July 2013 Newsletter Nine

Something to cool you down during the heat wave! Creative news from around the Borough, including some exciting opportunities coming up. A host of brilliant artists are opening up their studios in August to show their latest work as part of Hampshire Open Studios. Always interested to hear feedback, or suggestions for other things we can include.

CONTENTS

1. Hampshire Open Studios

2. News and events from artists in Test Valley

3. Art and Young People in Test Valley

4. Workshops

5. Opportunities and Funding

2. NEWS FROM ARTISTS IN THE TEST VALLEY

Hampshire Open Studios are again facilitating a wonderful week of opportunities to visit artists’ studios throughout Hampshire. This year they have divided Hampshire into 8 local areas so that it is easy to find which events are closer to you. Phoebe, from Test Valley School, who has been doing work experience with us at The Lights this week, looked through the Andover and Stockbridge/Romsey sections and writes below her thoughts on some of the work. Phoebe’s Review: Rum’s Eg, Bell Street, Romsey This gallery offers a chance to look around the gallery and attend frequent workshops. This gallery interested me as it wasn’t just a gallery where you can admire the paintings its one where you can get involved and create art work of your own. Lightcatchers – Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey This is a photographic exhibition which includes landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, flora, creative and travel photography. I would like to attend this as I love photography and how photographers can capture such amazing images that draw you in and show the beauties of the world.

1. HAMPSHIRE OPEN STUDIOS

From Saturday 22 June, visitors to National Trust property Mottisfont, near Romsey, can immerse themselves in a glorious and unique sound experience, developed by composer and sonic artist Hywel Davies. As they step into the atmospheric 13th-century vaulted wine cellar, visitors are enveloped in a constantly changing soundscape, inspired by Mottisfont’s earliest history and rich birdlife, and created with the help of the local community.

Roake Farm Studio, Horsebridge Road, Stockbridge This is an exhibition of contemporary paintings that have been produced by a group of 4 artists who are inspired by our immediate surroundings. (see example of work below chosen by Phoebe). Test Valley Arts Foundation, Chapel Arts, Andover I like TVAF’s vision of supporting, creating and improving artistic opportunities for their local communities, giving people the chance to try something new and develop their talent.

These are only a tiny fraction of all the participants in the Open Studio Event. Pick up a copy of the guide from The Lights, participating venues or visit Hampshire Open Studios website: www.hampshireopenstudios.co.uk.

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2. NEWS AND EVENTS

ELPIDA HADZI-VASILEVA

As mentioned last month, Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva will be working at Mottisfont as part of the artSOUTH project running across the south of Hampshire from September to December 2013. Elpida has had a busy year, representing her home country of Macedonia at the Venice Biennale and as the 2013 Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Award (ARMA) Artist Residency at MIMA, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Her work for Venice, Silentio Pathologia, (see right) draws upon her original proposal to the Ministry of Culture of Macedonia, which reflected upon the movement, migration and impact of medieval plagues through Europe (and city states such as Venice) and considers contemporary concerns about international migratory illnesses such as coronavirus. This ambitious work includes woven silk, silkworm cocoons, rat skins and curtains of steel sheet installed in a Venetian palazzo. You can see some of the wonderful work Elpida has been doing during her residency at MIMA in her blog here: http://blog.elpihv.co.uk/category/arma-at-mima/. The Residency is set up to inspire young people by enabling them to interact in the making of an artwork in the public realm. I can’t wait to see the work Elpida will produce at Mottisfont in September and hear about it at Café Culture on 17th September.

BIG UP WORDS

Big Up Words have leaflets out at the library telling everyone about ALL up and coming events – go and pick one up to find out what’s happening or keep up to date on their website: http://www.bigupwords.co.uk/

POETRY CAFÉ Date: July 20th:

Theme: Summer time. Venue: Cafe Bridge, 31-33 Bridge St, Andover SP10 1BE

4 GUEST POETS! Ollie, Joe Osborne, Nico and Sam aka Spud!

Guest Poet Angela Chicken Southampton's Cultural Olympiad poet. She has lovely lyrical and breath taking

poems. Known as Southampton's urban poet.

