Over 60 new artists houses to take part in Artists Open Houses Festival 2016

Saturday 30th April – Sunday 29th May

The Artists Open Houses festival 2016 will take place in Brighton, Hove and beyond over the five weekends of May, starting Saturday April 30^th (Bank Holiday Weekend). The organisers are pleased to announce that over 60 new artists houses and studios will be taking part in the festival this year.

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 1,500 artists and makers. Last year over 200,000 people visited the festival.

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.

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.

Ceramicist Marion Brandis has been announced as the 2016 brochure cover artist, beating more than 180 other artists to the coveted title. Marion Brandis will be exhibiting her work at an exhibition to be held at The Old Market, Hove. The exhibition opens on April 14 and runs until the end of May as well as Teresa Winchester’s House in Fiveways and Milton House in Dyke Road trail.

Marion will be exhibiting alongside the 2011 AOH Brochure Cover Artist Rob Peel who’s monotypes are produced by employing a combination of stencils, collage, direct drawing, and a range of materials and surfaces from which to print. Rob Peel grew up in East Sussex and has strong memories of quiet, solitary adventures exploring the Downs or being out by the harbour and coast, providing a dramatic backdrop for his imagination.

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 all ages and at all stages of their careers choose to take part.”

Entry to the Artists Open Houses festival is free to the public.

Festival highlights for 2016 include:

• Kate’s Pantry.

Celebrated artist Kate Jenkins will be creating a knitted and crocheted installation of a kitchen pantry, filled with all the basic store-cupboard essentials, all made from wit and wool. Kate Jenkins is a knitting genius and one of our most original and innovative UK artists. Famous for her unique crocheted food, Kate takes a nostalgic look at everyday items, re-invented in wool and yarn with wry, comic touches. She has exhibited in London, Brighton and the United States and her work is collected worldwide. Cardigan Ltd Unit 5 Arundel Mews, 13-18 Arundel Place, Brighton

• The Gerard Byne Studio.

One of Ireland’s leading contemporary artists, Gerard Byrne, has recently moved to Brighton and will be opening his house on Brunswick Square for the first time. His landscape and architectural works will take you on a stunning journey through some of the most spectacular vistas, both in his native Ireland and on his foreign travels, particularly in France, Britain, Croatia, Poland and Morocco. His works hang in the Irish Government’s Art Collections and in numerous commercial and private collections worldwide including that of Louis Walsh and the Irish Embassy in Beijing. The Gerard Byrne Studio, Flat 3, 2 Brunswick Square ,BN3 1EG

• My Brighton gARTen.

Award-winning Sussex-based street artist, Hannah Adamaszek is to transform My Brighton’s Mercury Room into a magical garden. The curved walls of which will be populated with trees, plants and forest creatures with grass underfoot and flowering teas for visitors. Artworks conceived by Brighton-based Artfinder artists will hang deliciously from trees, ripe for the picking. Highlighting My Hotels’ commitment the environment, the venue will also host workshops and talks from Friends of the Earth as well as environment-themed family events. Hannah Adamaszek is an international award-winning street artist, based in Crawley, West Sussex. In 2015 she won the Most Outstanding Artwork at Femme Fierce, Europe’s largest women’s street art festival. She has shown globally and been mentioned in publications such as Elle and The Guardian. My Hotel, 17 Jubilee Street, Brighton, Brighton, BN1 1GE

• DREAMLINER ARTS CLUB in the Talbot Motor Home.

Dreamliner Arts Club is a multi-disciplinary group of recently graduated artists, makers and filmmakers exhibiting together inside a motorhome. The space has been transformed into an immersive miniature cinema, gallery and pop-up shop, exhibiting films and animation, crafts, 3D and sculpture, textiles and illustration. They will also be running a variety of mini walk-in workshops, all dates and times for these will be announced on the Instagram site: dreamliner.arts.club.   Talbot (Dreamliner Vogue) Motorhome on this Street, (Numberplate: B990XSR), Near No.92, Buckingham Road, Brighton BN1 3RB

• The Ceramic House

The Ceramic House (Best House 2013) is the extraordinary home and living artwork of ceramic artist Kay Aplin. 2016 presents an exhibition of work by 10 leading international ceramic artists relating to the theme of Landscape:Islands. Inaugurating the brand new dedicated gallery in the garden, sound art performances and workshops curated by sound artist Joseph Young.  75 Stanmer Villas, Brighton, BN1 7HN

