SPREAD THE ART WORD

Labels: Artists, Dean Smith

Labels: Lisa Horner, Other

We carried on and after a quick bite to eat and a coffee at Terracotta which is no. 22, we popped next door and I bumped into Jane Woollatt who I had met at Andrea Mason's picnic, we had a good chat and she showed me hers and Chris Ruston's ink painting (fascinating as I'm playing around with my Hobbycraft set at the moment) they were using Indian inks and Chinese inks though - very fascinating - the resulting work was very modernistic abstract. We then went on to one of Sharon's favourite places no.18 'The Ian E Smith Studio', Sharon has already got four of his pictures and is holding on till he makes the fifth one she desires. I loved his work, to me his work expressed 'love for life' and exuberance. His pictures were big, bold and gorgeous. He had one particular piece that had several re-orders which was of a boat with a net of fish - he'd just done it in such an imaginative funky way.

Apparently we had missed the alley cut through of 15. 16. and 17. I'm glad we discovered this as in no 15. 'Castle Dawson Design' there was a bit of a club atmosphere, there was a guy at the decks, playing some pretty rateable music and a lady was handing out cocktails and mocktails, I was happy! We mooched around drawling over the jewellery for a bit then moved on. The next hi-light was meeting Cherry (college course co-coordinator) at no 24. St. Clements Church, then being absolutely spellbound by Lisa Hawkers ceramics and mosaics , see http://www.lisahawker.com/ absolutely awesome! No 28. 'Faux Workshop & Gallery' was lovely, I particularly loved a mirror with faux stained glass around it, I think it was called 'Fish'. I didn't want to pay the price though. But was intrigued to see they did a great range of workshops, I am definitely going to go on the 'Paint Effect Classes' perfect! http://www.faux-workshop-gallery.co.uk/

Labels: Other

Labels: Other, START/Funny Stories, What's On, Why Not Join In

I was so impressed with this article from the Evening Echo that I had to put it in here.
I think that it is so great that special needs children draw so much from their sensory landscape and that we as artists can add enrichment to these childrens lives. Well done Mr. Terry Orchard.

Labels: Other

As a group we meet up once a week on a Wednesday at Dean Smith's Art Workshop, Studio 51, Barleylands (Art &) Craft Village. We meet from 7.30 - 9.00 and are lucky to have established artist Dean Smith giving instruction when needed.
If you want direction and work set you can have this or if you simply want to get on with your own art you can do this too.
As well as meeting up weekly START has had an annual exhibition for many years now. This year we will be exhibiting in Barleylands Education Centre which is a very large and spotlessly clean and new area, we feel very proud to be able to exhibit there.
I can boast of a high calibre of members including Dean himself, Aden Hynes (Sculptor who did the Bafta Award amongst many other fantastic sculptures), Deborah Joys (well known for her textural paintings and her invitation for people to feel and touch them) and Mike Harrington (formidable artist) who has now moved on to leafy Surrey but is still a member.
We often have social occasions such as quiz nights and will soon be organising outside expeditions so that keen artists can do landscape painting with the company of like-minded people.
Last year the B.A.T Gallery was manned by a majority of START members and we count the whole venture as a success that we shared with the indefatigable Peter Patterson.
Previously START has done a lot of community art, and has brought it to the Basildon Festival and Fun in the Park, one year we organised an Art Festival in Basildon Town in front of Brook House, we had lots of stands, pavement art, local pop groups, dancing, plus an exhibition it was a great success.
A few years ago Mike Harrington was looking to start up something that youngsters might like to join in and Jack Norris the youngest member yet at START (who joined when he was twelve) mentioned about the animation he and his friend were heavily involved in as a hobby, so this initiated a new off-shoot of START the animation group which was later named Loco Motion.
Loco Motion is going strong and getting quite independent and branching into all sorts of areas including DVD horrer soap opera's such as'Dead Enders.'
If your interested in becoming a member please either ring Dean Smith on: 01268 522973 or come down to see him at his studio: Dean Smith Art, Studio 50 at Barleylands Craft Village .

