Dates for your diary…
Sat 16 Jul. St Leonards Festival 12 – 8 pm in Warrior Square.
Mon 18 Jul 10 – 1pm. Hand-in items for Members’ Exhibition (surnames A-L).
Tue 19 Jul @ 1 pm. Stone-pickers needed to gather stones for Sid’s memorial mosaic.
Fri 22 Jul.  Len Shelley and Angie Biltcliff  – “A Retrospective” . see under ‘Exhibitions ElsewhereFri 29 
Fri 29 Jul. Burtons’  St Leonards Society celebrates the 250th anniversary of James burton’s birth with a week-end of activity - 

 © Allena Tyrrell “The Eyes Have it”

Stop Press….

Geraldine and David Wheeler. It is with great regret that we learn of the death of David Wheeler on 6 July.  David passed away peacefully in his sleep. His funeral will take place on Monday 18 July at 1130 at St Mary Star of the Sea in High Street, Hastings followed by burial at Fairlight church.
 
Gallery Fees. The committee agreed at its last meeting to raise charges for gallery hire in the 2012 season. The  new 2012 fee will increase by £10 to £160.00 per week per gallery. This increase does not apply to anyone who has already signified an intention to the Arts committee to exhibit in 2012. This is an increase of around 6.5% and is the first increase since 2008..

Stone-Pickers Wanted !! We have permission from Hastings Borough Council to create a mosaic 1500 x 750mm as the Forum’s commemoration of Sid Beynon. The site of the mosaic will be on the Lower Promenade at the Western side of the Azur Marina Pavilion. We would like to gather enough pebbles (Max size 25.7 mm) of different colours to enable the mosaic quickly when preparations are completed. Please gather at the Forum at 11 am and Juliette Dodd and Mike Williams will lead the party.

Discerning Eye Ehibition. We have been invited to circulate details of the ING (Dutch Bank) sponsored exhibition in the Mall Galleries, London 10 -20 November 2011. Entry is open to all artists born or resident in the UK. Entries will be received in London on 2 and 3 Sep and in Southampton on 1 Sep. Submission fees are £9 per piece of work for non-members ( maximum of 6 pieces) - or free if a member (membership is £40, but membership doesnt guarantee acceptance of work). In 2010 453 works were exhibited, of which 233 sold, mostly from non-members. For further info see   http://www.parkerharris.co.uk/artists/awards/index.php?ArticleID=215 

Le Retour de Michel Guille. Michel is back in St Leonards until 31 July. He is still offering French Conversation on Thursday afternoons at the Forum. French conversation will continue during August led by Pierre and friends. Michel hopes to be back in September.
 
George Robertson. George Robertson,  ‘a Shetland Islander in Sussex’, is exhibiting in the ‘Hop Gallery’, Lewes Sat 13 – Sun 21 Aug. Private view Sat 13 at noon – 2pm. He hopes to see some Hastings frpends. See members announcements.

Cathryn Kemp is artist in residence at St Mary-in-the-Castle, 7 – 31 July. She will be working with textiles and sound within the intense atmosphere of the crypt, which houses a member of the Austen family.
Cathryn said: ‘I am delighted to be working in St Mary’s, I feel my work which deals with rites of passage and emotional geneology, will make an interesting collaboration with the space.’
Drop-In dates will be announced soon.
http://www.stmaryinthecastle.com/Events.html
www.cathrynkemp.com

Loom for sale from Emily Johns – see members announcements.

Photographers!!  Sussex Coast College Hastings is launching a new advanced photography course commencing September 2011: “The BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) is a specialist vocational programme with a strong work related emphasis. The programme is over two years (two & half days per week). The course is taught by experienced academic staff, all of whom have a background in industry and currently work in industry. Their knowledge is invaluable at bringing this course to life and giving you the best balance of theory with practical application. You will be assessed by a carefully selected mix of assignments, presentations & portfolio. For more details or an informal discussion please contact Head of Division Martin Symons, msymons@sussexcoast.ac.uk or HE Administrator Hannah King, hking@sussexcoast.ac.uk. To apply please use the Apply link on our website or come into our Station Plaza Campus to speak to a Student Adviser.” For further detail see at the end of this bulletin.

Members Show.The Arts Committee has decided to add a further Members Show to the Forum exhibition calendar 2011 as follows. This will take place in AF2 . Submissions are invited as follows.

20 Jul – 2 Aug. Members, surnames A – L. One piece per member. Hand-in, Mon 18 Jul 10 – 1 pm, unless by prior arrangement. Collect Wed, 3 Aug 10 – 1 pm.
2 – 17 Aug.       Members, surnames M – Z . One piece per member. Hand-in on Mon 1 Aug 10 – 1pm, unless by prior arrangement. Collect, Wed 17 Aug10 – 1pm. 

Mark Fisher’s Woodland Art Days. Mark is staging a new idea of tutored painting sessions, with a ‘delicious’ picnic in his own woodland of four acres.. He promises the picnic is worth the journey alone!!  

Current Exhibitions…

Zoom exhibits in both Forum galleries. 7 – 19 July in AF1 and AF2

 Zoom is a collective of local visual artists from diverse backgrounds, with ages spanning six decades from 20’s to 70’s, who are united by a passion for experimental, exploratory and expressive approaches to our work.
 
