats. Sneaker pimps. Homogenisation of fashion. Having a face for radio. Pin-up origin story. Modern people making retro clothes. Becoming a retro influencer. Doing a photoshoot as Goldylocks being chased by a big gay bear. Accidentally becoming the face of inappropriate halloween costumes. Do the baddies always have the best logos? Changing culture and canceling old fashion. Feral possum energy. Crochet disasters. Making a Debbie Harry jumper. Lucy Sparrow’s amazing felt creations. Fuzzy felt. Learning wrestling - Goldy the Pin-Up that Pins You Down. This was the most chaotic episode ever - Moo Deng energy!

Instagram - @goldyloxxroxx
TikTok - @goldyloxxroxx

Are You Creative? recorded at City Sound
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA, City Sound and Essex County Council for their support

Recorded in Chelmsford, Essex, UK