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NEW SEASON BROCHURE AVAILABLE FOR THE LIGHTS AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON

Well a new season has dawned! Season 22 is its working title, but officially The new Autumn / Winter 2013 season, went on general release on Monday 8 July. If you’re not on the mailing list to receive a copy, then have a browse around www.thelights.org.uk for details of what’s coming up. You’ll see great theatre such as Dracula, David Copperfield, and The Canterbury Tales. Great comedy acts with the likes of Rob Beckett, The Lumberjacks, Jo Caulfield, Jeremy Hardy, and a return visit from the one and only Pam Ayres, should help to keep us cheerful. The musical offering includes some great tribute shows - And Finally Phil Collins, Real Diamond, Think Floyd, the Chicago Blues Brothers, and Abba Reunion. You’ll also see that The Real Thing, The Ashley Hutchings Rainbow Chasers and The Jive Aces are all making return visits to the venue. Julie Felix is appearing for the first time as are Gilmore & Roberts and the fantastic Mr Stefan Grossman. Don’t forget beautiful Ballet, Disco Nights and of course the most fabulous children’s theatre performances including the Christmas show “I’ve Seen Santa” – you can choose your seats and book on line for all these shows and more at www.thelights.org.uk

CAFÉ CULTURE SUMMER PICNIC

AT PROJECT WORKSHOPS, QUARLEY

Tuesday 8th August - 6.30pm

Bring food to share, hear from some of the artists based at Project Workshops about the work they are doing, enjoy a relaxing evening networking in a beautiful place with beautiful

people and beautiful art… www.project-workshops.co.uk

Please email Alex to let her know if you are coming…

alexhoare@testvalley.gov.uk

MAKING STORIES – NEW MULTIMEDIA E-BOOK FROM ELECTRIC IMPRINT PUBLISHING

Alice Kettle, textile artist, is the lead author of this ground-breaking new book. Reflecting on the process of making and current debates in craft, it documents interviews and writing from craft practitioners, thoughts on the teaching and learning of craft, championing making through organisations. The I-book format provides a unique platform to merge text, image, film and sound, all integrated into the page, inviting the reader to engage with visual material as much as with words. It offers huge possibilities for the future of arts publishing. Arts practitioners in the Test Valley who are looking for new ways to document their work should certainly take a look. Making Stories is generously illustrated in multimedia and has an extensive bibliography. The section divider pages feature new drawings by Alice Kettle, Insa Langhorst and Huw Wahl. The book will be valuable for makers, collectors, educators and researchers. Published by Electric Imprint, for more information visit: . www.electricimprint.com/newtitles/making-stories.html

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August 12th-24th 2013 Andover Library

Andover Film Club takes a brief summer break in

August, but watch out for their display in the window of Andover Library! We hope the historic photos on show will bring back memories of going

“to the pictures” in days gone by.

The Club is always keen to hear about the experience of cinema-going in Andover in times

past- just drop a mail to info@andoverfilmclub.org

MOTTISFONT GALLERY SUMMER EXHIBITION

The House at Pooh Corner – a summer of fun at Mottisfont! This summer, explore the wonderful world of a boy and his bear, when Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood are celebrated at Mottisfont. At the heart of it all is an opportunity to enjoy 38 watercolour illustrations by E.H. Shepard, created for the books Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. Some of these works have never been seen before, and none of them have ever been on show in the UK. Each artwork is instantly recognisable, featuring Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger, amongst other characters beloved by generations of children and adults, all based on the nursery toys that belonged to author AA Milne’s son, Christopher Robin. Later galleries feature contemporary creativity on the theme of play: stunning kites by John Browning, and amazing automata from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. Children can experience Pooh inspired forest escapades for themselves, when they embark on Winnie the Pooh’s Great Expotition at Mottisfont - an exciting family quest trail packed with nature-led tasks and creative fun. The trail will see families racing Poohsticks along the River Test, tree climbing and tracking a Woozle, building a house of sticks just like Eeyore’s, designing a trap for any unexpected Heffalumps, and in true Pooh style making up songs and creating stories. Families can prepare for their ‘Expotition’ trail by downloading an ‘Expotition ‘passport’ form. Kids can draw pictures of themselves and their toys, and tell us about their dream ‘expotition’, and either bring in their form or email it back to us. We’ll chose the most interesting pictures and descriptions in two age categories; there are 10 prizes of lovely books kindly donated by Egmont UK Ltd, and free tickets to Mottisfont. The competition runs until 31 August, and the whole Winnie-the-Pooh offer is on until 16 September. See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/things-to-see-and-do/article-1355786853650/.