Inspired by one another, we thrive on the challenge of cooperating, collaborating and integrating as practitioners using different styles and a wide range of media, including  photography, digital, paint, pastels and mixed media.
 
We draw our influences from the world around us, rural, urban and seaside; from people, animals and nature; from history, current affairs and popular culture; from others we admire; from music, dance, and ice-skating; the mundane; the night; patterns and repetition; from concepts of alienation and otherness, the universe and existence; life and death; from ourselves and our internal worlds and memories; from the spaces in which we exhibit; from shared projects or themes. 
 
Zoom started in May 2005 with only 7 photographers, and now has 24 members from all parts of the arts disciplines. The group has never been in receipt of arts grants, and has to manageon its own budget.

There are 12 participants of Zoom in this exhibition.

Louise Etgart has a Diploma in Art and Design and is now studying for a degree in Contemporary Fine Art. She paints and draws and is currently experimenting with Printing, Sculpture, Photography and Film.

Sandra Everley has a Diploma in Fine Art. At heart an acrylic painter, she is experimenting with printing and etching. Recent themes have been animals and insects Her work tends to evolve as she goes along, rather than being planned. 

Marie Ford is studying for a Fine Art degree. She is influenced by visual memories, patterns, and practical and repetitive tasks in her work with collage, painting, printing and ceramics. 
  
Denise Griffiths works distinctively with pastels, paints and charcoal, particularly inspired by urban dynamism, people and the 1920’s to 1950’s.

Penny Hobson is principally an installation artist and lives close to the sea; she is also photographer and uses relevant images in the hope of capturing the viewers’ imagination.

Mike Leale sees himself as an artisan rather than an artist. Moving on from his experiments with scanography he is now enjoying just taking pictures.  His backgound is in advertising and editorial photography.

Claire O’Shaughnessy is a photography graduate with a background in art and design, her recent work has included the transformation of the mundane using the effects of long exposures.
 
John Shanks,with a background in theatre, politics, social work, education and art, presents photographic portraits of buildings, also constructed images and stories.

Hayley Small studied art and design at Hastings College. She often combines painting and textiles to produce delicate portraits or images of the figure

Debbie Ward is a contemporary artist inspired by nature and the evolution of life. Debbie often explores these subjects through colourful printmaking techniques.

Laura Wilde is currently studying for a Foundation Diploma and is interested in using art as therapy. Her painting in oils and acrylics is inspired mostly by inner thoughts and feelings, and life experiences.

Barbara Williams  currently works in mixed media with an exploratory and expressive approach.

Forthcoming Exhibitions…

Allena Tyrell is exhibiting in AF 2,  21 Jul – 2 Aug. Allena is a founding member of the Hastings Arts Forum – way back in 2003, when the Forum met as a small group of activists in pubs and other private venues determined to raise the profile of the  arts in Hastings. She has a wide area of interest, including Gothic Art.

Allena’s  Artist’s Statement
My pictures, show various scenes, based on the real world, I am very influenced, by all kinds of films and photographs, particularly the most blurred wobbly ones, 1970’s Instamatic snaps of car wrecks, 2011 CCTV night cops. Or, the very worst cheap mobile phone cameras, corny Hammer horror flicks or badly drawn cartoons, but never, using the good photo shots, simply because it seems, a waste of time.  Some of these works are natural and organic, with very little photographic influence. 
 
My future direction is to be, more realistic, and experimental, whilst retaining the texture and quality of the paint. To work outside of the studio, much more, whatever the weather is like. However, don’t fancy, tying myself to the mast of a sailing ship, during a violent storm in the English Channel, mainly because I can’t swim very well.
        
Members Show , (surnames A – L ), 21 Jul – 2 Aug. Drop- in work on Monday morning, 18 July between 10am -1pm. Other times by arrangement only. Please note that this members show is in AF2 only. Submission fee is £10.
 
Alex Leadbeater. “Ebb and Flow”  4 – 16 Aug in AF1.
Ebb & Flow is a series of painting and prints inspired by the ocean and life in Hastings, from the frothy sea’s edge to the distant horizon. The nearest wave as it crashes or simply washes onshore is an endless fascination as colour and form exist for a unique moment.
Working with energy like the wave itself, paint is applied to canvas or paper, by brushing, dripping or spraying. The nature of water-based paints allows re-working over several layers which may be finished in one session or several sessions. Sometimes the marks gather together in a crest, or seem to float like flotsam, across the surface.
The exhibition includes tiny watercolour paintings and boundless life-size waves, as well as prints and cards.
Alexandra studied at Bath Academy of Art and has a BA in Fine Art from Lancaster. Her first exhibition was selected by Adrian Henri for the Serpentine Summer Show in 1981, and since then she has shown in public and private galleries in the UK as well as Brazil, Lithuania, Florida, and has work in several private and corporate collections

Members’ Show (M – Z). 4 – 16 Aug in AF2 only. Submission fee is £10.00. This members show is in AF 2 only.

Exhibitions Elsewhere…

Gill Gallery. Now open again after re-furbishing and currently showing work by Martin Pearce and from his collections. Also showing are works by Helen Brough, who has exhibited in New York and London.

