Sunday 19 June 2011

Artside 2011

This year I am lucky enough to be art of ARTSIDE - 1sy July 16th July.  Basically a Southend on Sea Art Trail, with artists working with venues along Southend High Street to produce artwork relevant to that particular place.  This year's theme is 'PAUSE':

"The title PAUSE reflects the site-specific nature of Artside, the exhibited work will be thought-provoking, a surprise or will simply encourage us to stop and view familiar places in new light. Artists will be working with the venues creating site-led work, either related to the type of business, to the individual stories of people working there or responding to the space itself."

My venue is The Railway Hotel, Scratton Road, just opposite Southend Central Railway Station.  Its a lovely pub owned by Hoxton Bar And Grill.  I look forward to speaking to the owners and producing ceramic vessels which captures the essence and the memories the Railway holds.

The pieces have to be installed by 1st July, so I am in the process of making some 'work in progress' vessels which I can place in the venue, perhaps on the piano, or behind the bar whilst i collect stories and ephemeral matter.

Below is a work in progress image:






Project for ARTSIDE 2011 | Southend-on-Sea |  www.artside.org.uk

Saturday 18 June 2011

Central Saint Martins BA (Hons) Ceramic Design Degree show

What a great standard this years graduans have set!  Some really lovely work over at Southampton Row, at what is set to be the buildings last ever degree show before the university moves over to Kings Cross.

The work was really colourful and different and it was great to see everyone so enthusiastic and positive.  Just what I needed to keep me motivated and on track for the Grand opening of my gallery in August.

Spotted some potential pieces I would like to showcase and fingers crossed, we'll be able to come to a deal.
That was the whole point of the gallery really, to showcase up and coming emerging ceramic talent, as I didnt really know where to start once I'd left uni -  If it hadn't been for Janice Blackburn, and my exhibition at Sotheby's - I probably would still be wondering how to get into gallerys and find commissions!

Below are some select photos I took of the show, in no particular order:

Kane Sutton - "Scale Up"

Yixue Huang - "Corro Corro mugs corroding"

Elizabeth Cooper - "Once there, now gone"

Stephanie Turner - "You dont bring me Flowers"

Yuki Ouchi - "Mortus Creatura"

Sarah Comissiong - "Sweet fa Days"

Agnieszka Ewa Juszczyk - "1 in 4"

Manuela Becker - "Daydreams and Nightmares"


I also liked the work of Emily-Clare Thorn, who unfortunately I didnt take any snaps of, beautiful bubbly sweet inspired tableware - infact there were quite a few I seemed to have missed out on - Must have been the free wine! hehe.

You can catch the degree show from 20-23rd June 12-8pm at Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4AP and also at New Designers, Angel Islington from 29th June - 2nd July


Monday 13 June 2011

Pop-Up Show!


So I did it!  I actually managed to get everything ready in time!  I was still at the gallery at 1am the previous morning before the opening, washing the windows with slightly tipsy people over at Tigerlilys as an audience. Thats a bar opposite by the way.

  I couldn't have done it without the help of the wonderful Danny!  He helped me with all the handy man duties, as when it comes to wood nails and screwdrivers, I draw a blank and all common sense goes through the window! So again, Thank you very much Dan for all your hard work.


I'd like to give the builders and the electrical and all the men that have been working on the gallery a big thumbs up! You've done such a good job - it doesnt look like the same place.  I wish i'd taken some more 'before' photos, but never mind, youll have to use your imagination.  The transformation of the space is amazing!  Before, it was one room with rotting floorboards & joists, anaglypta wallpaper, french doors boarded up, rotting window frames.. all the usual pre-renovation features or failures and now, well now its a lovely, modern & dare i say sophisticated space perfect for showing works of art.


The Pop-Up Exhibition went really really well.  

I had lots of positive feedback when I told people my ideas for the shop.  They were pleased it wasnt going to be another hairdressers or takeaway!  Alot of people thought thats what it was going to be - a chinese, beacause ive got a hatch in the wall!  It divides the shop from the working studio spaces and will provide a window for people to watch me working and for me to see out into the gallery/shop, see whats going on.

Below are a selection of photos I took just before I opened.



Exterior of the Gallery



Interior of the gallery

Recycled Glass Bowls - Debbie Hadley

Lovely exposed brick wall - Original Framed prints by East End Prints & Jenny Robins

All Washed Up! Brooches - Miss Annabel dee*

Material Pleasures - Julie Spurgeon

The Pop up Show has arrived!

Nautical Cupcakes

Wish You Were Here? - Miss Annabel Dee*



Friday 3 June 2011

package!

Recieved a lovely little package of limited edition prints from illustrator Jenny Robins.

These will be exhibited and sold at the up-coming pop up show... lets hope the shop is all finished in time!!