• Black Blackbird and Other Sculptures

Renowned sculptor Hamish Black, maker of the much loved ‘Doughnut’ on the groyne by the Palace Pier, will exhibit new works all of which have been inspired by sound. The exhibition will launch the new sculpture centre at the beautiful Secret Garden in Kemp Town. The Secret Garden originally belonged to no 32 Sussex Square which was bought by its first owner, Lawrence Peel, younger brother of the Prime Minister, in 1830. Several of the grand houses in the square had extensive gardens, each of which was accessed through a tunnel leading from the appropriate house. The Secret Garden is the only remaining one of these, an oasis in the middle of the city. It is the only garden of its type in the city, and the only place where major outdoor works of sculpture can be shown in a secure setting. The project is run by The Antony Dale Trust.

Black Blackbird was created specifically for its situation in the Secret Garden. This fascinating work is a physical representation of a soundwave recording of a blackbird, made from wood from an elm tree which fell in Brighton during the Great Hurricane of 1987. Other sculptures on show include Kick and Sounds Like O.  For further details on the project and Hamish Black, please visit: www.secretgardenkemptown.co.uk The Secret Garden is on the Corner of Bristol Gardens and Bristol Place, Brighton (Postcode BN2 5JE)

• Dead Romantic?

An exhibition of the work of four Brighton based artists in the former lodgings of John Constable. Each artist will interpret a painting from the Romantic Era, creating a dynamic mix against the background of Constable’s Brighton lodgings. Peter Harrap discovered that he was living in Constable’s Brighton lodgings and that Harrap’s studio was Constable’s painting room. Harrap is also curating ‘Constable in Brighton’ 8 April – 8 October 2017 for the main galleries of Brighton Museum.

Other exhibiting artists include Amy Alderson, Natasha Kissell and Gregory Smart, who is the great grandson of legendary fairground and circus showman Billy Smart. The son of a trapeze artist and high wire walker, Gregory worked within the ring at the family fairground in Littlehampton and Windsor Safari Park. John Constable’s Studio, 11 Sillwood Road, Brighton BN1 2LF

• The Super 8

Eight artists come together to present an exhibition featuring a mix of rich & varied artworks, ranging from 60’s vintage pin-up film photography to modern abstract oils, all from a group of creative minds firmly grounded in the present. Experience 70’s punk ejaculation ‘The Legendary Shagpile’. Observe with the lens & the brush as seen through the eyes & philosophies of The Super-Eight. 28 Wolstonbury Road, Hove, BN3 6EJ

• Super Vision HQ.

A working studio of renowned artists Bonnie and Clyde and Maria Rivans, housed in what was formerly a cinema, built in 1911 in the heart of the North Laine area. Maria Rivans is best known for her intricate, humorous and eye-popping surreal Landscape, Portrait and 3D collages inspired cultural references such as vintage Hollywood films, Hitchcock and the sci-fi films and shows she watched as a child.  Bonnie and Clyde is a Brighton based artist that uses collage, type and photography to produce visually arresting screen-prints and mixed media collages. Both artists have exhibited all over the UK and Maria’s work can be found in the Saatchi gallery. Joining them for the duration of the exhibition are special guests OTHER Gallery, featuring work by Euan Roberts, Olivia Savage and Camilla Perkins; mixed media collage and prints, print-making. 104 North Road, Brighton BN1 1YE

• SEAS

SEAS is a new space for socially and politically engaged art. The Open House will be dedicated to issues of social justice and inequality; gender and sexuality; immigration refugees and multiculturalism; housing and homelessness. The exhibitions will include prints, drawings, paintings, photography, agitprops, installations and short films, workshops and talks. Among the highlights are an agitprop workshop for children who would like to protest on any issue and express this protest creatively, a workshop for creating art souvenirs that will be sold by homeless people, participatory painting session concerting environmental issues, an illustrated talk about socially engaged art vs. transgressive art, and a crash course in making the middle eastern sweat pastry – Baklawa. 2 Steine Gardens, Brighton BN2 1WB

• ARCH-angels Art House

Engage in ‘Don’t Stand Behind the Line’, a 3 dimensional live art installation, physically interacting with space like we do as architects and interior designers. Step over the ‘Stand Behind the Line’ tape and leave your own mark in the blank room using lengths of colourful tape. Let your imagination fly and watch the space develop over the festival. The house will be also displaying artwork by five architects from the practice and selling tea and cake with proceeds going to Sussex Nightstop, a local charity that works with young homeless people to help get them off the street.