HastingsMuseum and Art Gallery. The new brochure covering events at the Museum, up to January 2012 has recently been issued.  On 23 July there will be a retrospective exhibition of Len Shelley (1964 – 2010) and Angie Bitcliffe, The exhibition will be opened by Jeremy Birch on Fri22 Jul @ 6-8pm and open to the public from Sat 23 Jul – 23 Oct.
 
“Take Five” is a group show, including Forum members Siobhan Hanlon and Lynne Bingham 21 Jun – 23 Jul. Open Monday – Saturday, 1030 – 5 and 6 – 8pm.

Members’ Announcements… 

Emily Johns has a loom for sale !!  Floor loom made by George and John Maxwell (Ditchling, The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic), 8 heddle. Approx 4 foot x 4 foot x 4 foot. £300.
Central St Leonards, Emily Johns 719 570

Elizabeth Nathaniels posts “Burtons’ St Leonards 250th celebrations”..

 The Year of James Burton begins on Friday 29 July at the Burtons’ St Leonards Society, at a Georgian Tea and a ceremony at South Lodge, St Leonards Gardens, Maze Hill, St Leonards TN38 0BU.  Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia will launch the Year, at approximately 6 o’clock.  The Princess is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria (her great- great- great- granddaughter) and recently kindly consented to be a Patron of the Burtons’ St Leonards Society.  The Georgian Tea (tickets £8) is at 4:30 p.m, for members of the Burtons’ St Leonards Society.  Amber Rudd MP, and civic dignitaries and others will also be present.
Over the following year there will talks, walks, visits, lectures, exhibitions, ceremonies, trips and other events relating to the admirable and diverse achievements of James Burton.  There will be a Gala Grand Finale at the Royal Victoria Hotel, St Leonards, on 28 July 2012, into the following day.
For more information on the Year of James Burton, contact the Burtons’ St Leonards Society by email on burtonstleonardsoc@gmail.com, or by phone on 01424 421 207.

Beccy McCray posts. Here’s something different !!! On sunday 24 July @2 – 9.30 – visit me in London at Bootstrap Studio, Dalston Roof Park (18 Ashwin St. E8).Since 2007 Crafternoon Tea club’s pop-up parties have been exploring playful, participatory art, combined with DIY craft based traditions whicvh can take any form : from events, activism and site specific installations,, to collage, baking, poetry and painting — or just being nice to people.
Crafternoon Tea club is part of the cultural Olympiad’s CREATE 11 summer arts festival.

Marybeth Haas posts.‘E c s t a t I c Trance Dance, a moving meditation. Weds 20 July, 17 Aug at Assembly Rooms, Masonic Hall, St Leonards TN38 0DR. Get out of your head and into your body; dance freestyle to a variety of rhythms, grooves and beats, punctuated with live percussion. See www.conscious-arts.co.uk/dance, 01424 460477′.
 
Caroline Macey organises Life Drawing Sessions every Thursday 10 – 12 noon at Ore Community Centre at 10 am-12 noon.  £7 at the door. Beginning 0n 7 July, evening sessions, 7.30 – 9.30.    Tel : 079 23 49 44 15
 
Andrey Shipilov posts.  I do computer repairs.  (tel : 07533376920 )
I am also a creative and active local artist in graphic design and photography, recently graduated from Hastings Art College with distinction.
I am looking for local freelance work or any other work , which will give me recognition as a graphic designer / photographer.
I am familiar with Adobe Creative Suite such as Photoshop and Illustrator and I am happy to help anyone requiring these skills.
(Andrey is a Forum volunteer helping with the Hanging Team and the IT team).

FILM…
St Leonards Film Soc is on summer  break until September.

POETRY … 
 
The Forum Poetry group meets on  Saturday, 20 August at 5 pm against the background
of Elaine Short’s retrospective in AF 1. The theme of the meeting will be ‘ Art’.  This is Elaine’s 75^th year and the exhibition covers many media -  textiles, weaving. painting, ceramics.

 

 

Dates for your diary…
Fri 8 Jul. 6.30 – 8.30. Private View for Zoom in AF1 and AF2
Fri 8 Jul. Hear Nick Weekes play electro-acoustic music at the Stade Hall @7 pm.
Sat 9 Jul. Anna Keiller has a studio sale of ceramics. See Members Announcements.
Sat 16 Jul. St Leonards Festival 12 – 8 pm in Warrior Square.
Fri 22 Jul.  Len Shelley and Angie Biltcliff  – “A Retrospective” . see under ‘Exhibitions Elsewhere.

Stop Press….

Le Retour de Michel Guille. Michel is back in St Leonards until 31 July. He is still offering French Conversation on Thursday afternoons at the Forum. French conversation will continue during August led by Pierre and friends. Michel hopes to be back in September.

Denise Griffiths. Congratulations to  Denise who has been notified that she is one of 20 winners selected from over 1,000 entries to receive a prize for the design of a textile to cover a deck chair. The competition was organised by the Museum together with  Hastings BC.

There will be an exhibition of the winning entries at Sussex Coast College in September.

St Leonards Festival. This year’s festival is on Saturday 16 July and runs from noon until 8pm in Warrior Square. Entry is free and the festival is billed as ‘alcohol free’. There will be music and other entertainment.
Stall holders are welcome, but you need to book first at tel no 438291. Prices for stalls range from £25 –  £50. Bring your own table and stall furniture. Amongst the stall-holders are the recently award-winning restaurant, ‘Taj Mahal‘.

