We talk to Anna Harvey at her amazing new Open House – Box House
Hi Anna – we are delighted that the Box House is part of the AOH festival this year. Can you tell us how you decided to take part?
The Box House is run principally by myself and John Goodison, both artists. Although we have been in Brighton thirty years, and often considered the Open Houses, it was only this year that we finally felt we had the right collaborators and the energy it requires. Ironically, lockdown also enabled us to produce the necessary quantity of work to make it worthwhile.
Can you tell us a bit about your work and if you have exhibited previously in Artists Open Houses?
Printmaking is my main focus, mainly relief lino prints of botanical forms and looser, more abstract lithographs, produced at Bip Art. I also paint, producing work inspired by Matisse and Bauhaus weaving. I had a couple of prints on show at Bip Art in May 2019, and our friends the plantswomen Huntress and Forager had exhibited before, but that was the extent of our previous Open House exposure. We had of course visited many houses over the years.
Who else is exhibiting in your house and what work will they be showing?
John Goodison is showing abraded monochrome paintings, colourfield abstracts, reliefs and sculptures. We are sharing our house with friends. Damian Toal paints vivid broad abstracts inspired by his memories of Irish landscapes. Tom McGill makes beautiful mirror frames. Huntress and Forager are showing unusual plants and ideas for indoors and outdoors.
Photo: Syl Ojalla
Where else has John’s work been seen and how has it been used?
John’s work has been used by interior designers and decorators here and abroad and has appeared in several magazines including House and Garden, Elle Decoration and Vogue. He has shown his work at a number of London Galleries including The Hexagon, Highgate and at a special exhibition at Paul Smith Interiors in London. Like many artists, he receives regular commissions through his busy Instagram page.
Photo: Syl Ojalla
What are you most enjoying about opening your house to visitors?
It is lovely to have such positive responses to our work from visitors. We have met many artists connected with AOH which is lovely and are beginning to feel part of a community. After a year of lockdown we have also been visited by many old friends, and made many new ones.
Photo: Syl Ojalla
Have there been any surprises?
We expected running an Open House to be hard work, but we didn’t know it would be a delightful experience as well.
Photo: Syl Ojalla
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Our Open House was built just eight years ago and sits in a striking position over Preston Park, with views over Brighton. Its rooms are large and light-filled, so it has made the perfect art gallery and a rather different offering from other houses. Many visitors come to see the architecture but leave with art!
Photo: Syl Ojalla
Instagram links – @theboxhousebrighton, @johngoodison, @huntress_and_forager, @damian_toal
John’s website – johngoodison.com
The Box House is at:
9b, Woodside Avenue, Brighton, BN1 5NF
on the Fiveways trail
See The Box House online listing
