Artists Open Houses Festival Weekend One Highlight
The weather cooperated for most of the bank holiday and made wandering around the first weekend of Artists Open Houses rather pleasant. It’s just the start and with four weekends to go there is time to see a lot more. Here are few highlights from the first weekend:
ARCH Angels – # 12 Kemptown Trail – 121 Freshfield Road
Not only are they an Open Houses sponsor, they’ve put together a great Open House featuring original art by ARCH angels architects and an interactive ongoing community art space where you can create with tape – go check it out.
Emily Boo and Friends @44 – #5 Fiveways Trail – 44 Florence Road 
A lovely light and airy space filled with some great work – Brighton themed prints by Janet Brooke and Stride art, mystical original paintings and mixed media pieces by Melodie Stacey, ceramics by Yolanda Beer and Stacey Manser-Knight are just some the works on offer here. Not to mention host Emily Beaumont’s furnishings. (There is a blue chair that keeps popping into my thoughts.)
The Ceramic House – #21 Fiveways Trail – 75 Stanmer Villas
Not officially open until the weekend of May 7, AOH got a sneak peek at the private view and once again the Ceramic House doesn’t disappoint. The theme this year is Landscape Islands and there is a brand new garden gallery featuring sound/art performances. Check the brochure for detals.
Cecil Rice – #1 Seven Dials Trail – 14 Granville Road
This sparkling selection of paintings by Cecil Rice in oils and watercolour, includes the Brighton piers, Sussex landscape, Venice and Rajastan. Plus fine, limited-edition silkscreen and giclee prints
Family Art Line – #7 Seven Dials Trail – 13 Addison Road
Multi generational show of original paintings, collages, prints and cards from Colin Ruffell, Fran Slade, Shayama Ruffell and friends. Exciting, original work and unique collectables throughout the house and garden studio. Enjoy tea and cake amongst the ceramic sculptures. A wide range of sizes and prices, something for everyone.
The Magic Lamp – #11 Seven Dials Trail – 152-158 Dyke Road
A treasure trove of art and beautiful things to enhance your home and life. Paintings and prints, contemporary furniture, textiles, handcrafted candles and photography, jewellery and more.
Colour Laine House – #15 Central Trail – 19 Queens’ Gardens
For the fourth year running, Jess, Toby and Zoe open the doors at Colour Laine in the North Laine, showcasing Zoe Murphy‘s screen-printed furniture and textiles and Toby ‘fotobes’ Mason‘s Lomographic film photography. Plus Jessica Mason’s cakes and scotch eggs are pure art.
Black Blackbird and other sculptures – #20 Independent Trail – Corner of Bristol Gardens/Bristol Place
Three major works, including a specially commissioned piece, by sculptor Hamish Black, creator of the ‘Doughnut’ on Brighton Seafront, for Brighton’s new sculpture park, in the stunning, secluded Secret Garden in Kemp Town.
The Gerard Byrne Studio – #10 Brunswick Town – Flat 3, 2 Brunswick Square 
Intriguing figurative works and compelling landscapes in a gorgeous space close to the Hove lawns.
My Brighton gARTen x Artfinder –
#11 Central Trail – My Brighton Hotel, 17 Jubilee Street
Transforming the hotel’s Mercury Room into a magical garden, the walls populated with trees, plants and forest creatures by Sussex-based street artist, Hannah Adamaszek. Complete with grass underfoot and flowering teas for visitors, artworks conceived by Brighton-based Artfinder artists hang from trees.
A glimpse into @HannahAdamaszek amazing work process for @artistshouses Full timelapse: https://vimeo.com/164986940