Nick Weekes will perform at the Stade Hall, Fri 8 Jul against a photographic exhibition . See members announcements
 
Sales. Sales have continued the momentum of the last month. Victoria Kiff and Alistair Kendry in AF1 and Colin Heavingham in AF2, sold fifteen pieces between them at prices ranging from £ 70 – £200.00. Comments in the ‘visitors book’ make it clear that the public have engaged with these two shows, and that prices are very affordable. The artists in all three cases made a conscious decision on affordability.
 
Cathryn Kemp is artist in residence at St Mary-in-the-Castle, 7 – 31 July. She will be working with textiles and sound within the intense atmosphere of the crypt, which houses a member of the Austen family.
Cathryn said: ‘I am delighted to be working in St Mary’s, I feel my work which deals with rites of passage and emotional geneology, will make an interesting collaboration with the space.’
Drop-In dates will be announced soon.
http://www.stmaryinthecastle.com/Events.html
www.cathrynkemp.com

Loom for sale from Emily Johns – see members announcements.

Photographers!!  Sussex Coast College Hastings is launching a new advanced photography course commencing September 2011: “The BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) is a specialist vocational programme with a strong work related emphasis. The programme is over two years (two & half days per week). The course is taught by experienced academic staff, all of whom have a background in industry and currently work in industry. Their knowledge is invaluable at bringing this course to life and giving you the best balance of theory with practical application. You will be assessed by a carefully selected mix of assignments, presentations & portfolio. For more details or an informal discussion please contact Head of Division Martin Symons, msymons@sussexcoast.ac.uk or HE Administrator Hannah King, hking@sussexcoast.ac.uk. To apply please use the Apply link on our website or come into our Station Plaza Campus to speak to a Student Adviser.” For further detail see at the end of this bulletin.

Members Show. The Arts Committee has decided to add a further Members Show to the Forum exhibition calendar 2011 as follows. This will take place in AF2 . Submissions are invited as follows.

20 Jul – 2 Aug. Members, surnames A – L. One piece per member. Hand-in, Mon 18 Jul 10 – 1 pm, unless by prior arrangement. Collect Wed, 3 Aug 10 – 1 pm.
2 – 17 Aug. Members, surnames M – Z . One piece per member. Hand-in on Mon 1 Aug 10 – 1pm, unless by prior arrangement. Collect, Wed 17 Aug10 – 1pm. 

Mark Fisher’s Woodland Art Days. Mark is staging a new idea of tutored painting sessions, with a ‘delicious’ picnic in his own woodland of four acres.. He promises the picnic is worth the journey alone!! will be  See Members’ announcements. 

Marybeth Haas wants us to unwind  –  relax through ‘dance’ . 
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” Pablo Picasso
For more see members announcements.

Current Exhibitions…

Zoom exhibits in both Forum galleries. 7 – 19 July

7 – 19 July in AF1. Zoom is a collective of local visual artists from diverse backgrounds, with ages spanning six decades from 20’s to 70’s, who are united by a passion for experimental, exploratory and expressive approaches to our work.
 
Inspired by one another, we thrive on the challenge of cooperating, collaborating and integrating as practitioners using different styles and a wide range of media, including  photography, digital, paint, pastels and mixed media.
 
We draw our influences from the world around us, rural, urban and seaside; from people, animals and nature; from history, current affairs and popular culture; from others we admire; from music, dance, and ice-skating; the mundane; the night; patterns and repetition; from concepts of alienation and otherness, the universe and existence; life and death; from ourselves and our internal worlds and memories; from the spaces in which we exhibit; from shared projects or themes. 
 
Zoom started in May 2005 with only 7 photographers, and now has 24 members from all parts of the arts disciplines. The group has never been in receipt of arts grants, and has to manageon its own budget.

There are 12 participants of Zoom in this exhibition.

Barbara Williams  currently works in mixed media with an exploratory and expressive approach.
 
Claire O’Shaughnessy is a photography graduate with a background in art and design, her recent work has included the transformation of the mundane using the effects of long exposures.
 
Debbie Ward is a contemporary artist inspired by nature and the evolution of life. Debbie often explores these subjects through colourful printmaking techniques.
 
Denise Griffiths works distinctively with pastels, paints and charcoal, particularly inspired by urban dynamism, people and the 1920’s to 1950’s.

Hayley Small studied art and design at Hastings College. She often combines painting and textiles to produce delicate portraits or images of the figure.
 
John Shanks, with a background in theatre, politics, social work, education and art, presents photographic portraits of buildings, also constructed images and stories.
 
Laura Wilde is currently studying for a Foundation Diploma and is interested in using art as therapy. Her painting in oils and acrylics is inspired mostly by inner thoughts and feelings, and life experiences.
 
Louise Etgart has a Diploma in Art and Design and is now studying for a degree in Contemporary Fine Art. She paints and draws and is currently experimenting with Printing, Sculpture, Photography and Film.
 
Marie Ford is studying for a Fine Art degree. She is influenced by visual memories, patterns, and practical and repetitive tasks in her work with collage, painting, printing and ceramics.
 
Mike Leale sees himself as an artisan rather than an artist. Moving on from his experiments with scanography he is now enjoying just taking pictures.  His backgound is in advertising and editorial photography.
 
