Cactus Gallery - Brighton: Shopping Weekend

The Cactus Gallery on Brighton seafront is holding a late night weekend of shopping to get you into the Christmas spirit by offering 10% discount on beautiful gifts for Christmas.
Jude Hart who exhibited at the Brighton Art Fair is showing new work and Heidi Rhodes a regular exhibitor at both the Art Fair and MADE will be exhibiting her beautiful textile pieces.

The Gallery will offer late night opening all weekend as follows...

Friday 27th November 6-8.30pm
Saturday 28th November 11-7pm
Sunday 29th November 11-7pm

The Cactus Gallery
Arch 242
Kings Road Arches
The Artist Quarter
Brighton Seafront

Normal Opening Times:
Monday-closed
Tuesday-Sunday 12-6pm
contact: 07745194667

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What wasn't on show at MADE09

Is this an act of genius or an example of what happens when craftwork becomes too obsessive?

Anyway this wasn't for sale at MADE09. My thanks to craftastophe (because handmade isn't always pretty) the website documenting craft disasters and mad, mad, mad creations. If you are browsing this website, make a coffee sit down and schedule a good half hour and be prepared to be offended by fimo and knitted creations and such like.

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Some Pictures From MADE09

Hugely relieved and glad that so far MADE09 seems to going very well. Record numbers through the door and lots of shopping bags exiting too so most stand holders are pleased. The visitors are raving about the quality and variety of the work on sale and many have said it's our best year yet.
The gloom of last year, with banks closing around the dates of the fair has passed and people are willing to spend some money on items of quality and individuality.

Here are some pictures of the show.

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Brighton and Hove Collects

We announced the Brighton and Hove Collects Awards winners last night. This is a commission to be placed in the museum collection.

The winners were Julianna Sissons for her knitwear. (knickers!) - pictured above, and Louise Loder for her silver utensils and sand tray.



-- Post From My Phone

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Getting there

I think everyone is now here and most people are set up. I have to say it is looking very good.




The selection committee for the Brighton and Hove Collects Awards are making their selection for work to go in the museum collection.

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Paola McClure's Beasties

Paola McClure has arrived with her brilliant fabric sculptures which we are featuring in the entrance lobby.


-- Post From My Phone

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The makers arrive

The stands are up the electricians are finishing up. And the makers are starting to arrive.




Getting 110 makers into the building with only 3 parking spaces (Alesha Dixon's got the other twenty!) is challenging but everything is calm and good natured so far.



-- Post From My Phone

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Getting There

Half way there, from an empty hall to a full build. Our first artist has turned up (by special arrangement) a day early!
Electricians keeping good pace with the stand builders.




Post From My Phone

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Coast magazine

Lovely piece about Made09 in this months Coast magazine.
Clare Gogerty is coming down to a windswept Brighton tommorrow to open the fair. We're really happy to have Coast's support, as they seem to one magazine who really wants to support independent shops and designer-makers (without demanding they pay fir adverts)
Anyway great article - featuring fifi, Elsy and Vine, Amy Keeper, Katie Mac, and Cardigan


-- Post From My Phone

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Going Up

All the panels unloaded and now the build starts, with the electricians waiting to start wiring up lights and sockets.


-- Post From My Phone

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More good press

Sarah's poster design has made the cover of Latest magazine - looks fantastic (she should take this up professionally!) and a lovely full page inside featuring Louise Loder, Lauren Van Helmond, Linda Miller, Paola Mcclure, Abby Mosseri and Ekta Kaul. And we've got a listing in Country Life! Never been in Hare and Hounds though...


-- Post From My Phone

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All set.....

Glad to say the trucks arrived from Wales and Cornwall and they're unloading before starting the build (actually the locks jammed on the huge lorry so they had to break a window to get in the cab)



-- Post From My Phone

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Craft Council Competition to design gifts

The Crafts Council are holding a competition to choose a British contemporary craft maker who will design and produce pieces that will be the official gifts from the UK at the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

The Crafts Council is working in partnership with the British Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Founder Sponsors of the UK Pavilion. The first competition is to design and make the UK’s official gift to Shanghai and the second competition is to design and make up to 80 limited edition pieces that will be the VIP gifts of the UK Pavilion, "the Dandelion" designed by Heatherwick Studio.


The Shanghai World Expo 2010 will focus on the theme of city and metropolitan evolution in the 21st century. The winning proposals will reflect this theme of ‘Better City, Better Life’ and will be either in ceramic, acrylic, textile, glass or metal.

“This is the first time a piece of British craft will be given as an international Expo gift and the Crafts Council is delighted to have secured this high profile commission. This competition is a unique opportunity for a British maker to represent their country and contemporary craft on a world stage” Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council

For more information on how to apply visit the Crafts Council website www.craftscouncil.org.uk

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Brighton and Hove Collects Award

MADE 09 and Brighton and Hove Museum have again joined forces to give the "Brighton and Hove Collects Awards" to designer makers who are exhibiting at the MADE 09 exhibition.


Brighton & Hove Museums’ craft collection is the most important of its kind in the south of England outside of London, and arguably one of the most significant in the country. The 'Collects' awards will see chosen makers work added to the Brighton and Hove Craft Collection.


Last year the Brighton and Hove Collect’s Award was awarded last year to Nick Barberton for a carved wooden platter and Ark Glass for their exuberant blown glass. Their work is now in the craft collection.

This years awards will be announced at the Private View on Thursday.

