The House of Newts

Its the last weekend of the Brighton Festival, its getting hot and its an ideal time (and the last chance) to get round some of the fantastic Open Houses. (Believe me you really wouldn't want to hit Brighton Beach this weekend)

One of the best and incidentally the one our very own Sarah Young exhibits in is the House Of Newts over at Queens Park in Kemptown. There are 14 artists and makers exhibiting through five rooms and the garden.

Delicious tea and cakes, sold in aid of the Martletts Hospice, are served in the sunny garden (although shade is available too)

• Angela Charles Painting: Acrylic
• Rachel Dormor Functional ceramics
• Phil Duncan Ceramics
• Rachel Eardley Jewellery , Pen and Ink
• Janice Farrar Jewellery: Silver , Glass
• Tim Gill Glass
• Murray Marks Box-maker
• Helen Martino Ceramics
• Louise Ann Paul Basketmaking
• Pat Shields Mosaics
• Jonathan Smith Painting: Oil , Pen and Ink
• Sarah Young Prints , Painting: Oil 
• Muir and Osborne Knitwear , Sculpture: Soft 

Open 12.00 - 18.00

House of Newts 26 South Avenue Brighton. BN2 0BP

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Open Houses - Brighton

We always like a good wander around the Open Houses in Brighton in May. This year, one house really stuck out for us, not only because of the work being exhibited, but also (and call me shallow) because the house is simply gorgeous.

One Aymer Road, in Hove. A beautiful double fronted home, with a warm greeting on arrival. Artists showing include Helen Brown Screenprints, Frances Doherty Structural Ceramics and Polly Finch Papercuts - all of whom are exhibiting with us at the Brighton Art Fair - yippee!

Also well worth a mention are Kate Almond's fragile looking and intricate ceramic pieces, Katherine Morton's bright and fun ceramics and my absolute favourite - Hope Knitwear - Carolyn Sadler's finely knitted ponchos, cardigans, and what we consider perfect festival going tunics! I had to buy and have worn everyday since.

One Aymer Road, has a kitchen to make you green, a garden in which to relax, and cakes to indulge in! Well, well worth a vist.

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Artist of the Week - Sam Hewitt

Sam Hewitt lives in Brighton and creates oil paintings that describe human presence and movement in the urban landscape.

Where did you train? What did training teach you and what do you wish it had taught you?
I trained at school as a child, a string of good teachers taught me about form, composition, anatomy, light, colour and application (both of paint and effort). I went to college for my foundation course and encountered a wall of mystique behind which (I was assured) lay the mastery of my lecturers. They could tell me what art wasn't and, if I could only discover what it was, they would all jump out wearing party hats and welcome me in. As a result I did the bare minimum and hoped things would improve at degree level. They got worse. More failed artists showed me how to fail by hiding behind pretension and bravado. I needed to learn what a practice was but nobody told me.

Is being an artist your only job, or do you have other employment? 
It is my only job but I spend lots of time looking after my two year old daughter

One favourite living artist.
David Lynch, his relationship to his unconscious is wonderfully well developed. I think he's ahead of his time.

One favourite historical artist.
Marcel Duchamp because he was a great painter who ppppicked up a pisser when paint wasn't enough

What is the most interesting / fun job you have had?
It's hard to beat touring the states as a keyboardist/guitarist in an indie rock band. Best fun ever.

If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
Collaboration depends on an interaction between personalities and it's hard to predict whether I would work well with someone. I'd probably hate most people whose work I respect. My current collaborations are just fine.

At age 16 who most influenced your style?
Degas

Last book / film that blew your mind?
Mulholland Drive 

What music are you currently listening to?
Whatever's on Fip

How many hours do you waste on the internet each day?
None 

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
Nothing springs to mind

Where and what is your studio?
The Workhaus in poets corner, my own space, great light, great neighbours

Do you have a good work/life balance?
Perfect

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Practice

What would your dream commission be?
200,000GBP to build an installation called the Conscious Machine

If you could exhibit in any gallery in the world which would it be?
MoMA

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