Penny Hobson is principally an installation artist and lives close to the sea; she is also photographer and uses relevant images in the hope of capturing the viewers’ imagination.

Sandra Everley has a Diploma in Fine Art. At heart an acrylic painter, she is experimenting with printing and etching. Recent themes have been animals and insects Her work tends to evolve as she goes along, rather than being planned. 

Allena Tyrell is exhibiting in AF 2,  21 Jul – 2 Aug. Allena is a founding member of the Hastings Arts Forum – way back in 2003, when the Forum met as a small group of activists in pubs and other private venues determined to raise the profile of the  arts in Hastings. She has a wide area of interest, including Gothic Art.

Allena Tyrell – Artist’s Statement
My pictures, show various scenes, based on the real world, I am very influenced, by all kinds of films and photographs, particularly the most blurred wobbly ones, 1970’s Instamatic snaps of car wrecks, 2011 CCTV night cops. Or, the very worst cheap mobile phone cameras, corny Hammer horror flicks or badly drawn cartoons, but never, using the good photo shots, simply because it seems, a waste of time.  Some of these works are natural and organic, with very little photographic influence. 
 
My future direction is to be, more realistic, and experimental, whilst retaining the texture and quality of the paint. To Work outside of the studio, much more, whatever the weather is like. However, don’t fancy, tying myself to the mast of a sailing ship,during a violent storm in the English Channel, mainly because I can’t swim, very well.
        
Members Show , (surnames A – Z), 21 Jul – 2 Aug. Drop- in work on Monday morning, between 10am -1pm. Other times by arrangement only. Please note that this members show is in AF2 only. Submission fee is £10.
 
Alex Leadbeater.” Ebb and Flow”  4 – 16 Aug in AF1.
Ebb & Flow is a series of painting and prints inspired by the ocean and life in Hastings, from the frothy sea’s edge to the distant horizon. The nearest wave as it crashes or simply washes onshore is an endless fascination as colour and form exist for a unique moment.
Working with energy like the wave itself, paint is applied to canvas or paper, by brushing, dripping or spraying. The nature of water-based paints allows re-working over several layers which may be finished in one session or several sessions. Sometimes the marks gather together in a crest, or seem to float like flotsam, across the surface.
The exhibition includes tiny watercolour paintings and boundless life-size waves, as well as prints and cards.
Alexandra studied at Bath Academy of Art and has a BA in Fine Art from Lancaster. Her first exhibition was selected by Adrian Henri for the Serpentine Summer Show in 1981, and since then she has shown in public and private galleries in the UK as well as Brazil, Lithuania, Florida, and has work in several private and corporate collections

Members’ Show (M – Z). 4 – 16 Aug in AF2 only. Submission fee is £10.00

Exhibitions Elsewhere…
Gill Gallery. Now open again after re-furbishing and currently showing work by Martin Pearce and from his collections. Also showing are works by Helen Brough, who has exhibited in New York and London.

HastingsMuseum and Art Gallery.The new brochure covering events at the Museum, up to January 2012 has recently been issued.  On 23 July there will be a retrospective exhibition of Len Shelley (1964 – 2010) and Angie Bitcliffe, The exhibition will be opened by Jeremy Birch on Fri22 Jul @ 6-8pm and open to the public from Sat 23 Jul – 23 Oct.
 
“Take Five” is a group show, including Forum members Siobhan Hanlon and Lynne Bingham 21 Jun – 23 Jul. Open Monday – Saturday, 1030 – 5 and 6 – 8pm.

Members’ Announcements… 

Nick Weekes. On Fri 8 Jul  will perform sound pieces at the opening of the latest show at The Stade, Hastings Old Town. His sonic collaboration with veteran avant-garde Jazz musician Geoff Leigh is a curated response to the photographic show ‘In Between’ which features the work of twin brothers Phillip and Anthony Reed.

Nick will be working with improvised sound from ‘instruments’ as bizarre as pine branches, while Geoff uses a range of flutes and electronics.  Nick says: ‘We are in the business of sculpting the air with found sound from sources as diverse as playing bits of wood, toy bows and arrows and bric-a-brac. I try to offset Geoff’s complete professionalism with shamanistic nuisance.

Emily Johns has a loom for sale !!  Floor loom made by George and John Maxwell (Ditchling, The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic), 8 heddle. Approx 4 foot x 4 foot x 4 foot. £300.
Central St Leonards, Emily Johns 719 570

Mark Fisher’s Woodland Art Days: this is a tutored art project day at our own 4 acre woods with all materials provided and a delicious alfresco lunch.  These days are suitable for all abilities and are kept to a maximum of 10 people. At the end of the day everyone will go home with a piece of work created by their own artistic endeavours.  These days are a great day out for friends or as a gift day, we also arrange days for groups and company outings.

All the projects will take their inspiration from the beautiful woodland location. Example projects include mixed media, collage, ‘found art’ work and print making with some including the use of natural pigments sourced from the woods. Cost is £45 with deals available on group and multiple bookings. 
Further information about these days and photos are on Mark’s websitewww.markfisherart.co.uk.
 
Anna keiller’s Studio sale of ceramic sculptures in my studio in Dudley Road Saturday July 9th at 6-9 pm.. All welcome! Please contact her at studio@annakeiller.co.uk for more info.