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3. ART AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE TEST VALLEY

ART WEEK AT ANTON JUNIOR SCHOOL BY DI PEISLEY

During May Anton Junior School celebrated Art Week, an annual occurrence, when students are encouraged to research and experiment with various techniques and skills. I was privileged to be able to assist one of the members of staff, Lois Doolan, with the particular project she was conducting that day. Lois began with showing some of Georgia O’Keefe’s flower paintings and encouraged the children to look closely and study flowers she had brought in. After sketching details in their art books the children proceeded to a larger piece of paper and proceeded to draw and paint a flower filling the paper with the subject. The results were varied and individual, showing a willingness to play together with concentrating on the technical process involved. I was invited and managed to take a quick tour of the school to view the other activities in the various classrooms which were buzzing with activity engaging all pupils in in some form of creative process including clay modeling, stone painting, paper cutouts, batik amongst others. I was very impressed by the dedication, enthusiasm and participation of all the staff and the relaxed though productive atmosphere.

NICOLA HENSHAW WORKSHOPS AT WITH COMMUNITIES IN AUGUSTA PARK, ANDOVER THE STORY OF THE SWINEHERD

“Tom never had cause to strike the branches of the Old Oak, for the tree seemed to sense his arrival and tumbled its acorns gladly to the floor as his pigs snuffled through the clearing.”

Nicola Henshaw ran workshops at Endeavour Primary school this month. The year 4 children worked incredibly hard to design and create puppets and backdrops for a shadow puppet show, telling the Story of the Swineherd. This story has been planned by the Augusta Park over 50's community group, based on the long agricultural history the land that Augusta Park stands on holds. Their plan has been developed by writer Jo Cockwell, into the final story. The puppet show was performed to some members of the Over 50s

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Whiteley, presenting certificiates to the pupils at Anton Junior School

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4. WORKSHOPS

BRIAN EVAN JONES AT THE DISCOVERY CENTRE

Children's Creepy House Writing Day Winchester Discovery Centre - 9th August

4-7 year olds: 10am -12pm (an adult must stay with the child) 8-12 year olds: 2-4 pm

Cost: £6 (accompanying adults free)

Come to this Writing Workshop to join in the fun of the Summer Reading Challenge. Whether you've signed up for the Challenge or not, you can invent your very own Creepy House, fill it with creepy people and creepy things, then make a brilliant creepy poem and creepy story about it! Writer and teacher Brian Evans-Jones (Hampshire Poet 2012-13) will help you come up with great ideas and writing you can be proud of.

LYNNE PUGH ARTS WORKSHOPS

Make a wire Dragonfly

9.30am -12.30 23rd July (also on 14th August)

£30 to include materials and tools.

Pastels for beginners 10am - 12.30

26th July £25 to incude materials. Both workshops either atmy home studio in

Clatford or at the church hall.

USING ARTS WITH JUVENILE AND YOUNG OFFENDERS

3rd October 2013, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Artswork, Southampton

Special Rate Fee: £75

This popular one-day workshop explores the benefits of using creative activities with young offenders, both within the community and the secure estate. Developed in partnership with SOFT TOUCH this course will examine practical issues, such as those encountered in secure units and personal issues, such as motivation and the development of the young people. The course will use a mixture of training techniques to help educate and inform.

All participants will receive a certificate of attendance upon successful completion of the course, and a wealth of practical resources, including a copy of the Artsplan published guidelines ‘Using the Arts with Juvenile and Young Offenders’ (RRP £7.50). There is a special rate fee of £75 available on this course.

For more information, or to make a booking please contact Rachel Hall, Manager, Learning and Skills via: rachel@artswork.org.uk or call 02380 332 491.

