insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 03 - May 2015 | Page 14

arts+entertainment

40 New Artists Houses & Studios To Take Part In

Artists Open Houses Festival 2015
Saturday 2nd – Sunday 24th May 
The largest event of its kind in the UK, around 200 houses and studio spaces across
the city open their doors to exhibit the work of over 1,000 artists and makers.

Last year over 200,000 people visited the festival. Judy Stevens, Artists
Open Houses Festival Director says: “We are thrilled to have so many new
artists and houses taking part in this year’s festival. Brighton and Hove is
an incredibly creative city with a wealth of talent. The festival is a fantastic
platform for artists and makers and it’s a testament to its success that so
many of them want to be involved.”

The Oriental Hotel,Brighton’s original boutique hotel, will be opening
its doors as an Artists Open House for the first time. Showcasing five
fantastic artists, there will be a range of illustration (Jasmine Mercer, Tom
Stevens), photography (Julie Chamberlain), printmaking (Scarlett Rebecca)
and ceramics. Acclaimed ceramic artist Saya McNairn-Yanagi will be
displaying work from her recent arts council funded residency in Shigaraki,
one of the oldest pottery producing towns in Japan.
The Oriental Hotel, 9 Oriental Place, Brighton BN1

The organisers of the Artists Open Houses festival, which will take place in
Brighton, Hove and beyond over the four weekends of May, are pleased
to announce that over 40 new artists’ houses and studios will be taking
part in the festival this year. 

A collection of 7 artists brought together by their connections to
the community space at The Hive Café within Stoneham Park will be
exhibiting their work at The Hive. Artists include fine artist Zoe Bailey,
stone carver Claire Sheriff and painter Crimson Boner.
The Hive Cafe, Stoneham Park, Hove

New participating artists and houses for 2015 include:

Acclaimed Brighton photographer Andrew Forsyth,one of only a
handful of British photographers to make it to the final of the 50th Wildlife
Photographer of the Year competition. His abstract and expressive image
was taken during a long-term project on the starling murmurations in
Brighton and is currently on display at the Natural History Museum in
London.
The Wildlife Photographer, 24 Balfour Road, Brighton

Southdown Mental Health Recovery Service will be presenting a diverse
range of artwork produced by people using The Recovery Service, which
promotes recovery from mental ill health and supports people to improve
and retain mental wellbeing.
Preston Park Recovery Centre, 18 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton
Owners of the North Contemporary Fine Art gallery, John and Sharon
Whiting will be presenting an exhibition entitled Two Cities featuring
paintings and drawings of New York and London by artist John Whiting.
35 North Contemporary Fine Art, 35 North Road, Brighton 

Joanna Osborne will be opening her Grade II listed house to exhibit
dog themed art from 10 artists including successful portrait painter Sally
Muir, winner of the Holburne Portrait Prize in 2012. Joanna and Sally are
authors of the best-selling Best in Show series of knitted animal books. 
The Dog Show, 33 Sillwood Road, Brighton

Artists Open Houses offers the chance to buy artworks directly
from the artists and makers themselves. There is a hugely diverse
selection of artworks on show, from original paintings, prints,
graffiti arts, ceramics and textiles to photography, sculpture,
crafts, jewellery and many other media.

Ian Lawrence spent years as assistant to his father, Don Lawrence, who
was a world famous science fiction illustrator – creator of what is believed
to be the first British superhero, Marvelman. Ian went on to become
Artist-in-Residence with Connex (later South-Eastern), the first residency
of its kind – Ian studio was on platform 1 of St. Leonards Warrior Square
station!
Park Crescent Studios, 18 Park Crescent Place, Brighton

The houses are grouped into one of 14 trails around different
areas of the city, each with its own unique character and
atmosphere – from the fishermen’s houses of Hanover to the
urban warehouse spaces of the North Laine and cottages of the
South Downs village of Ditchling.

Brazilian jewellery designer Flavia Madeu creates stunning jewellery
out of wild rubber which comes from the Amazon rainforest. The rubber is
produced by local rubber tapping communities – model and actress Lily
Cole has recently launched a website dedicated to it. Flavia will be
exhibiting along with mosaic artist Helen van de Linden and painter Seana
Mercedes Allen. 
Old College House, Flat 6, 8-10 Richmond Terrace, Brighton

Entry to the Artists Open Houses festival is free to the public.
Full listings can be found at www.aoh.org.uk

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