Save Madeira Terraces! Campaign to restore Brighton’s Iconic Seafront
I donated several prizes for the raffle to raise funds to restore the arches where I used to have a #studio #gallery open to the public for several years until it’s closure.
Photos of pieces donated, followed by pictures of Jag Gallery on Madeira Drive, now and then:
SAVE MADEIRA TERRACES! There’s a campaign going, run by volunteers raising funds in any way they can and they are working really hard to raise funds to save, restore and hopfully eventually make sound use of the iconic ironwork archways and upper terraces that run the vast length of Brighton’s iconic seafront on the ‘neglected’ east side of the pier. This vast stretch could be used for any number of purposes and one part used to provide AFFORDABLE studio/shop space for the public to wander in and could’ve become an evolving community scene and space on the less tourist side. Imagine if the terraces were more like La Ramblas in Barcelona – full of street food stalls, passing traders, artists, makers, performers and fly pitchers…(install a jukebox and liven these stiffs up!!) The council have seemed to have given up so give it back?! Anyway myself and several other folks have donated prizes so ‘roll up roll up’ – buy a ticket, everyone’s a winner! Well in that it might be open again one day for all to enjoy. Points make prizes and pounds restore the seafront infrastructure. #peoplepower
Support grows for the campaign to make the rainbow a permanent feature on Madeira Drive
A campaign to lobby Brighton & Hove Council to make a temporary Rainbow Crossing on Brighton’s Madeira Drive a more permanent feature is growing in momentum, with increasing support on social media and influential backers such as Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas. The Rainbow Crossing is making the neglected east side of Brighton Pier more than just a car park, providing a vibrant tourist attraction that appeals to people of all ages and persuasions, and creating a safe place to cross an otherwise dangerous road.
Madeira Drive in Brighton was given a bold makeover with street artwork representing Europe’s first official ‘rainbow crossing’ was unveiled to celebrate the release of We Can Change, a new song celebrating LGBT Pride month and championing equal rights by actress, musician and local resident, Heather Peace.
With many motorists exceeding the speed limit on Madeira Drive, and with the pedestrian walkway currently cordoned off because of erosion of the walkway and road above, accidents are a risk. Recently, a woman was knocked off her bike by a pedestrian who was crossing the bike lane. However, the Rainbow Crossing encourages pedestrians to stop, look and listen and motorists to slow down, creating a traffic calming effect.
This issue was the primary concern of Neil Sykes, of Modern World Gallery – located in the Madeira Drive artists’ quarter – who instigated the Rainbow Crossing Forever campaign and has been liaising with Brighton & Hove Council.
Neil Sykes says: “The response from the public has been heart-warming to say the least and, although nothing is yet official, people have been able to cross a busy road somewhat safer than before. The average speed of traffic appears to have reduced significantly which, again, is something that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. I witness near misses on a daily basis, and dread the day that a fatality happens.”
He adds: “The Rainbow Crossing has uplifted the rather dreary Madeira Drive instantaneously, and has become a tourist attraction in its own right.”
Fellow campaigner, ‘rainbow warrior’ and JAG Gallery artist, Jacqueline Hammond, agrees: “The rainbow is working its magic in making Madeira Drive come alive. It is a prime example of public art and has successfully brightened up the beach, the road and the otherwise run down east side of the pier, making it more than just one huge car park. It was wonderfully apt watching the ‘I Charleston Brighton’ dancers performing their routine on the crossing while the proposal to retain it was being penned.”
Another local trader commented: “Our Rainbow Crossing could help bring much-needed clients to this otherwise downtrodden side of the pier, which benefits the businesses located here, and make the area more sustainable. Maybe it is high time to redevelop the whole east side of the pier.”
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas is an advocate of the Rainbow Crossing and supports its continuation. She said: “The Rainbow Crossing is a great tribute to the spirit of diversity and inclusiveness embraced by our city and it’s already clear that people really love it. I wholeheartedly support the campaign to keep the crossing, and was in touch with the Council at the beginning of the week to urge them to agree.” (see https://twitter.com/CarolineLucas/status/477227393493786624).