Labels: Lisa Horner, Other, START/Funny Stories, Why Not Join In

Labels: Basildon, Jack Norris and the Loco Motion Animation group, Other, Why Not Join In

Labels: Artists, Dean Smith

Labels: Other, Peter Patterson, What's On

Have you ever thought that giving yourself the time to do that sketch or write that short story might help you stay younger? Studies have shown there is indeed a vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging. When we draw and paint, we delve deep into the springs of vitality, increasing our sense of self-worth, determination, and achievement. But the University of Kentucky’s Prof. David Snowdon, who tracked the health of 678 Catholic nuns over 70 in his important Alzheimer’s study, showed us much more: he was once given a ceramic sculpture by one of the nuns, Sister Esther Boor, who had taken up ceramics at age 97. When asked by Snowdon to join his project, Sister Esther had originally told him, “I’m too busy with my art to take part in a study of old people." She was not aware of growing older, and she passed away at 107.All of us know that, when deep in the process creating a short story, a painting, a new business, or an invention, time seems to stand still. Creating something totally new freshens our whole system and frees us from limitations that otherwise can hold us down and drain us of life. Here are four ways you can counter the effects of aging by unleashing your creative energies, testing your own powers of making new things, and breaking through to new solutions:

1. Just start, don’t think. If you feel too emotionally drained or just plain blocked, get a pad of paper and pour out all the nagging resentments, fears, and worries that block you from starting an important project. Acknowledging feelings can enable us to move past them and really get started. This, of course, also means dedicating ample time and space for the creative work. A friend of mine had trouble realizing his gifts until he freed enough time to tinker in his garage. Now he exhibits dozens of motor scooters, cars, and even a bread truck, all artistically converted to brightly painted electric-powered vehicles. I ask him how old he is and he says it’s tough to keep track.

2. Try making your own environment a work of art. And while you’re at it, have some fun! We all start with a blank slate in our living space. Whether you reorganize your office, redecorate your home, enrich your relationships, or beautify your yard, let these efforts mirror the best and most beautiful in you. My wife and I purchased five very barren acres some years back and have since spent every spare minute we have planting flowering herbs, luscious berries, stately fruit trees, and hardy landscaping bushes. In comparatively little time, the parched landscape has given way to lush green views in all directions. And inside, a neglected, ramshackle farmhouse now boasts rich French country colors on all its walls. Don’t be afraid to test your creativity in playful ways, even if you muff it and have to start over. The playful energy all of us have not far beneath the surface helps us feel young and free, regardless of our body’s age.

3. Follow your highest hopes and dreams. Strangely enough, researchers who investigate longevity are finding old age can be a peak period for more, not less, creativity. "We always think of winding down in old age," says Judith Salerno, Britain’s deputy director for the National Institute on Aging. "We need to begin thinking about late life as an opportunity for people to explore." So in the years that used to be considered old age and dotage, now we see experience as an incalculably rich resource. Don’t settle for a shut-down life where the resources of youth are just vain memories; tap your rich experience, whether through art, invention, social service, or transformation of the environment. A higher number of age will only mean you can realize your highest potential and develop talents you never knew you possessed.

4. Dedicate time each day to creative projects, and have faith in yourself. Whether your gift is to be a writer, painter, actor, or a healer of personal relationships, you need to devote time to it every day. “But I can’t do it,” people say, “it’s too big!” So just try breaking your larger projects into smaller, more manageable pieces. As St. Francis says, “Small beginnings, greater ends.” Don’t try to write the whole novel or you will clam up and get scared. Maybe today you will just write one paragraph or carve one lock of hair onto your sculpture, but that will unlock your greater resources. Over time, something will just lift you up. A power coming from deep within you will fill in the blanks, making the universe—and yourself—richer, more beautiful, and full of the wealth of creative life that has no age.

Labels: Other

# posted by Lisa : 23:28

Did you know that you had a local animation group in Basildon? Well you have!

Take a look at this to see what your kids might consider a really interesting hobby. This is a family workshop that Jack Norris held with Mike Gunn:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbYamEI6eII

Take a look at their website to find out more about them:-http://www.loco-motion.org.uk/

Labels: Artists, Why Not Join In

Labels: Art U Need

Labels: Artists

Labels: Art U Need, Lisa Horner

I, along with around 70 other people, attended a meeting at the Towngate Theatre last night to discuss the conversion of the Gloucester Park swimming pool into an arts space for Basildon and south Essex- The Essex Gallery Basildon. I want to see a proper art gallery in Basildon, this would be a bonus for our town, but I do understand other points of view expressed, on which I still have an open mind.

Mike Harrington and Vin Harrop have a long history of pressing for a gallery in south Essex. There have been talks in the past with Chelmsford, Southend and Brentwood, but these have come to nothing. It seems to me that when it comes to making any financial investment in the arts in Essex, in particular south Essex, we are seriously lagging behind other parts of the country. A renowned local historian said that if the Gloucester Park building goes the only remaining building to give the people of Basildon any real sense of their history would be Brooke House, now a listed building. Because, 50 years ago, when Basildon Development Corporation started work on the new town they demolished years of history in one fowl swoop. Ken Porter also said that when he visits schools to talk about the history of Basildon, the Plotlanders’ etc the children are enthralled with an interest in the subject.

