Artists & Makers

Free photo print offer

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:52:09 +0100

To celebrate the launch of his new website, photographer Justin Sainsbury is giving away 5 free 10’’x 15’’ prints to the first 5 people that contact him via www.justinsainsbury.com.

Justin will print, package, send (or deliver in the Worthing area) any picture from the site as long as it’s dated 2006 or later (see ‘image info’ for dates).

The catch? There is none. Inspired by a recent blog interview with the photographer, Craig Hickman, he was taken with the idea of expanding a limited audience by circulating good quality prints.

Justin has previously been a member of the Revolutionary Arts Group, exhibited in the south of England and published a limited edition monograph.

Justin will be following up this initial offer in the near future via his Facebook and Flickr stream so keep watching for a chance to build a little collection.

A Dark Day In Paradise

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:45:35 +0100

A Dark Day In Paradise is an installation by Clare Twomey at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton until January 2011. Thousands of black ceramic butterflies swarm in the Banqueting Room, the Great Kitchen and the Entrance Hall, and flutter darkly throughout the ground floor of the royal palace.

The work is a response to the excesses of the building, with the butterflies symbolising the transience of life and the vanity of earthly things. They are both beautiful and menacing, an invitation for visitors to reflect on the history of the building and to draw contemporary parallels.

Clare Twomey is a British ceramicist/artist who works with clay in large-scale installations, sculpture and site-specific works. She has exhibited at Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, Crafts Council and the Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Japan.

More:

Royal Pavilion website

www.tailcast.com - call for art

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:50:08 +0100

tailcast is a place where you can sell, share, publish and promote your work and connect with a rich community of creative souls to collaborate with and be inspired by.

Their goal is to allow artists to provide their designs directly to the customers using their platform and they are currently running a campaign to promote this called Call For Art - it is a great opportunity and it means that the artist can concentrate on creating and designing while the website takes care of all the other bits - the platform, printing, payment systems etc. The artist retains copyright ownership and will earn a commission for any piece of work that is printed.

Visit www.tailcast.com/callforart to find out more!

Empty shop home to Wabi Sabi exhibition

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:29:36 +0100

An empty shop being used temporarily as an art studio and gallery is the perfect venue for an exhibition which explores a Japanese concept which celebrates the temporary and transient nature of objects.

The ancient Japanese philosophy of 'Wabi Sabi' is notoriously enigmatic, elusive and difficult to define through words. In this new exhibition a group of Sussex-based artists will explore the theme through photography, film, painting, ceramics and poetry � seeking to coax beauty out of ugliness, and find it in the everyday, the ordinary and the impermanent.

�If you have ever seen the story in a piece of weathered driftwood, felt the tears in a faded photo, or witnessed the ephemeral beauty of a dew drop catching the morning sun on a leaf,� says organiser Nigel Thompson, �then the essence of the Wabi Sabi aesthetic will speak to you.�
The exhibition takes place at Agora, itself a temporary art space in the heart of old Shoreham by Sea. Agora, run by national organisation the Empty Shops Network, is based in a formerly derelict shop which has been restored using funds from Adur & Worthing Regeneration. It now provides a gallery, studios, workspace, meeting rooms and social space and is the perfect venue for this show, with its generous gallery space and garden.

Artists exploring Wabi Sabi include Brighton ceramic artist Gill Parsons, Worthing-based photographer Nigel Thompson, and Steyning artist Debbie Zoutewelle who uses drawings. Other artists contribute film, haiku, and installations.

The exhibitions 'Wabi Sabi � ordinary beauty' is open from 17th-24th July at Agora, New Road, Shoreham by Sea. Admission is free.

�VAMOS! Festival uses empty shop

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:37:19 +0100

An empty shop in the centre of Newcastle will be used as part of �VAMOS! Festival.

Curated by Peruvian photographer, Sergio A. Fernandez, the space will host �Modernity in the Peruvian Andes�. The exhibition of documentary photography from the 1920s- 1940s features work by Martin Chambi and the Cabrera Brothers, and this is the first time the exhibition has been shown in North East of England.

�VAMOS! Festival has taken over 18 New Bridge Street, opposite the entrance to the new Central Library. Titled the Cultura del Espacio, the space will be open daily 12-4pm with music, talks, food and dance demonstrations.
It launches with the exhibition preview 3pm on Friday 2 July of 'Modernity in the Peruvian Andes'.

�VAMOS! Festival runs from 2-11 July 2010, bringing Latin spirit to the North East with events celebrating the culture and vibrancy of Latin and Lusophone (Portuguese speaking) cultures. �VAMOS! Festival 2010 will host exciting events across Newcastle, Gateshead, Middlesbrough and North Tyneside.

More:
www.vamosfestival.com.

'National Theatre Live' Second Season Announced

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:06:41 +0100

The second season of the highly successful National Theatre Live project will launch in Autumn 2010 and will again bring some of the National�s theatre productions to cinema screens around the world.