Negotiations took place on Friday 13 June between Neil Sykes, representing the Rainbow Crossing Forever campaign, and Brighton & Hove Council regarding making it permanent fixture. Jacqueline Hammond said: “Beyond Pride, everyone involved would like to keep making Brighton brighter. Whatever happened to rainbow warriors and CND symbol of peace? Other cities have grown to love this type of rainbow and realise its many benefits, while the creators have been granted permissions.”
The installation of the Rainbow Crossing was instigated to coincide with the release of the song ‘We Can Change’ by actress, musician and local resident, Helen Pearce. The song has been launched to celebrate LGBT Pride and champion equal rights.
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The Rainbow Crossing, created by local artists from a diverse range of disciplines, from oil painter Caia Matheson who relished the chance to help create such a large-scale canvas, to street artists paving the way; JAG Gallery resident stencil artists Zeezee Twenty Two and Cassette Lord who has existing permission from Brighton & Hove Council to place his popular cassette stencils to brighten up ugly green electrical and telecoms boxes and other ‘street furniture’.
Neil Sykes “As for maintaining the crossing up until Pride, we have financial pledges in place from various local sources, including the Pride team. If jet washing is suspended, then I have agreed with all those involved in the original work that we would freshen it up as early as the Monday they’re due to demolish it.”
Plans are currently being discussed to establish a Rainbow Maintenance Fund, where donations and sponsorship from local business can help keep the artwork looking fresh.
Neil explains: “The plan is to give the Rainbow Crossing another coat of paint and maintain it until Pride, and beyond. We’ll supply the paints, the brushes – after all we host a community artists working from their studios down here. Furthermore we have been given support and sponsorship from Johnstones of Hove, who mixed and supplied enough paint at cost price to cover the large area of public road.”
Jacqueline Hammond of JAG Gallery, who has designed a range of deckchairs to display outside the gallery this summer, now plans to design a rainbow deckchair. The proceeds from this new design could be donated to the Rainbow Maintenance Fund… if Brighton gets to keep Europe’s first Rainbow Crossing.
Members of the public are urged to do what they can to save the rainbow. Firstly, to “like” the Brighton Rainbow Forever Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/brightonrainbow?fref=ts and be prepared for a sit down protest to stop the council from jet washing it away at 5am on Monday 16 June.
The Queen in a Moment of Privacy Jacqueline Hammond
Acrylics on canvas. 76.5 x 51 cm Gilded finish frame
Released to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The original painting is for sale and open to offers from collectors.
Monday 21st May 2012 Jacqueline Hammond interviewed on BBC Sussex Breakfast Show.
Presenter:
Queens Jubilee Mug by British artist Jacqueline Hammond as discusses on BBC Radio Sussex
” Is an artist from Brighton risking being locked in the tower for treason with her commemorative mug for The Queen’s Jubilee? Find out why…..”
“I’m not giving her the finger, she’s picking her own nose!”
” But does she fart?”
The item was light hearted and evoked laughter in the studio, thankfully!
The piece under the spotlight was a painting originally titled ‘The Queen in a Moment of Privacy’ created in 2007
Jacqueline Hammond’s portrait of The Queen picking her nose – view the painting on http://www.jacquelinehammond.co.uk or on the Saatchi Gallery website:
The Queen will then move to West Ox Arts Gallery in Bampton, Oxfordshire for a ‘Portraits of The Queen’ exhibition which runs throughout June.
Portraits of the Queen: An Exhibition Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee
“In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, West Ox Arts Gallery is inviting artists from far and wide to submit a portrait of the Queen for exhibition, to be on display throughout the month of June, with prizes to be awarded by public vote in the following categories: Most Creative, Most Ambitious & Most Realistic.”
