Exhibitions and Opportunities

Okay, it’s April, the sun is finally shining, and there’s a lot to do and see.  Here are my highlights.

New Exhibitions 

INAUGURATION – Rye Art Gallery 

Sarah Money has put together a stonking new show at the Easton Rooms, Rye Art Gallery.  Bringing together longstanding friends of the gallery as well as Royal Academy peers, heavyweight painters Fred Cuming RA, Gus Cummins RA and Mick Rooney RA have produced a magnificent body of work. Inauguration opened this weekend, and will be on till the 15th May.

East Sussex Open – Towner Gallery

35 regional artists were picked for the second Open Exhibition at the Towner Gallery.

Works on display include painting, installations, ceramics, sculpture, and photography.  There were 130 entries, so well done to everyone who got in, especially The School Creative Centre’s resident artist Paula MacArthur!  The show is on until 2nd May, with free entry.

The exhibition coincides with the Eastbourne Festival which takes place from 23 April – 15 May.  Dis-location is a fringe event – looks quite interesting!

Regular Selling Events

Lots of Rye artists are taking the initiative to set up some interesting DIY selling opportunities.

Rye Art and Craft Fair

The next one is the 20th April…

The fair is run by local Artist Alice Mason and features roughly 20 local artists and makers, with a wide range of work from jewellery to fine art.  I also particularly like their affordable home-made food!

I highly recommend participating, an absolute bargain at £12 for a table!  Call Alice on 01424 812550 to book yours.

Made in Rye

I noticed several new shops have opened up in Rye recently.  Lots of gorgeous stuff, a new fashion boutique and a pretty little beauty/lifestyle shop… but that’s off topic!  There’s also a new art/craft shop – Made in Rye, opened up by core members of the Rye Harbour Group to promote not only their own work, but also new makers.  They’re very friendly and are interested in supporting other local makers.  If you’re interested in finding a new outlet for your work, it would be well worth checking it out!

Mad March Fair at The Queens Head

The Queens Head’s first Art Fair went well on the 26 & 27th March, and was suitably mad, with the function room turned into an Aladdin’s cave of artwork.  What was particularly nice was the number of artists from further afield, with people traveling from Cambridge, Oxford and London.  Keep an eye out for their next making weekender in May.

Call for Entries

Deadline: Sunday 1 May 2011 The East Sussex Contemporary Art Fair 2011 will take place 24th to 26th June at The School Creative Centre.  Applications are invited from studio groups and galleries as well as individual artists and designer makers.   Please contact Paula MacArthur for more details.

Deadline: 1st June 2011 South East Summer Exhibition Selling exhibition show-casing artists in the South East at ‘The Grand’ Folkestone  8th July to 4th August.  Up to 200 artists will be selected by a distinguished panel led by Fred Cuming RA with prizes.  A fringe event of the Folkestone Triennial 2011 which takes place from 25 June to 25 September 2011.

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