Marybeth Haas posts.‘E c s t a t I c Trance Dance, a moving meditation. Weds 22 June, 20 July, 17 Aug at Assembly Rooms, Masonic Hall, St Leonards TN38 0DR. Get out of your head and into your body; dance freestyle to a variety of rhythms, grooves and beats, punctuated with live percussion. See www.conscious-arts.co.uk/dance, 01424 460477′.
 
Caroline Macey organises Life Drawing Sessions every Thursday 10 – 12 noon at Ore Community Centre at 10 am-12 noon.  £7 at the door. Beginning 0n 7 July, evening sessions, 7.30 – 9.30.    Tel : 079 23 49 44 15
 
Andrey Shipilov posts.  I do computer repairs. I am also a creative and active local artist in graphic design and photography, recently graduated from Hastings Art College with distinction.
I am looking for local freelance work or any other work , which will give me recognition as a graphic designer / photographer.
I am familiar with Adobe Creative Suite such as Photoshop and Illustrator and I am happy to help anyone requiring these skills.
(Andrey is a Forum volunteer helping with the Hanging Team and the IT team).

FILM…
St Leonards Film Soc is on summer  break until September.

POETRY … 
The Poetry Group met, Saturday 2 Jul at 5 pm. The theme was “books “. suggested by Stacey Lane..This was voted as one of the best meetings so far.  Most amusement was gained from Sue  Coates ‘s poem, “The Italian Phrase Book”

                  The Italian Phrase Book
He came to me in Rome, my beautiful Indian man,
Erudite, well read, in Hindi, French and Mandarin.

He brought, in his unworldly way, a phrase book from his shelves,
English to Italian, printed eighteen forty three.
Bound in dark-skinned leather, embossed and tooled in gold.
Beautiful  to look at and beautiful to hold.

We decide to take the train from Roma Termini.
Up to the ticket man he goes, his phrase book in his hand.
“Good fellow, may we ride with the postillion
And will you take our trunk?”

I rescue him with “Due biglietti per favore”

Weeks later our relationship is sadly on the wane.
He is so clever, seducing me with flights of knowledge
Gleaned from a life of books,
Indian mythology and Chinese politics,
Jesuit teachings and French philosophy.

He puts his ideas and his words together with such dazzle,
But he cannot put his life together.
I cannot cope with him any more.
It must come to an end.

We are drinking what I know to be our last bottle of red wine.
I should never have had my third glass.
“You are like the Italian phrase book” in my cups I say to him.
“You are beautiful, dark-skinned, gold embossed,
A work of anachronistic genius, and 
no fucking use to anyone.”

Never can I forget what I have said.
That I should use a book to wound, so deep to cut;
I who profess to love books yet could not love this one.
For he had no covers to contain his pages,
No bindings to bind his chaos.
My words should have been cut out before they left my tongue,
Deleted; torn out before they cut him down.

  ©. Sue Coates

 

 

Dates for your diary…
 
Fri 1 Jul. 6 – 9.30.Two PVs at Sussex Coast College.
Private View for SCCH Diploma Show. Thereafter, 10 – 2 on Sat 2 Jul and on 4 and 5 Jul 10 – 5.
Private view for Academy 6– It is not generally known that Sussex Coast College runs GCE art courses. 
 
***Sat 2 Jul@ 3pm. Walk’nTalk in AF1 led by Victoria Kiff.
 
Sun 3 Jul. Sculptor Mike Williams is holding a clearance sale at the Beacon,
Sat 9 Jul. Anna Keiller has a studio sale of ceramics. See Members Announcements.

Stop Press…

Sales. Further to our item last week  about sales, sales continue at a satisfactory overall level. To date, 14 items have sold between the two current shows at prices ranging from £70 – £200.00.

Burton St Leonards. The Burtons’ St Leonards Society is organising  250th Anniversary Celebrations of the birth of James Burton (born 29 Jul 1761). Ther e will be a year of celebration, begining 29 July with a Members’ reception attended by HRH Princess Katerina, a great great great  grandaughter of queen Victoria and Hastings MP, Amber Rudd. There will also be a picnic in St Leonards Gardens and later that day, a performance of “Gentle Harry’s Farm”  by the ‘Rude Mechanical Theatre company.. Other festivities include a Family Fun Day on Saturday 30th and on 31 st July, there will be walks featuring ‘James Burton and his vision’. 
During the next twelve months, there will be many more activities to mark the life and vision of James Burton and doubtless, his son, Decimus Burton. Hopefully, this will raise the profile of this historic area of Hastings Borough Council – maybe a recognition of the district as “Burton St Leonards”.

Photographers!!  Sussex Coast College Hastings is launching a new advanced photography course commencing September 2011: “The BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) is a specialist vocational programme with a strong work related emphasis. The programme is over two years (two & half days per week). The course is taught by experienced academic staff, all of whom have a background in industry and currently work in industry. Their knowledge is invaluable at bringing this course to life and giving you the best balance of theory with practical application. You will be assessed by a carefully selected mix of assignments, presentations & portfolio. For more details or an informal discussion please contact Head of Division Martin Symons, msymons@sussexcoast.ac.uk or HE Administrator Hannah King, hking@sussexcoast.ac.uk. To apply please use the Apply link on our website or come into our Station Plaza Campus to speak to a Student Adviser.” For further detail see at the end of this bulletin.

