Jill Tattersall writes: Peter Eugene Ball, who will be showing work in May at the new Hove AOH venue, ‘The Wolf at the Door’, has been shortlisted (with an American sculptor) for a commission for the Yale University Chapel.  You can see a film of Peter in his Nottinghamshire studio here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7U6RjS5xAQ

Peter, who has work in cathedrals and churches all over the UK as well as in private collections, works mainly with driftwood, metals and found objects.

http://www.jilltattersall.co.uk/

http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night

AOH’s page is at:

http://www.culture24.org.uk/am75495

If the landlord is agreeable, they would like to decorate the walls with ‘alfresco’ painting prior to their restoration of them. If direct painting is disagreeable with the landlord, then they would use temporary 8×4′ panel boards and/or paper. As they are limited in funds, they would also be amicable to a reciprocal agreement where tenancy was exchanged (in part) for practical/ improvement works on the premises to a professional standard. They are experienced in decoration and very practical fellows besides! See the work on show at the Mad Hatter Cafe in Western Road 5-18 February.

More details from zeezee at http://tinyurl.com/yhyvrs8

If you’ve ever visited Judy Stevens’ Open House at 6 Clifton Street, then you’ll be familiar with the work of Jonny Hannah. His screenprints, linocuts and quirky painted cut-outs on board, mostly featuring colourful hand-lettered text or a quotation linked to his many interests (jazz, country music, seafaring) are instantly recognizable, and his illustrations are increasingly seen on the covers of paperback books. An exhibition of his new work has just gone on show in a new gallery in Lewes, The Tom Paine Printing Press Gallery, on the High Street, right opposite Bull House, where Tom Paine lived and worked, and next to Pipe Passage. Entitled ‘An Illuminating Exhibition of New Work from the Legendary Jonny Hannah’, it does what it says on the poster. But there’s more – behind the wooden printing press is an alcove museum of Jonny’s collected ephemera and jokey constructions, of imaginary books for example, that will delight his fans. And some very reasonably priced hand-printed cards far too nice to give away that would look fabulous framed. The exhibition continues until the end of February.

The Press Gallery is the brainchild of artist/writer Peter Chasseaud and artist/printmaker Carolyn Trant, and it moved here from the Market Tower, Market Street, last December. This is only the second exhibition. It all revolves around a replica 18th century Common Press, used to print letterpress/woodcut artists’ books and other ephemera. Their first exhibition was of prints and artist’s books by the Russian artist Dmitry Sayenko, from St Petersburg.

http://www.tompainepress.blogspot.com/

http://carolyntrantparvenu.blogspot.com/

Dina Malkova at a busy Russian Open House

So, the Artists’ Open Houses are now over for 2009 and 75 venues will be putting away the Art, getting ready for Christmas, and beginning to think about the run-up to the May festival. My weekend was less busy than the first two. With the Dragonfly House not open all three, there was no invigilation to be done, so I cycled down to the sea and along Marine Parade to 18 Northumberland Court (venue 61) where the Brighton and Hove Russian Choir was performing – and who should I bump into, but my co-blogger Harriet. With free quality entertainment like this it was bound to be full to capacity, so we stood in the doorway and watched Polina Shepherd (in a beautiful dress by exhibitor Dina Malkova) put them through their paces. Afterwards it was a slow shuffle around the crowded flat to take in the lovely work there. (Hint: if you want more customers, put on some free music!)

Then it was further east to 25 Marine Square (venue 62) for The Bungeroosh Gallery, set in a magnificent Regency house. Here I had a chat with film-maker Lou Spain, a welcome glass of mulled cider and a gossip with the ubiquitous Liz Toole, in front of a colour-coordinated display of her prints on the wall. Lou is aiming to open up more of her spectacular house in May, so keep an eye out. Bungeroosh, by the way is that ancient form of flinty concrete that most rendered houses in Brighton seem to be made of.

On Sunday it was raining again, so it was a matter of firing up the bus pass and seeing where I could get to on a convenient bus route. I’d been recommended 36 Bates Road (venue 37) so I jumped on a 5a into Fiveways territory. Mrs B welcomed me with a glass of mulled wine and reminded me that we’d met at an AOH award ceremony a year or two back. I had a natter with letter carver Jo Sweeting and admired the robots of Simon St John Best and then headed off to the wild west of Portslade (bus 1a from Churchill Square).

I’d been intrigued by The Blank Studios and Gallery at 108 North Street, Portslade (venue 1) and wasn’t disappointed, although apparently I’d just missed some performance art by the time I got there (buses aren’t that frequent on a Sunday!). It’s a scaled down more organic New England House, with lots of little studios dotted around the rambling building. I bumped into video artist Benedict Sheehan and admired the gorgeous large-scale photo-collages of Lisa Creagh, whose work I’d seen at this year’s University of Brighton MA show. After a small cake to restore me, it was time to head home, calling in at Embassy Court on the way to pick up my unsold print. And that’s it for another year – remember there are lots more photos on the AOH Flickr group. See you all again in May!