The Chairman of Basildon Sports Council was all for keeping the swimming pool for other sports uses. I believe that the future decommissioning of the Gloucester Park swimming pool offers the people of Basildon a chance for their own art gallery. It would cost much less to convert an existing building than to create a new build, and we would be saving a valuable piece of Basildon’s heritage at the same time.

Not forgetting the plan for part of the gallery to be a museum, apparently we are gathering a large collection of historic relics, which need housing too.

With the Olympics on the horizon sport has a real chance to gain further prestige for the town.
I agree, to build a new sporting facility with an Olympic size pool is a brilliant investment, but why not build it further into the park and let us keep our history, not demolish it for a 5 star hotel. Basildon people have a huge collection of paintings and other arts works in store, kept in trust for them by The Basildon Arts Trust. Why not let these be seen in all their glory in a stunning art gallery.

Let us imagine for a moment a grand opening of our own beautiful art gallery in all its splendour, reflected in the waters of the duck pond below, with fireworks shooting upwards in celebration. What a wonderful occasion this would be for Basildon and for the people of Basildon. For once we would be able to walk tall, to show pride in where we live, and no more feel inferior to anyone. That’s what the arts and culture can - and should do, for us.

(I sent this to the Evening Echo - Lisa)

Labels: Basildon, Lisa Horner, Standing up for the Arts

Every First Sunday artists of the area are invited to meet at noon at the Northlands Park Cafe. Meet Sylak, myself and Charlie, already word is getting round and more people are planning to come to the meetings. We plan to chat, show each other our work, go out and do some art together, we have talked about organising exhibitions together too. I will keep you updated on my blog www.artcafeinc.blogspot.com

Community Art @ The ArtCafé
I plan to carry on with community art down at Northlands Park this will be covered on http://artcafeinc.blogspot.com/

Labels: Basildon, Other, What's On, Why Not Join In

Labels: Basildon, Other, Vin Harrop

We are gathering signatures of artists (not necessarily fine artists but anyone involved in anything creative) to send to the newspapers. We want to show that there is a strong body of opinion within the artistic community of Basildon, that deplores the council’s decision to discontinue with, in our view, the essential post of Arts Development Officer. Bearing in mind the good work done by Tim Balogun and Dominic Wallis before him, in stimulating the artistic community into action on many community projects that have gone on to receive both regional and national recognition. It is hard to think of how this can continue without some one dedicated to do this work. Just when there is talk of regenerating and invigorating the whole community our town will be the poorer without someone to ensure that culture drives the regeneration process.
We call upon Basildon Council not to let our town become the poor cultural relation in Essex and to rethink their strategy for the arts, to one that shows a much greater commitment towards culture in the community.
So if your living in the Basildon area, this includes Wickford and Billericay, please send your signature and perhaps a small statement to back this up to Susan Randle at:susanrandle@btinternet.com

Labels: Basildon, Standing up for the Arts, Susan Randle

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to help us create a Contemporary Essex Art Gallery for Basildon, Essex. The good people of Basildon, Essex have for far too long been castigated in the media for our lack of culture.The town was taken by surprise last year when over 40,000 people attended an exhibition of local art held over a six month period. Having reaffirmed its love of art, Basildon now wants a contemporary art gallery and seeks your support in this. We the undersigned support the people of Basildon in their quest for a Contemporary Art Gallery.Furthermore, we hope that they will be successful in persuading their elected representatives to save the Swimming Pool building for this purpose. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BASILDONGALLERY/

Labels: Basildon, Standing up for the Arts, Vin Harrop

Strange goings on were spotted down at Northlands Park on Sunday 11th March. A few witnesses said that the peculiar scenes happened around Noon and thereafter, that a crowd had gathered in wonderment at the scenario.

Labels: Art U Need, Basildon, Lisa Horner

Labels: Art U Need

Labels: Other

Dear Debbie,

I've hit a spot of artists block, where do you draw inspiration from?

Best wishes

Lisa
www.myspace.com/lisasartcafe

Dear Lisa,

Well, we all will hit a block now and then so there's no point getting too worked up over it.

In fact being bored and uninspired is good now and then, because from boredom springs creativity.

When feeling totally uninspired, then my advice is to leave your work completely and do something different whilst you feel like this. Also try not to dwell on the fact that you have hit a wall, be open and receptive to your feelings and surroundings. You may find for example: that you are bored, or there may be other lifestyle factors affecting you.

When you really listen to yourself, you will find the answers come to you.

Finally, go look for things to inspire you, from books, from nature, from life. Inspiration comes from everywhere but most importantly it comes from you.

Debbie
www.deborahjoys.com

Labels: Dear Debbie, Deborah Joys

Labels: Artists, Basildon, Dean Smith