Friday 29 October 2010

Opening of 'Much Ado'


It's great to see good independent bookshops flourishing. On Saturday we went along to the grand opening of Much Ado books in Alfriston, who have just moved up the road to larger premises (in a converted builders yard?)


They now have a bookshop facing the village square, with new books on the ground floor and a great selection of second hand books on the first floor. A landscaped yard leads to the barn where talks and events take place and a collection of antiquarian and rare books can be viewed by collectors, and a small letterpress press.

(Great taste in books - they have Sarah's Greek Myths in pride of place!)

Congratulations to Cate and Nash for getting such a great bookshop and space together and hope that they can have a rest soon!

(apologies - photo's taken on my i-phone - great phone, rubbish camera)

Click Here to Read More..

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Ryan Kealey, Boatbuilder at MADE10


We are thrilled that Sussex based boatbuilder Ryan Kealey will be exhibiting one of the beautiful boats that has recently undergone an extensive restoration programme at his workshop, in the Foyer at MADE10.

After five years as a carpenter making scenery for the theatre, Ryan yearned to create something that would last for decades rather than a season and began repairing Thames river skiffs under the guidance of Master Craftsman Mark Edwards of Richmond Bridge Boathouses. In June 2008 he set up his own boat-building business with the aim of preserving Sussex’s maritime history through the maintenance and repair of wooden boats using traditional methods and he has been rewarded with a series of commissions and growing business.



Click Here to Read More..

Sunday 24 October 2010

Maker of the Week - Kate Wood



Kate Wood is a jewellery designer / maker and works from her studio in London. Kate will be exhibiting at MADE10 in November.

One favourite living craft maker.
Perhaps more of a designer than a maker, but Ted Muehling’s work is simple and perfect. I love the abstracted natural shapes.

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased or what one product/item do you really covet?
I bought a little unglazed bud vase with a spiky texture by Shan Valla at the Curiosity pop-up shop, round the corner from my studio. I wish I could buy more craft! I’m particularly drawn to ceramics at the moment.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
My 6th-form pottery teacher was quite inspiring and encouraged me to explore different textures in clay, which might have fed into my jewellery work later on. At 18 I was more focused on music and going to the pub, reading a lot and looking forward to going off to study French at university in London. Making jewellery was something I always did as a hobby and I hadn’t considered it as a career until later on, when I was working as a museum archivist.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
I go through phases. At the moment lots of miserable stuff like Elliott Smith, along with a bit of swing-era Billie Holliday. I work with big headphones on, plugged into my iPod, it helps me focus. I’ll listen to something to death and then abandon it for the next obsession.



Where and what is your studio?
I moved into a studio at Cockpit Arts in Holborn in January this year. It’s a large studio that I share with 3 others – Abigail Brown, Suzanne Goodwin and Soner Ozenc. I was working from home before that so it’s been wonderful to have somewhere to work on my jewellery without distractions like washing up and TV, and a bit of interaction with other creative people too. I don’t have a computer at the studio so I can just go in and make things, which is a real luxury. Another bonus is the location – a 25 minute cycle ride from my home in Dalston, and just round the corner from the Hatton Garden jewellery district which is very handy when I run out of silver wire at the last minute.

What is your favourite (art) website?
I read quite a few art and design and style blogs. Jewellery-wise the Golden Smith, Australian jeweller David Neale’s blog, is great.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Trampolining! I haven’t been for a while but it’s a lot of fun and keeps you fit too.

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Since moving into my studio my work life balance has really improved but it’s a work in progress! It’s great to be able to shut the door and leave my work behind but I still think about it a lot when I’m not there. I also work better in the afternoon and evening, which can be pretty anti-social. But compared to a 9-5 job it’s a breeze, I can’t complain.




What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Intuitive.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Yes – of course I would say that! Objects designed by an individual and made by a human hand have a ‘soul’, for want of a better word. It’s good to feel connected to the objects around you. And rewarding to be able to make something from scratch.



What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
There are lots of things that I find absolutely hideous and I’m quite opinionated about it but I don’t want to name names! Things that have been carelessly thrown together for a fast buck offend me, and some things I just don’t like on an aesthetic level. But as long as something has been made with care and an individual point of view then it’s valid and has its own integrity.