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ANDOVER BUSINESS PARK PUBLIC ART COMMISSION

‘FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION’ TVBC in partnership with Goodman wish to commission a work of public art for the new Andover Business Park. It is envisaged that this piece will provide a landmark for the site, marking the entrance to Andover, and will make reference to the history of the site as RAF Andover. The aims and objectives are:

To commission a work of art that will celebrate the regeneration of Andover Business Park whilst encapsulating the history of the site as RAF Andover.

To produce an artwork of sufficient scale and impact to create a landmark that appeals to a broad audience and inspires comment beyond its immediate locality.

to engage with users of the site and other communities living close to the site Andover Business Park has a rich history as RAF Andover, with several experimental military aircraft making their first flights from the airfield and as the first British military unit to be equipped with helicopters. In 2007 the site was acquired and has been transformed into a new business park, currently housing the Co-op food distribution Centre and Marston’s Breweries currently building a hotel/pub. The site runs adjacent to a major road, the A303, and is located by one of the main exits from this road into Andover Town. The budget for the project is £88,000, from the developer’s contribution for Public Art under the Section 106 Agreement for the site. The development of the artwork must include engagement with the users of the park and communities from surrounding areas. Artists applying must have a proven track record of work in the public realm on a similar scale.

Five artists will be shortlisted from initial applications and awarded £1,000 each to develop a full proposal to be presented to the commissioning panel in December 2013. The final commission will be awarded to one of these artists for completion in 2014.

Deadline for submissions 28th August 2014. For more information and a full artist’s brief please contact Test Valley Borough Council Arts Officer, Alex Hoare: alexhoare@testvalley.gov.uk or tel: 01264 368844. Please note that Alex only works Monday to Wednesday for TVBC.

4. FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES

HILLIERS ART IN THE GARDEN 2014 Saturday 17th May to 19th October 2014

If you are an established artist, sculptor or new graduate and would like to showcase and sell your work at the beautiful 180 acre Sir Harold Hillier Gardens we would love to hear from you. Applications are currently being invited for the 2014 Art in the Garden exhibition. This is one of the largest outdoor selling exhibitions of contemporary craft and sculpture in the UK. Please send your CV, artist’s statement and images of the work you are proposing to exhibit to: Jo Field, AITG 2014, Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield SO51 0QA or email:

. jo.field@hants.gov.uk Images either on CD or via email and on hard copy please. Please include media, dimensions and artist’s price. All work must be suitable for exhibiting outdoors and will need to pass a strict risk assessment.

Deadline for submissions Friday 31st January 2014.

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Please send your comments about the newsletter and any items for inclusion in next month’s edition to Alex Hoare at alexhoare@testvalley.gov.uk. The deadline for August’s newsletter is Wednesday 14th August. I would welcome suggestions for regular items, or topics you would like to set up a forum for discussion about. Thanks Alex

MOTTISFONT OPEN EXHIBITION

Mottisfont is still applications for their Open Exhibition ‘Open Spaces’ which runs from 28th September to 17th November. Visit the link below for more information, deadline 23rd August 2013.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/things-to-see-and-do/events/exhibitions/

RETAILERS OUT AND ABOUT Are you a local artist, crafts person or independent trader? We are looking for a wide range of stall holders for our next Retailers Out and About Day in Andover High Street on Sunday 13th October. Pitches are free and the event will coincide with an Italian Market in the town and music in the Time Ring. The event runs from 10am – 2pm and should you be interested in a pitch, email hwhittam@testvalley.gov.uk for a booking form

THE LIGHTS CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR

Organisers of The Lights annual Christmas Craft Fair are putting out the call to encourage local artists and craftspeople to apply to attend the 5th annual “Wrapped Up” Christmas Craft Fair which regularly attracts hundreds of visitors to browse and buy the crafts on display. This year the event is scheduled for Saturday 30 November but applications to exhibit should be submitted by the end of July. Priority will be given to artists and craftspeople living in the Test Valley, and the organisers will work to ensure a range of good quality exhibitors and crafts. This year the aim is to set the standard even higher than before, so applicants are asked to include a web site or samples of their work with their application form. Anyone interested in exhibiting is asked to contact Teresa Bradley at tbradley@testvalley.gov.uk or call 01264 368368 in the first instance.