Photo-log blog of the art on the walls at ‘Jaxx in a Box’ my house and studio which was open to the public this May for Artists Open Houses for more info visit www.aoh.org
All over the city of Brighton and Hove, local artists open their houses and studios to the public. Follow the trail at Kemptown Arts Brighton
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
What a sociable month May was – I had so many lovely conversations with people that it’s going to take a while to remember the people that came to visit my open house so I’m going to make a little list quickly.
Those who made it to the trail’s ‘outpost’ had dedication and conviction. They had made the effort, as it were. Thank you all for coming – I hope some of you might be reading this 😉
Here’s some photos of a few moments I managed to capture but I’m gonna set a photo booth next year as I would love to have portrayed or made portraits even, of the people that came. (Welcome to come back and take part – new project) . I kept many people chatting for up to an hour and had a steady flow of people that gave me time to have some really decent conversations. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and far more relaxed ‘doing it from home’ … (draft)
Photo courtesy of Andrew Roach Photography. Painting the Brighton Rainbow Crossing earlier this year.
All artists, namely painters should read this and consider what the potential ban on cadmium pigments means to them and contact the ECHA. I will be hastily writing to them as other yellows do not cut the mustard like cadmium yellow. The ban will be considered next month so act now to save cadmium paints. I’m going to stock up now!
Yellow paint tube carried by my daughters school in Brighton Children’s Parade 2014Photo courtesy of Andrew Roach Photography. Painting the Brighton Rainbow Crossing earlier this year.Save cadmium paint!
The following excerpt taken from:
Cadmium in Crisis!
By Julie Caves · On May 7, 2014, Jackson’s Art Blog
There is a possibility that Cadmium Pigments will be banned by the EU.
The authorities concerned, however, are currently assessing the situation and taking on comments from the public.
We know that a ban would affect many of our customers so we are writing to you in the hope that you can help us raise awareness of this issue and we are asking as many artists as possible to visit the ECHA (European Chemical Agency) website to give their opinions on the use, unique characteristics and handling of these special paints.
Below is an article written by our friend Michael Craine, from Spectrum Paints, who expains all the issues. We invite you to read his article before passing comment on the ECHA website.
What are the possible outcomes?
The worst-case scenario is that Cadmiums could be banned within a couple of years, which in the view of many of us in the industry is both distressing and entirely unnecessary. If it did come into effect, the tap would be turned off the supply of pigment and we would see the remaining stock pass through the supply chain until it is gone.
Is there a petition to sign?
We are not organising a petition as mass numbers don’t help or inform ECHA greatly. What is helpful is an understanding on how artists handle residual paint from brushes and tubes and indeed how much paint is wasted. In addition anecdotal stories on the power and beauty of cadmium colours and the influence on the selling price of a painting would also be relevant.
How can individual artists have their say?
ECHA would like to hear from artists who use Cadmium pigments in acrylic, oil or water colour to gauge what level of risk this represents. They would like to build up a view of the experiences of users so they can constructively contribute to the debate in a genuinely informed way. For example they would like to discover how much Cadmium paint is left when old tubes and tins are discarded and how much paint is wasted when brushes and palettes are cleaned? A recent study in the USA estimated that less than 5% of all cadmium paints fails to reach the canvas. Do artists feel that is a fair estimate? ECHA are also likely to be interested to hear if Cadmium paints add value to paintings by their strength, vibrancy and longevity.
What is the deadline for contributions and opinions?
No time like the present! Submissions in the next few weeks would be most effective.
When will we find out if cadmium has survived?
The consultation ends in September after which the ECHA will retire for several months’ discussion during which time the committee members cannot be lobbied or contacted.
The JAG Gallery on Brighton seafront – where Smart Deco owner and founder, Jacqueline Hammond produces her fine-art-based homeware designs – is part of the Artists Open House season. #brighton #openhouses #brightonfringe #brightonfestival
Here’s a taster of what’s happening and an introduction to the artists who work at Jag Gallery and Open Studios – with some photos I took at the launch
artbyjaxx