Click Here to Read More..

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Greek Myths Illustrated by Sarah Young


Brighton Art Fair founder, illustrator, painter and printmaker Sarah Young has a beautiful new book she's illustrated out this week - a collection of 16 Greek Myths, famous tales full of love, loss, greed, envy and bravery - published by Walker Books. It's beautifully written by Anne Turnbull.

"The timeless stories of Theseus and the Minotaur, Persephone, King Midas, Ariadne, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Echo and Narcissus are told and illustrated with great freshness originality and humour."

Sarah's book will be available at the Castor and Pollux exhibition and 'all good bookshops'

Amazon - Greek Myths



Click Here to Read More..

Monday 18 October 2010

Sarah Young at Castor and Pollux

Brighton Art Fair founder, illustrator, painter and printmaker Sarah Young has a exhibition of prints starting at Castor and Pollux Gallery on Brighton Beach starting Saturday (preview 6-9pm Friday)Castor + Pollux is a fantastic gallery and bookstore located on Brighton’s beach front. The gallery specializes in print and illustration by both local and international artists with changing exhibitions. The bookstore has a wide variety of art and design books specifically with graphics in mind.(Nightflight - Woodcut)

In addition to these Castor and Pollux sell textiles, glass, pottery, a kids department, jewellery and stationery.

(one of Sarah's images of 16 1950's yearbook portraits)

Castor + Pollux is on Brighton’s lower promenade halfway between the piers, and opens out onto the beach with direct views of the sea.

www.castorandpollux.co.uk
165 Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB


Click Here to Read More..

Palace Art Fair


The first Palace Art Fair took place on the 7th to the 10th October. It's a fantastic venue - the old 'country home' of the Bishops of London until the 1970's. The Palace has a Tudor core around a large courtyard and Great Hall and a spacious Georgian wing facing onto the botanic gardens and walled kitchen garden.


Fulham Palace is on the River by Putney Bridge and is something of an hidden gem in London as it's only been open for 6 years following centuries of private use. This is likely to change over the next few years as following the complete renovation of the Palace work has just started to renovate the stables, lodges, moat, vine house and walled garden.


About a hundred carefully selected artists exhibited at the Palace Art Fair in a number of rooms at the Palace and temporary spaces in the courtyard and gardens. Including Sophie Woodrow (above) with her wonderful creations of 'might have been' animals inspired by Victoriana


Polish Artist Gosia Kryk was the first artist visitors saw when they entered the courtyard, and her large colourful abstracts were a hit at the show.

Fulham Palace is a great place to visit - this was one of our cafe areas in the inner courtyard at the palace (very good cakes!)


Emma Mason prints exhibited printmakers from the twentieth century along with some contemporary printmakers.


Visitors loved the fair, praising the quality and variety of the art, they loved the beautiful venue and loved the relaxed vibe of the fair. This fair will build year by year as the word gets round about the most enjoyable art fair in London.


Guy Bird's bizarre ceramics.


The cafe terrace.


Click Here to Read More..

Friday 15 October 2010

Maker of the Week - Luna Lighting



Luna Lighting are makers of hand crafted ceramic lights which have evolved out of a personal search to fuse the cool clean lines of modern design with a need for warmth and sparkle. Luna Lighting will be exhibitng their work at MADE10 in November.

One favourite living craft maker.
It's actually a couple in Burgundy - Sylvie & Francois Fresnais - who run an idyllic and romantic pottery at an old mill house in Sampigny Les Maranges. It's all shutters and old stone walls covered in plates and they have turned an old pigeonier into a showroom. Francois throws in earthenware and Sylvie decorates with coloured slips and together they not only make beautiful things but have created a charming and inspiring place to live and work and sell their wares. Going there for the first time in my thirties made me want to be a potter. I have been back practically every year since and I have a house full of their jugs and bowls.