The season launches on 14 October with Complicite's 'A Disappearing Number' live from the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Directed by Simon McBurney, awards have included the Olivier Award for Best New Play (2008).

On 9 December 'Hamlet' will be broadcast, directed by Nicholas Hytner and featuring Rory Kinnear in the title role, David Calder as Polonius, Clare Higgins as Gertrude, Patrick Malahide as Claudius and Ruth Negga as Ophelia.

The New Year starts with a unique combination of dance, theatre and music: 'FELA!' explores the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. 'FELA!' � which has won a TONY award will be broadcast on 13 January 2011.

Danny Boyle�s production of 'Frankenstein', a play by Nick Dear, based on the novel by Mary Shelley will follow on 17 March 2011. The Production marks Danny Boyle�s return to the theatre after a 15-year absence.

Also in the new season will be Chekhov�s 'The Cherry Orchard', directed by NT Associate Director Howard Davies, whose recent productions of Russian plays have enjoyed great critical acclaim. Zo� Wanamaker will play Madame Ranevskaya.

For more details go to http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ntlive

Shop becomes studio to explore Seven Days in Seven Dials

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:33:17 +0100

A temporary exhibition put together by staff from London's major cultural organisations and the team behind the Empty Shops Network's touring project will offer a unique and special exhibition, Seven Days in Seven Dials; a week in the life of London's Culture Quarters.

The staff are all part of the Culture Quarter Programme, a collaboration between nine prestigious arts organisations which are providing 34 young unemployed people between the ages of 18-24, the opportunity to gain six months’ valuable work experience within the cultural and creative sector. The staff are working at Create KX, Design Council, English National Opera, Exhibition Road, The Hospital Club, National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Opera House, Somerset House and the V&A Museum.

Working closely with professional podcasters, photographers and artists, the Culture Quarter Programme participants will spend a week using 18 Shorts Gardens, Seven Dials as a studio. They will produce audio tour podcasts, short videos and exhibition material exploring the history of the local area; the artistic, cultural and historical links between the organisations involved in the project, and individual experiences of the participant’s day-to-day activities within their organisations.

Dan Thompson, one of the innovators behind artistsandmakers.com and perhaps best known as founder of the Empty Shops Network, said; “Our mission is to take art and culture to the high street, using shops and empty spaces as places for experimentation and exploration. This time we'll be bringing podcasters and photographers, writers and illustrators with us, navigating around the magnificent Seven Dials and showing young staff from London's leading cultural institutions a whole new way of working.”

Members of the public are welcome to visit the workshop to watch the participants developing their artwork daily from 10am on Monday 5 July. The exhibition then opens to the public from Saturday 10 July until Friday 23 July 2010. With the inspiration for the exhibition taken from the creative and cultural environment of the Seven Dials area in Covent Garden, this is a wonderful opportunity to generate public awareness of such an historically interesting area and provide opportunities for the young people on the Culture Quarter Programme to express their creativity.

Seven Dials is the perfect location for the exhibition as its rich history, dating back to the late 17th century, is mirrored against the contemporary energy and buzz of modern day Covent Garden. Known to many as Covent Garden’s hidden village, savvy shoppers have already discovered how fashionable the area has become and its ‘quirky’ atmosphere attracts people from all walks of life.

Commenting on the initiative, Property Investment Company and owners of Seven Dials, Shaftesbury PLC’s Clare Harris says: “We believe that the Seven Dials area offers the perfect hub for creative ideas whether it be clothing, art or music so we are pleased to host budding creative talent as part of this innovative exhibition.”

More:

Tracking Seven Days In Seven Dials social media

Spamalot - Python silliness is a knowing feast of fun

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:23:28 +0100

Theatre Royal, Brighton: Spamalot, starring Marcus Brigstocke, Jodi Prenger and Todd Carty

The word 'romp' is probably a bit overused in theatre reviews. But absolutely on the button for this touring production of Spamalot, the stage musical "lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.

It's a hoot from start to finish, and it works for three key reasons: Idle and Du Prez have successfully kept the funniest bits from the Holy Grail film (and wisely chucked in Life of Brian signature song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life); it has some killer tunes and a cast that ham it up with relish and energy.

Marcus Brigstocke does a decent job of being a very British King Arthur, including a much better singing voice than I expected; I'd Do Anything star Jodi Prenger is a loveable comic turn as well as a real belter of a singer; Todd Carty is spot on as the loyal oaf Patsy and the ensemble cast ham, glam and flim-flam their way through the Python silliness with fun and pzazz.

The costumes are great, and the band do a great job in driving the music along, from the oh-so-knowing musical spoof The Song That Goes Like This to the camp disco of His Name is Lancelot, the daftness of He Is Not Dead Yet to the mock grandeur of Find Your Grail.

Choreographer Jenny Arnold deserves a mention for some great set piece routines, where even the silly hoofing holds together, and director Christopher Luscombe keeps the pace going well considering the slightly bitty nature of the storyline.