ARCH-angels will also be running a kids competition throughout May to help get kids motivated to travel the trails with you. It hopes to let them bring their ideas together and create a Kids Dream Home via any medium they want. Look out for the Sponsors Suggestion key on each trail to visit the houses ARCH-angels feels will give your kids the inspiration they need to create their unique Dream Home. They will be awarding a prize to the winners and runners up of two age categories.so please visit www.aaarchitects.co.uk/artistsopenhouses for more information. 12 Freshfield Road, Brighton BN2 0BR

• The Big Forest Emporium

Mr Benjamin Rowling and Mr Michael Craven are two silly artist makers in an Edwardian shop of delights; felt dogs and animals, wonderful finger puppets, and an unparalleled collection of narrative folk art dolls. For grown ups and well-behaved children! 56 Chester Terrace Brighton BN1 6GB

• Phoenix Brighton

One of the largest artists’ studios in the country with over 100 professional artists and makers offering a broad variety of disciplines and work; painting, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, lens based work, jewellery, illustration, design, performance and much more. 10 – 14 Waterloo Place, Brighton BN2 9NB

• Pink & Green at Seventeen

A brand new artist’s house for 2016, a magnificent selection box of the finest Brighton has to offer. Expect paper cuts, prints, furniture, millinery and craft, paintings, mixed media, acrylic jewellery, photography, artist/poet, Betty’s butterflies – plus impromptu poetry readings and possible fairy sightings! 17, Colbourne Road, Hove, BN3 1TA

• AYMER Arts

An incredible range of work from over 30 well-known artists including ceramicist Ken Eardley, textile designer Jo Cranson, jeweller Emma Stanton and Rarebit Design ceramics and paper art.        1 Aymer Road, Hove BN3 4GB

• CRUSH Gallery

CRUSH presents V I C E. Decades of Brighton’s delightful decadence are captured in this vibrant exhibition, with works by artists Louise Dear, Sarah Grahamand Pam Glew. 19 Church Street, Brighton BN1 1RB

• Thirty Two West

A new Open House showing the work of six emerging artists showcasing a broad spectrum of vibrant new work, including Sarah Bennett’s sculpture and installation and Jan Pospisil photography plus a chance to play on a Jpix balance board and other occasional surprises. 32 West Hill Road, Brighton, BN1 3RT

• Wild Garden

A lovely 1920’s house brought to the 21st century to provide a cross between a modern gallery and a rural hamlet; a charming old brick studio set amidst a wild garden. Showing oil paintings, sculpture and photographs by Linzi Light. 17 Princes Square, Hove BN3 4GE

• Colour Laine

A hidden gem in the North Laine for those who love colour. A pale house with a vibrant interior, showcases Zoe Murphy‘s screen-printed furniture and textiles from Margate & Mexico (Liberty of London, Kirstie’s Vintage Home) and Toby ‘fotobes’ Mason‘s Lomographic film photography (BBC, Urban Outfitters, Guardian Life & Style). Shortlisted for Best Open House 2015. 19 Queen’s Gardens North Laine Brighton BN1 4AR

• The Snug

Curated by artist Rosie Gifford and maker Jessica Christie-Miller, with covetable contemporary jewellery from Alexa de Castilho, fashion from Caroline Goffey together with an enticing mix of art, sculpture, craft, and interior accessories. 7 Caburn Road Hove BN3 6EF

• The Dog Show

Runner up for Best Open House 2015. If you love dogs, you will love this house. Exhibiting over 200 pieces of wonderful dog art – take your dog for on-the-spot dog drawing by Sally Muir on Saturday May 17th, booking essential. 33 Sillwood Road, Brighton, BN1 2LE

 

Full listings can be found at www.aoh.org.uk

The Artists Open Houses festival is pleased to announce that ARCH angels Architects is the headline sponsor of the 2016 festival.

Also running in May and conceived by Judy Stevens and Chris Lord is HOUSE. HOUSE is a contemporary visual arts festival, taking place in Brighton and Hove every spring as part of a season of city festivals, providing a great reason to be in Brighton during May. For its 8th edition, HOUSE will be commissioning new works in response to the curatorial theme of Home. Artists will include Turner Prize winner Gillian Wearing, Felicity Hammond and Thompson Hall. HOUSE 2016 runs 30 April – 29 May and this year is curated by Celia Davies. www.housefestival.org

 

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