Art Junky

If you’re looking for a jumble sale with a difference then you can do a lot worse than the Phoenix Art Junky Indoor Market this Sunday 31st January. Last summer’s bazaar brought together a variety of affordable art and jewellery made by local artists as well an eclectic mix of stalls selling books, badges, buttons an’ bows and all things arty and junkalicious in between. For more information go to http://www.phoenixarts.org/

Phoenix Art Junky Indoor Market, Sun 31 Jan 2010, 11am to 5pm

Dockerills Car Park Regent Street

Mommy, what’s a Coccolithophore?

Why dear, it’s a single-celled algae responsible for forming the chalk bed we now call the South Downs and the inspiration behind the lastest art installation at Fabrica. Called The Elephant Bed and created by John Grade, this sculpture consists of a series of beautifully crafted horn shaped cones suspended in the gallery, some of  which are left hanging over a pool, slowly disintgrating into the brackish water.

John Grade’s work is characterised by the crafting of sculptural objects which are then left outside to the mercy of the elements and Fabrica are running a series of events throughout the installation celebrating this sculpture’s ongoing decay and eventual destruction. Last Wednesday we attended a free Drawing to Film evening in the gallery. Hosted by artist Jane Fordham we were invited to draw our responses while watching the classic sci fi film The Day of the Triffids (1962 Dir Francis & Sekely)

This film is based on the John Wyndam novel and was chosen by John Grade specifically for the fact that those pesky Triffids were eventually destroyed by sea water, in much the same way his sculpture will be. The evening was free and all art materials supplied. It was a great fun and a wonderfully eerie location to watch a movie with the advantage that, being in the dark, you don’t even need to be able to draw too well! There will be another Drawing to Film event this Wednesday featuring The Creature from the Black Lagoon in glorious 3D no less, so that should inspire some interesting pictures too.

Fab Art

On the morning of August 31st the Elephant Bed will be laid to rest on the beach to dissolve forever into the sea. For more info on this beautiful, haunting piece of work and future events contact Fabrica.

Phoenix Art Junky Indoor Market

Sunday June 28th – Still trying to fill the Sunday morning browsing gap left by the relocation of our beloved boot fair it was fun checking out the one day flea market down at Phoenix Brighton. This summer bazaar brought together a variety of affordable art and jewellery made by local artists as well an eclectic mix of stalls selling books, badges, buttons an’ bows and all things arty and junkalicious in between. With loads of interesting stalls to look through, some yummy home made refreshments on offer and all indoors so sheltered from the British summer, this ticked all the right boxes in the rummaging stakes.

Best buy was this beautiful bracelet made by Lux & Love. Check out her web page for more precious jewels, voodoo gems, vintage and reclaimed jewellery.

And speaking of all things gorgeously Mexican, Voodoo and Gothic, check out Brighton artist Mahni Dare’s awesome props, puppetry and much more at Mahni-Monsta.com.

Tuesday’s Child

It’s all getting a bit Night Gallery here at Thee Nook as we welcome all you art lovers to our next painting to introduce our next story…….

This little lady was painted about a year ago, on a canvas I had found on a skip -which I just started throwing ink at until her face appeared. I love the contrast of her beatific expression against the slashing violence of the ink splashes. I wanted to do the same with words and Tuesday’s Child was the result. Not sure I succeeded but I’m pleased with this story nonetheless. To read it visit our sister blog: Shadows Time.

Graffiti

This stuff’s all from Bond St Laine….

Hello Sailor!

I haven’t been doing too much painting lately. Hello Sailor! was painted December 2008 with acrylics on canvas. He is named after one of my favourite songs, performed by one of my favourite artists Genesis P-Orridge.

I painted him at work. Every year we hold an art exibition to commemorate World AIDS day and this year was my turn to run the art group. He was part inspired by a guy I used to work with at Feltham YOI, who had the most incredible energy about him and was one of the most positive people I have met. He was also a sailor.

Below is Hot Stuff, whom I painted in February.

Horse

I painted this one quick in 2008 after having these colours going round and round in my head for ages. It’s acrylic on canvas and measures 24″ by 30″

Sea Horse

This painting I did in 2007 and is based on my two favourite things – horses and the sea. It is acrylic on canvas and measures 20″ by 30″

Parrot

This is my painting I did of a parrot in 2007. It’s done with acrylics on canvas and measures 20″ by 30″.