Members Show.The Arts Committee has decided to add a further Members Show to the Forum exhibition calendar 2011 as follows. This will take place in AF2 . Submissions are invited as follows.

20 Jul – 2 Aug. Members, surnames A – L. One piece per member. Hand-in, Mon 18 Jul 10 – 1 pm, unless by prior arrangement. Collect Wed, 3 Aug 10 – 1 pm.
2 – 17 Aug. Members, surnames M – Z . One piece per member. Hand-in on Mon 1 Aug 10 – 1pm, unless by prior arrangement. Collect, Wed 17 Aug10 – 1pm. 

Mark Fisher’s Woodland Art Days. Mark is staging a new idea of tutored painting sessions, with a ‘delicious’ picnic in his own woodland of four acres. See Members’ announcements. 

Marybeth Haas wants us to unwind  –  relax through ‘dance’ . 
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” Pablo Picasso
For more see members announcements.

Volunteers.We are currently having a ‘root and branch’ look at how the Forum attracts and organises volunteers. The Forum currently has no paid staff and depends on the dedication, love and hard work of a few. This small band needs refreshing and replacement. Simply, without volunteers we don’t exist. All those who signified their readiness to volunteer services may expect to be contacted over the next few weeks. Please bear with us as we do this. If you have a special expertise or none at all, we can find a slot. We need a bookkeeper, administrators who can take charge of a particular aspect of the forum’s work, picture hangers, press and publicity, IT, stewarding. cleaners – in short volunteers for all aspects of our work. If you have the time and inclination, 
please contact us at info@hastingsartsforum.co.uk and head your email “Volunteers” or drop in and discuss.
In due course we will have a ‘get together’ with the aim putting this on a practical long-term basis, and offer some form of training.

Forum AGM. It is anticipated that the Forum will hold its AGM for the year 2010 in September. We still await the decvision of the charity commissioners to grant ‘charity status’. 
Until we have this decision, we can not close the unincorporated organisation, “Hastings Arts Forum”,  before  activating the Charity, “Hastings Arts Forum Ltd”.

Current Exhibitions…

Alistair Kendry and Victoria Kiff . 23Jun – 5Jul in AF1
Alistair Kendry and Victoria Kiff have a shared interest in the construction and the sensual qualities of the surface of the image. Both artists share a common interest in the painted constructed mark as a material presence in its own right and the potential of chance and accident to convey an emotional and intuitive sensibility. A common thread in both artists work is absorption of a European tradition which appropriates Northern European Expressionism and Modernist concepts.
Victoria. My Art is made from various kinds of paper in the form of prints, paintings and drawings. I combine found papers, (newspaper, letters etc), to construct an
image. It is like a poem, with poetic structure and broken narrative. My favourite writer and poet is Johann Wolfgang Goethe. The title Sommernacht’ is inspired
by one of Goethe’s written compositions. These lines best describe my Art concept, ‘All our most honest toil succeeds only in unconscious moments’. Goethe
Victoria Kiff. BA Hons, Central St Martins School of Art, London.
Alistair. ‘Art about Art’. Transcending the everyday. “For Beauty presents itself to sense, feeling, intuition and imagination, and not to reason” Hegej
Alistair Carl Kendry - Studied at Bath Academy of Art Corsham, Wiltshire. Post-Graduate studies Slade School of Fine Art, University College London.Post-Graduate Printmaking, Wimbledon

Colin Heavingham. I am not in love with the business of painting – the process of hanging in galleries and the blurb that invites the audience to browse . My background is from the chaos of the 60s, where art was a happening, a musical, artistic extravaganza — no holds barred !!There were Arts Labs everywhere. Everything was free and you could just sit in .It is something in these days of moneymaking that I have to acclimatise to–It is difficult.

All my paintings really just go towards my love of the medium. I was fascinated by oil paintings from an early age and wanted pictures for my walls .They were beyond me financially , so I painted them for myself ,in a style that I liked .The majority of them I wanted to keep for larger work . I was unable to store them so I just continued noting down the ideas and images .
I tend to want to run when everyone else wants to walk .I went to art school by accident and it was the best thing that I have ever done. It has given me a part of my life that otherwise, I would never have known…”    Colin Heavingham

Zoom exhibits in  both Forum galleries . 7 – 19 July

7 – 19 July in AF1. Zoom is a collective of local visual artists from diverse backgrounds, with ages spanning six decades from 20’s to 70’s, who are united by a passion for experimental, exploratory and expressive approaches to our work.
 
Inspired by one another, we thrive on the challenge of cooperating, collaborating and integrating as practitioners using different styles and a wide range of media, including  photography, digital, paint, pastels and mixed media.
 
We draw our influences from the world around us, rural, urban and seaside; from people, animals and nature; from history, current affairs and popular culture; from others we admire; from music, dance, and ice-skating; the mundane; the night; patterns and repetition; from concepts of alienation and otherness, the universe and existence; life and death; from ourselves and our internal worlds and memories; from the spaces in which we exhibit; from shared projects or themes. 
 
Zoom started in May 2005 with only 7 photographers, and now has 24 members from all parts of the arts disciplines. The group has never been in receipt of arts grants, and has to manageon its own budget.

There are 12 participants of Zoom in this exhibition.

Barbara Williams  currently works in mixed media with an exploratory and expressive approach.
 