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MADE09 - Banners

Popped down the seafront to see if the storms had destroyed our lovely MADE09 Banners - I'm glad to say they've escaped without a scratch and Mm L'art is looking lovely catching her 'butterflys' and the sun tried to come out for my photo's

We set up on Thursday with the Private View in the evening and then hoping to get a bumper year of sales for the makers and designers to round off a 'funny year' with a bang.

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Worthing Museum and Art Gallery

Popped into our lovely local art gallery and was delighted to find the wonderful lace drawing work by Teresa Whitfield. Teresa creates intricate life-size drawings of lace work with predominantly white ink, the process of which is almost as labour intensive as lace making itself. The work is incredibly true to life with the ink exactly replicating tiny threads intersecting with eachother and picking up on the flaws in the fabric. The exhibition includes drawings of some of Worthing Museum's own lace collection with the original lace being shown alongside the drawings. Fantastic!

Also currently showing is the humourous and lively work of paper artist Peter Slight. Woodland scenes with a twist, animals and comical charatcters.

All well worth seeing!

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Open Studios - Jan Bennett

Artist and maker Jan Bennett is having an OPEN STUDIO at 17, Norfolk Road, Littlehampton on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November from 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

View paintings, craft work & painted furniture all made by Jan with many items for sale.

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Maker of the Week - love loli

Lauren Tourle lives and works in Worthing on the south coast where she produces beautiful textile corsages, soft felted cushions and limited edition stripey scarves. She trades as loveloli.



One favourite living craft maker (and why?)
So many, but within my field…I love the work of Sandra Backlund. She has taken hand knitting into another dimension and transformed it into the most amazing sculptural forms that still have a wearability factor. Her work over the last few years has inspired so many other designers and graduates that the high street is now overflowing with her signature textural knits!

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased? or What one product/item do you really covet? (and why?)
Not really purchased, but a gift -a fabulous fish bone Tatty Devine necklace! I have also recently been given a handmade charm necklace dripping with everything from buttons, beads and found items to pieces of Lego! Brilliant! Secret covetable item, however, would have to be the fragile and enchanting Chronicles of Narnia cut book sculpture by Su Blackwell. Unashamedly expensive but oh so beautiful!!



At age 15 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
Wow, at 15? I didn’t have any! –this was the Eighties! The Cure, Smiths, Cocteau Twins, even Madonna! A lot of Goth’y stuff, a bit of Psychobilly (I had an awful flat-top!) and a later attempt of being more grown up? (shoulder pads and perm!) I’m quite surprised that I actually got in to College. Seriously though, my Grandmother was definitely a creative influence and I have fond memories of the old Singer sewing machine and tins of lovely old buttons! I realise now why I have such an extensive collection of vintage haberdashery!

Last best read (book).
I read so many trend/forecasting fashion and textile magazines that a good old book is a welcome treat! To be honest I read almost anything at night in order to sleep- my mind is a constant whirl of ideas and sleep doesn’t come easy. I have always had a notebook by my bedside to empty my ideas/thoughts but still need to read to force my eyes shut! The Time Travellers Wife was a beautiful read but sadly bombed as a film! The Celestine Prophecy I have read countless times and think everyone would view life differently after reading this.



Where and what is your studio? Do you work alone? In silence, radio?
I have a studio built on to the back of my house that overlooks my garden. Peaceful, accessible but just far enough away to escape from.



What is your favourite (art) website (and why)?
I am a compulsive web surfer and manage to stumble across vast amounts of random web/blogs full of inspiring stuff. Currently loving ‘knit kicks’ – a blog about contemporary fashion knits. A bit of one stop shop for your inspiration needs!

Surprising activity/hobby?
I love anything art, design, fashion and interior related. So my down time usually involves being creative in some form! Having 3 boys I find some weekends involve slightly more active pursuits such as Go-karting and Skating (I’m rubbish at both!)

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
Never!



What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Synchronicity! It just ‘feels right’.

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Of course. It’s brilliant therapy and allows people to express their individuality. Without the natural creative force within us all - the world would be a very dull place.



What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
Ugg boots!

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Andy Lovell at Castor & Pollux

Andy has featured as an Artist of the week here on Made before, and has been a regular at the Brighton Art Fair.
The exhibition of prints at Castor & Pollux is already on the wall and includes beautifully stormy two West piers.

Price start at £110.

The drinks party with Andy is on Friday 13th 5- 8 pm so please come along, or visit any day between 10 and 5.
http://www.castorandpollux.co.uk/
http://madeuk.blogspot.com/2008/08/artist-of-week-andy-lovell.html

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The C Word

Is Craft getting sexy? Probably not quite yet but hat's off to Craft Scotland for trying to break out of the usual 'craft ghettos' and introducing Cinema adverting to reach new audiences and new buyers to the joys of buying something unique, handmade and beautifully designed.

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Something New To Send.....

In these days of email and text, and even with the odd postal strike it is still a pleasure to receive a card .... and some super new cards have just been created from images by the printmaker Robert Tavener. The images on the cards are taken from rare illustrations and lithographs by Tavener. The new cards include some beautiful Sussex and Kent landscapes, some with boats & nets and then four winter/Christmas scenes.

They are available from emma mason British Prints either in their gallery in Eastbourne, or on line at www.emmamason.co.uk Tel. 01323 727545 sales@emmamason.co.uk

They are also availabe to buy at Pen to Paper in Brighton or Lewes and also Kemp Town Books in Brighton.

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