Brighton Fringe festival Show at Castor and Pollux

Not so much a blog post as a blog plug.
Castor and Pollux begins its season of art exhibitions this Friday with a private view. (6- 9pm)

First this year is a print retrospective with Artizan Editions accompanied by beautiful glass from New York glass blower, Michael Anchin.
We have a show, or two, every month from now until Christmas, so check out our website www.castorandpollux.co.uk or watch this space for further information.

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Goodies at Harrogate

I made the long trek up to Harrogate on Monday where the British Craft Trade Fair was taking place.

There were about 450 exhibitors spanning the handmade end of the Craft, Gift and Accessories sector, including a big contingent from Brighton and 'alumni' from Brighton Craft Fair along with 'freshers' for Made08 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair

In no particular order I rather liked
Becky Crow's contemporary illustrative jewellery in silver with gold and copper details - some lovely work on her website too.



Lara Aldridge's panels, and bowls in kilnformed glass and metal foils.


Helaina Sharpley's tea obsessed wirework pictures, cups, teapots and teatrays. As well as large scale architectural wire sketches of buildings.


Janie - Jane Withers' Knitted Textiles , and tea cosies


Rowena Gilbert's Ceramics



Make (Nicola Caines') blown glass.


Sarah Lindsay's handmade Acrylic Jewellery, she calls them 'dust necklaces' but they look to me like exptically coloured 'geodes' - we're very glad that Sarah will be exhibiting her original and innovative acrylic jewellery at MADE08. for the first time.


Lynn Muir's painted driftwood and recycled wooden painted figures.


Folk Fanny's large scale stitched and appliqued and embroidered pictures.

After all this I still had time for my tea at Betty's tearoom for a pot of Lapsang and a Hazelnut and meringue Engadine Torte before getting the train back to the South Coast!

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Last Chance - Spectacular Craft at V&A

This joint V&A and Crafts Council exhibition Spectacular Craft is ending on 17th February so this weekend is the last chance. I came across it by accident whilst Collect was on, but it is worth a trip.

The small exhibition features installations by 8 artists


working meticulously but on a huge scale. I was particularly impressed by Lu Shengzong's huge papercuts. The 8 artists are working with wire, glass, wallpaper, paper, wood, lace, video amongst other things to present impressive and thoughtful installations.
This Dale Chihuly chandelier wasn't in the exhibition, just above the information desk but looked pretty impressive non-the-less. Also see this website for more of Dale's work

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