Opening Reception (voting begins): Sat 2 June, 2-4pm Awards Reception (winners announced): Tues 5 June, 11-1.30pm. Jacqueline Hammond’s painting ‘Queen in a Moment of Privacy’ will be open to offers until 30th June.
I’ll be on the radio tomorrow morning at the nonsensical time of 7.20am! BBC Radio Sussex, talking about this:
Queenie ‘Nose’ She Picked a Diamond Year!
Commemorative edition product range created for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2012.
Jacqueline Hammond’s Queenie Nose She Picked a Diamond Year Commemorative Mug for 2012 Diamond Jubilee
This irreverent image of Her Majesty is a painting by British artist Jacqueline Hammond. Created in 2007 titled ‘The Queen in a Moment of Privacy’
Jacqueline has released some alternative memorabilia to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee latest hype in the UK and the large proportion of people who are ambivalent about the monarchy, or simply don’t like pomp and plastic tat, may wonder what the fuss is about. Some of the Diamond Jubilee memorabilia takes itself far too seriously, such as those plaster Queens, commemorative plates and ceramic corgis. Other items descend into utter tack, such as Union Jack dresses, tutus, wigs and plastic hats that will no doubt be appearing in Benidorm this summer.
These collector’s items depict an iconic, postage stamp type portrait of Her Majesty enjoying a private moment; in which she is caught in the ‘disgusting but we all do it’ act of picking her nose. The original work entitled ‘The Queen in a Moment of Privacy’ was an entry in the ‘Seeking Picasso’ competition, held in Brighton during 2007, in which Jacqueline was a finalist. She also caricatured the Royal Family on other occasions: for example, in 2011, her ‘Pebble Heads Royal Wedding’ painting used pebbles carefully selected from Brighton Beach as the character’s heads.
So, no need to buy an expensive porcelain plate that you’ll only use once or twice or a plastic union jack this summer, why not shirk the trend say “hurrumph” to the royal family and choose one of my alternative ideas to commemorate?
Choose from bags, mugs and prints all set to adorn the shoulders, coffee tables and walls of UK citizens who don’t want to stand in the street cheering and waving flags.
All items are designed in England and will be joining a range of products, sold under Jacqueline’s Smart Deco brand, that are all from British artists and designers.
The ‘Queenie Nose She’s Picked a Diamond Year 2012’ mug and bag can be purchased online at http://www.smartdeco-style.com Prices start at £8 for the mug and £15 for the tote bag. Also available on Amazon.
THE ORIGINAL PAINTING IS NOW OPEN TO OFFERS
‘The Queen in a Moment of Privacy’ Jacqueline Hammond
Acrylics on canvas. 76.5 x 51 cm (Gilded finish frame)
Released to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. The original painting is for sale and open to offers from collectors.
Ending 3pm Saturday 30th June 2012.
If you wish to bid on this artwork please submit your contact details on the website or email info@jacquelinehammond.co.uk Please state your name, address, telephone number and how much you would like to bid. If you are outbid, you will be contacted by e-mail and offered the opportunity to increase your bid.
The painting is currently exhibited in Brighton Artists Open Houses throughout May (Venue Anvil Ironworks 222 Ditchling Rd, Brighton. Fiveways Trail) For more information go to http://aoh.org.uk/may-2012-houses?item=473&offset=0
The Queen will then move to West Ox Arts Gallery in Bampton, Oxfordshire for a ‘Portraits of The Queen’ exhibition which runs throughout June. http://www.westoxarts.com
Portraits of the Queen: An Exhibition Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee
“In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, West Ox Arts Gallery is inviting artists from far and wide to submit a portrait of the Queen for exhibition, to be on display throughout the month of June, with prizes to be awarded by public vote in the following categories: Most Creative, Most Ambitious & Most Realistic.”
Opening Reception (voting begins): Sat 2 June, 2-4pm Awards Reception (winners announced): Tues 5 June, 11-1.30pm. Jacqueline Hammond’s painting ‘Queen in a Moment of Privacy’ will be open to offers until 30th June.