What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased or what one product/item do you really covet?
Does buying a wonderful Alexander McQueen jacket from a sale rail in my studio corridor yesterday count? Otherwise I swapped a set of Sue Binns lovely blue striped mugs for some tealights recently and they give me daily pleasure. I would love more of her divine tableware.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Both my parents were very creative. My father took me sketching every saturday at the V&A while my brother had his weekly judo lessen, and he was tirelessly inventive, forever painting or sculpting, making picture frames, lampshades, restoring furniture etc. My mother, who will deny being at all creative, was constantly sewing, knitting, upholstering, making the house beautiful and cooking delicious meals. So making things has always been an essential part of my life.




What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
King Creosote

Where and what is your studio?
I share a big, light filled room at Cockpit Arts in Bloomsbury. It is a great buzzy place filled with makers of all disciplines and while for most of the year we all beaver away behind closed doors, twice a year - in June and the last weekend of November - we have Open Studios where the public can come and see what more than 90 of us do. There are hat makers, textile designers , glass works, fashion designers, lots of ceramics and jewellers so it's a really fun shopping event. http://www.cockpitarts.com/



What is your favourite (art) website?
I don't spend much time on the internet - far too busy in the studio - but was just looking at photographer Sussie Ahlburg's site as she has just taken some brilliant new photos for me. http://www.sussieahlburg.com/

Surprising activity/hobby?
Not exactly surprising but I have an allotment and try to go every Sunday. There's never enough time and it is looking a bit overgrown and weedy at the moment and despite having made buckets of jam and having a freezer full, I still suffer from fallen plum guilt!

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
It was sometimes hard at the beginning when I first set up the business, when the children were small and it was a struggle to make enough money, but now my son is at University and he helps out during the holidays. My daughter sits her A levels next June so she too is on her way. My husband may well complain if I start to spend long evenings at the studio once Poppy has flown the coop but I do love it there and often find it hard to stop.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Lucky




Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Absolutely

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
I was particularly annoyed recently by the new cups and saucers at my favourite coffee bar in the south of france. The saucers are too steep so the spoon falls into the middle every time you lift the cup. Grrrr!!


Click Here to Read More..

Thursday 14 October 2010

Essential Italy Art Prize at the Palace Art Fair

We are thrilled to announce the winners of Essential Italy 's art prize at the Palace Art Fair. The Director of Essential Italy, Helen Forbes, was so impressed with the quality and variety of work on show, that she was forced to choose two pieces of work.

The first was Bonfire by artist Cat Roisettier represented at the Art Fair by ArtDog London. Encapsulated in bleak little worlds, Cat Roisettier's fictional characters and scenes assemble as fragments of surreal sequences. She works in pencil, oil pastel, watercolour, monoprint and etching to create illustrations with poetic and ambiguous narratives. Bonfire is a limited edition etching of 4.



Helen's second choice was a photograph by Liam Bailey from the Found Footballs series. Liam was represented at the Art Fair by Troika Editions. As Liam goes about his daily routine he finds things; bundles of old stamps wrapped in the ubiquitous red rubber band, golf balls smashed and broken along the side of the verge, banana shaped company badges discovered at a flea market in Amsterdam. Each set provides Liam with a story and it is this hidden narrative that he is keen to tease out and develop through the photographic process.


Click Here to Read More..

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Palace Art Fair




Starting the build for the inaugural Palace Art Fair today. Already the first temporary pavilions are going up with flooring, carpets and heating going in later. Tomorrow sees the stands and lights coming in and the Thursday the artists set up ready for the private view party that night.


My anxiety levels are falling due to a great weather forecast for the weekend (warm and sunny) and the fact the temporary pavilions fit the space!

Please come and see the show!
We've got some fantastic artists showing, a beautiful venue and lovely weather we just need the visitors to turn up.
-- Post From My Phone

Location:London,United Kingdom

Click Here to Read More..

Monday 4 October 2010

Brighton Art Fair - MADE Art Prize

The Directors of the Brighton Art Fair are delighted to announce the winners of the MADE Art Prize 2010. Every year this blog sponsers a number of art prizes for artists exhibiting at the fair.

This year we awarded two prizes. One to Anne Davies




and one to Andre Lichtenberg for Atlantico 1, from the "Oceano" series.


We are thrilled that specialist travel company Essential Italy will be sponsoring an art prize at the Palace Art Fair in London this weekend. Details of the winner will be posted here.

Click Here to Read More..