PS. just read Harriet’s latest blog item and it seems that great minds think alike, visiting the same venues – must get more organised for May!

Fred

Gil Stark's exciting silver and cotton jewellery at workhaus, Venue 7

My name’s Harriet, and I have a jewellery problem. So it has been, is and will be for time immortal. For me, anchored happily in my magpie-like state, the highlight of the festival so far has been catching the work of silver jeweller Gil Stark at workhaus (18a Arthur Street, Venue 7). Using cotton and resins, his work really stood out for me – it’s original, eye-catching, fun and yet highly sophisticated. Although only one of the units at workhaus is open this Christmas – with Gil and fellow jeweller Carl braving the cold to work away while their colleagues are living it up elsewhere – it’s well worth a look for their cheery genius and to see them at work (anyone know what a ‘tumbler’ is? Nope, me neither).

If you’re after jewellery, take a look also at The Blue House (65 Southampton Street, Venue 55) – with exquisite hammered silver, retro vinyl and antique pieces from three different makers, there’s something for everyone. I also loved the breadth of Aaron Holmes’ work (jewellery and paintings) at Kingsbury Arts (13 Kingsbury Street, Venue 51), as well as the vintage lace tree decorations, knitted homewares and leather headpieces. The Turkish tea went down a treat too.

Russian folk songs at Russian Art & Fashion, Venue 61

We dropped in to the Russian Art & Fashion house (18 Northumberland Court, Venue 61) for some Russian folk singing enthusiastically led by Polina Shepherd – the session was so popular that there were eager punters trailing out through the corridor and down the stairs. We never made it across the tightly packed crowds to the artwork but it was a lively and welcoming house, and Polina’s embroidered dress, made by exhibitor Dina Malkova, was truly stunning. Oy oy blini, yip! &c.

Finally, Mrs B’s (36 Bates Road, Venue 37) was a riot of decorations, robots, beautiful bottomy sculptures, dog leads, carved pebbles, pottery, cushions – I was so overcome by Christmas cheer that I had to have a reviving mulled wine to calm myself down and stop bumping into things. Funny that.

Don’t miss the last day of the festival tomorrow, after which 75 houses shut up shop for another four months (when they’ll be joined by another 150)!

Harriet

This is a rare opportunity for a person or group who wish to run a retail outlet, which can also be a workspace. Might suit a gallerist or craftsperson or an AOH group who no longer wish to show from home. Low outgoings and no premium. The lease is under the umbrella of the Studio Group. We are flexible and prepared to consider a short occupancy.

It is small shop on the London Road near St Peter’s church that is in an 1820s building housing artists studios and will be available from February. Centrally situated in a road with a lot of pedestrian traffic. The upper floors house studio spaces used by a small group of fine artists and designers, with a shared kitchen and WC. There is a large garden to the rear that can be accessed through the shop and has lot of potential.

For details and a discussion please contact Ernie Burke at bburke01@aol.com

Ken pours Angela some cava

New England House (AOH venue 49) has some of the best views in Brighton – a cynic might say that’s because you can’t see New England House from there! It may not be the prettiest 1960s towerblock building, but it houses no end of artists, makers and craftspeople on its many floors. The Open Studios are a great opportunity to have a nosey around the units. I went up in the lift to Level 6 and straight round to Sukie, makers of trendy stationery – unfortunately most of the bargains had already gone the previous day but there were still a few stocking fillers to be had. Also on that floor, Igloo sells lots of colourful stuff for dog lovers and there’s also Bob & Blossom for children’s clothing. Taking in the views from the cantilevered outside staircase I wandered down to Level 5 and into photographer Gill Orsman’s mind and body corner, where you could partake of spiritual healing, buy some crystals, or chocolate from Chocoholly – I nabbed some free samples and bought a chocolate cookie for later. The busiest room was where many of the ceramics studios were (Ken Eardley, Rowena Gilbert, Simon Matthews and others, plus Eileen Maccabe’s hand-knitted and felted slippers). Here I was treated to a glass of cava – and it was only 20 past 1! (photos on Flickr). I bought a mackerel off Angela Evans, then wandered down to another studio selling Bible videos, where I was given a slice of cake. Also on the sixth floor was a life-drawing studio run by Jake Spicer, and a studio where you could buy baby-grows for grown ups (Boe jump suits). There really is something at New England House for everybody – so put it in your diary for next year!