All in all, it's a hugely fun show that had the packed first night crowd up on their feet singing and clapping along at the end. It's very silly in the best Python tradition and leaves you with a smile on your face. You'll love it.

Go here to book tickets

Guest editorial; 'Government and the arts' by Ed Vaizey MP

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:54:41 +0100

The government’s role in the arts is a simple but challenging one. We have a responsibility to support and encourage; creating the right circumstances to enable the creative industries and the arts to thrive whilst not interfering and over burdening and defending the fundamental principle that art and culture are for everyone, not just a privileged few.

We also have the added challenge of achieving this in a financial climate more testing than most of us will ever have lived through. This government, quite rightly, is talking to the public and our key sectors about the tough spending decisions that need to be taken but I want to be equally clear about those things that we are absolutely committed to protecting. Let there be no ambiguity - arts and culture, under this government are important and are part of the mainstream of our policy – not an ‘add-on’ or a ‘wouldn’t it be nice to’.

We have an opportunity to adjust the lens through which we see funding for the arts and create a structure that is more resilient and less vulnerable to changing economic circumstances. The UK’s sustained success in the arts and culture is underpinned by a combination of funding from public and private sources, box office and commercial revenue, and I am determined that government plays its part in supporting this.

We are restoring the national lottery back to fund the four good causes that it was originally designed for, giving more to arts and culture. This change would mean in excess of £100 million each year for arts and heritage.

We want to see a wider commitment to cultural philanthropy. It shouldn’t be hard for individuals or for businesses or private investors to donate to good causes. We will make it easier for people to make personal donations and are committed to reforming Gift Aid – by making it simpler we think that more people will give. We want changes to the Acceptance-in-lieu Scheme, which, for decades has saved numerous valuable works for the nation. Extending this scheme could make it possible for donors to give works of art to the nation during their lifetimes; this could make a huge difference.

And we want a significant change in the funding guarantees that are given to high- performing arts organisations. We want to reward them; giving longer term funding settlements that would allow them to plan better for the future and give them greater confidence to approach sponsors and donors.

When it comes to the principle of the arts and culture for the many we support free admission to museums and galleries. In the UK we have the greatest concentration of leading galleries and museums in the world, showing outstanding works and hosting inspirational exhibitions – but what good are they if only those that can afford it get to see them?

Finally, we firmly believe that the development of real and practical skills in the arts and music is intrinsic to a full and well-balanced education and is the cornerstone of creativity. We need to get children and young people engaged in arts and culture are committed to improving arts in our schools, not just because it’s a nice thing to do but because evidence shows that proper training in music and the arts improves young people’s abilities in other ways, for example, in how good they are at taking in verbal information.

So while the arts and cultural sector will feel its share of the painful spending decisions that are being taken there is a lot to be optimistic about. I hope it’s not too clichéd to say that out of these kinds of adverse circumstances opportunities are created to innovate and do things differently. Politicians need to lead by example and I believe wholeheartedly that our nation’s talents in the arts and creative industries will help us to come out of this economic crisis with a stronger and more profitable and more inclusive sector.

Article by Ed Vaizey MP, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, who was invited to contribute to artistsandmakers.com at a time when government funding for the arts is under considerable scrutiny.

Magic Circle magician of the year set for Matt's Comedy Club

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:47:12 +0100

Top comedy magician John Archer – the Magic Circle Stage Magician of The Year – is the showstopping headliner at the next eagerly awaited Matt's Comedy Club gig in Worthing.

The family friendly comedy club with a growing reputation has landed one of the top names on the comedy magic circuit for their next night of fun on Friday (25 June) at The Dome Function Suite on Worthing seafront.

And let's face it, you've got to be pretty hot for TV illusionist Derren Brown to book you for his dad's 70th birthday bash. Here's what he said:

"Booking an act for my Dad's 70th birthday, I wanted a great act and went straight to John Archer – his reputation in the magic world is among the very best. I was so pleased he was able to do it, and he absolutely brought the house down. It was brilliant, hysterically funny, and perfectly pitched for the occasion. He made the evening. I'd recommend him unreservedly."

Support act is whimsical storyteller and singer of songs punchy, poignant and amusing Ben Salter (check out video clips at http://www.youtube.com/mattscomedyclub), andsinger-songwriter, poet and surreal humourist Russ Bravo will be hosting the evening as usual, and is tickled pink at landing an act like John Archer.

"Anyone who has seen John support punmeister Tim Vine on his recent gigs at Worthing Pavilion will know he is a class act who will have the audience in stitches. We're very excited to get him back to Worthing!", said Russ.

Tickets are £7 (£5 concessions) from the venue, St Matthew's Church office in Tarring Road, Worthing (weekday mornings or call 01903 207024) on 077200 40456 or on the door on the night – and check out John's website at www.john-archer.com