Claire O’Shaughnessy is a photography graduate with a background in art and design, her recent work has included the transformation of the mundane using the effects of long exposures.
 
Debbie Ward is a contemporary artist inspired by nature and the evolution of life. Debbie often explores these subjects through colourful printmaking techniques.
 
Denise Griffiths works distinctively with pastels, paints and charcoal, particularly inspired by urban dynamism, people and the 1920’s to 1950’s.

Hayley Small studied art and design at Hastings College. She often combines painting and textiles to produce delicate portraits or images of the figure.
 
John Shanks, with a background in theatre, politics, social work, education and art, presents photographic portraits of buildings, also constructed images and stories.

Laura Wilde is currently studying for a Foundation Diploma and is interested in using art as therapy. Her painting in oils and acrylics is inspired mostly by inner thoughts and feelings, and life experiences.
 
Louise Etgart has a Diploma in Art and Design and is now studying for a degree in Contemporary Fine Art. She paints and draws and is currently experimenting with Printing, Sculpture, Photography and Film.
 
Marie Ford is studying for a Fine Art degree. She is influenced by visual memories, patterns, and practical and repetitive tasks in her work with collage, painting, printing and ceramics.
 
Mike Leale sees himself as an artisan rather than an artist. Moving on from his experiments with scanography he is now enjoying just taking pictures.  His backgound is in advertising and editorial photography.
 
Penny Hobson is principally an installation artist and lives close to the sea; she is also a photographer and uses relevant images in the hope of capturing the viewers’ imagination

Sandra Everley has a Diploma in Fine Art. At heart an acrylic painter, she is experimenting with printing and etching. Recent themes have been animals and insects Her work tends to evolve as she goes along, rather than being planned. 

Allena Tyrell is exhibiting for two weeks in AF 2, . 21 July. Allena is a founding member of the Hastings Arts Forum – way back in 2003, when the Forum met as a small group of activists in pubs and other private venues determined to raise the profile of the  arts generally in Hastings. She has a wide area of interest, including Gothic Art.

Members Show , (surnames A – Z), 21 Jul – 2 Aug. Drop- in work on Monday morning, between 10am -1pm. Other times by arrangement only. Submission fee is £10.

Exhibitions Elsewhere…

SCCH Diploma Show. Thereafter, 10 – 2 on Sat 2 Jul and on 4 and 5 Jul 10 – 5.
 Academy 6– see poster at the end of this email. It is not generally known that Sussex Coast College runs GCE art courses.
 
“Take Five” is a group show, including Forum members Siobhan Hanlon and Lynne Bingham 21 Jun – 23 Jul. Open Monday – Saturday, 1030 – 5 and 6 – 8pm.

Mike Williams at the Beacon. “Studio Sale – go for the Sunday breakfast at £5.

Members’ Announcements… 

Mark Fisher’s Woodland Art Days: this is a tutored art project day at our own 4 acre woods with all materials provided and a delicious alfresco lunch.  These days are suitable for all abilities and are kept to a maximum of 10 people. At the end of the day everyone will go home with a piece of work created by their own artistic endeavours.  These days are a great day out for friends or as a gift day, we also arrange days for groups and company outings.
All the projects will take their inspiration from the beautiful woodland location. Example projects include mixed media, collage, ‘found art’ work and print making with some including the use of natural pigments sourced from the woods. Cost is £45 with deals available on group and multiple bookings. 
Further information about these days and photos are on Mark’s websitewww.markfisherart.co.uk.

Anna keiller’. Studio sale of ceramic sculptures in my studio in Dudley Road Saturday July 9th at 6-9 pm.. All welcome! Please contact her at studio@annakeiller.co.uk for more info.

 Sculptor Mike Williams is holding a clearance sale at the Beacon, this coming Sun 3 Jul, 10 – 3pm. Come early for a £5 breakfast !!. 

Marybeth Haas posts.‘E c s t a t I c Trance Dance, a moving meditation. Weds 22 June, 20 July, 17 Aug at Assembly Rooms, Masonic Hall, St Leonards TN38 0DR. Get out of your head and into your body; dance freestyle to a variety of rhythms, grooves and beats, punctuated with live percussion. See www.conscious-arts.co.uk/dance, 01424 460477′.
 
 Siobhan Tanner posts.  **Studio space available **at Oak Passage Studios, Hastings Old Town .  Suitable for single artist or share with one other. £100pcm. Please ring Anna 435799 or Siobhan 712840 for more details.
 
Caroline Macey organises Life Drawing Sessions every Thursday 10 – 12 noon at Ore Community Centre at 10 am-12 noon.  £7 at the door. Beginning 0n 7 July, evening sessions, 7.30 – 9.30.    Tel : 079 23 49 44 15
 
Andrey Shipilov posts.  I am a creative and active local artist in graphic design and photography, recently graduated from Hastings Art College with distinction.
I am looking for local freelance work or any other work , which will give me recognition as a graphic designer / photographer.
I am familiar with Adobe Creative Suite such as Photoshop and Illustrator and I am happy to help anyone requiring these skills.
Andrey is a Forum volunteer helping with the Hanging Team and the IT team.

FILM…
St Leonards Film Soc is on summer  break until September.

POETRY … 
The Poetry Group meets today, Saturday 2 Jul at 5 pm. The theme is on “books “. suggested by Stacey Lane.