One of Ian Cameron’s paintings, on show in his back garden in Green Lane, Acomb
ARTISTS are entering the last week of preparations for the 20th edition of York Open Studios.
After the Covid-enforced fallow year in 2020, the event will return for two weekends of welcoming visitors to 95 studios, workspaces and homes on July 10, 11, 17 and 18, preceded by a preview evening on July 9.
As many as 146 artists and makers will be showing and selling their work in this high-summer opportunity for art lovers and the curious to enjoy the fresh air, meet the artists and view and buy unique arts and crafts from York’s artisans.
Ceramicist Pietro Sanna, making his York Open Studios debut in Dale Street, York
2021’s York Open Studios will celebrate originality and diversity and will be Covid-compliant, with artists adhering to Government guidelines on social distancing, ventilation and sanitisers, keeping themselves and visitors safe throughout.
The York Open Studios organisers are thrilled with the selection of artists and makers spanning ceramics, collage, digital art, illustration, jewellery, mixed media, painting, print-making , photography, sculpture, textiles and wood. Among them will be 43 new participants.
Committee member and featured ceramicist Beccy Ridsdel says: “After last year’s postponement, we think this year’s 20th show is one of the best. Our decision to move from April to July this year has given us the opportunity for the stricter Covid guidelines [before Step 3] to be relaxed and give the public more confidence when visiting artists’ studios.
“We think this year’s 20th show is one of the best,” says ceramicist and committee member Becky Ridsdel, who will welcome visitors to her South Cottages studio in Shipton Road, York
“Artists and makers bring a diverse range of skills to the weekends, producing bespoke ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, wood carving and multi-media.
“There’s something for everyone and every pocket. The artists also love to showcase their work within their surroundings and really value the interaction, whether you’re a buyer or a burgeoning artist. It’s a fabulous way too to enjoy York and view extraordinary work.”
Geometric pattern block lino-print postcards, by mixed-media artist Harriette Rymer, on show at 94, The Village, Haxby
The 95 locations will be highlighted on a map of York to help visitors navigate their way to as many studios, workshops and homes as they wish.
Visit yorkopenstudios.co.uk for more information and for a free York Open Studios map. Alternatively, the map can be picked up from Visit York, on Lendal, or in shops, restaurants and visitor attractions around the city.
For full information on the artists and their studios, examples of their work and opening hours, visit: yorkopenstudios.co.uk.
Rug weaver Jacqueline James with her loom at home in Rosslyn Street, Clifton
Gin Anyone? A sketch for our times by Geraldine “Geri” Bilbrough
TODAY
should have been spent visiting other people’s homes, not staying safe at home.
Tomorrow too.
This is not
a call for a foolhardy Trumpian dropping of the guard on Covid-19, but a
forlorn wish that York Open Studios 2020 could have been just that: York Open
Studios. Instead, this weekend and next weekend will be York Shut Studios.
Nevertheless, in the absence of the opportunity to meet 144 artists at 100 locations, banished by the Coronavirus lockdown, CharlesHutchPress is determinedly championing the creativity of York’s artists and makers, who would have been showcasing their ceramics, collage, digital, illustration, jewellery, mixed media, painting, print, photography, sculpture and textiles skills.
Each day,
in brochure order, five artists who now miss out on the exposure of Open
Studios are being given a pen portrait on these pages, because so much art and
craft will have been created for the event and still needs a new home. Home and
studio addresses will not be included at this time.
Meanwhile,
York Open Studios artists are finding their own way to respond to the shutdown
by filling their windows with their work instead. Look for #openwindowsyork2020
to locate them. “If you see one in your area while taking your daily exercise,
take a picture and let us know,” they say.
Furthermore, look out for plenty of the 144 artists still showcasing their work over the York Open Studios period online. Holtby studio painter Kate Pettitt, for example, is penning a daily blog at facebook.com/katepettittartist/. “Visit the YOS website and take your own virtual tour at yorkopenstudios.co.uk,” she advises.
Fran Brammer: Founder member of York Textile Artists
Fran Brammer, textiles
FRAN left behind
Worcestershire for Yorkshire to teach art and design, then textiles, until
succumbing to the allure of a historical costume-making course.
She now works as a
textile artist and tutor, specialising in personal landscapes “drawn” using
freehand machine stitching that she produces for sale, exhibitions or private
commissions.
“My work is created by
building, then cutting away layers of found fabrics and stitching,” says Fran. “The
images explore individual experiences and histories both large and small.”
In her teaching
capacity, she hosts workshops, demonstrations and talks focusing on freehand
machine work and creative textiles.
“The images explore individual experiences and histories both large and small,” says Fran Brammer of her textile work
Fran, a founder member
of York Textile Artists, writes on her latest blog: “If you are a bored
creative, feeling a bit isolated and frustrated, try out the York Textile
Artists public Facebook page.
“We are planning to post
challenges and projects for you to get involved with, some as daft as a brush,
others more proper and ‘textiley’. If you don’t do Facebook, go on to our
website, yorktextileartists.com, and sign up for newsletter. We have plans.”
As for how Fran’s
artwork is responding to the Coronavirus shutdown, she writes: “All of the
current pieces are tied to opportunities lost due to social distancing…so time
to start anew and work with the restrictions.
“This has no deadline, no
purpose or goal, it just is. It is about being in the landscape, about being
alone with that landscape and how perception shifts, given time and space.
Interpretation and response rather than fact.” Read more at franbramm.wordpress.com.
Geraldine Bilbrough at work on an illustration
Geraldine Bilbrough, illustration
INSPIRED by music, film, stories and human emotions, using pencil and sometimes watercolour, before re-touching digitally, Geraldine tries to capture beauty and feeling within her thought-provoking images.
This York illustrator and designer has been drawing
all her life and considers art her biggest passion, creating detailed
illustrations, often based around portraiture with an occasional hint of
fantasy.
A portrait by Geraldine Bilbrough
“I enjoy nothing more than finding inspiration for new work and discussing ideas with other creatives,” her website profile says. “When I’m not drawing, I love to travel and explore new places, eat my way around cafés and restaurants, visit art galleries and learn French.” Learning French will have to hold sway for now, but roll on a return to those other joys, Geraldine, whenever that day may come.
2020 would have marked her York Open Studios debut.
Cast an eye over geraldinebilbrough.com.
“The thing about jewellery is that it’s never practical,” says Ruth Claydon
Ruth Claydon, jewellery
HOW would Ruth Claydon
sum up her jewellery? “Old, found, turned around,” she says, picking the title
Moth And Magpie for her brand of re-purposed cast-offs mixed with ancient
treasures, in acknowledgement of how her instincts match both.
“My ideal Magpie-upcycler scenario is discovering a vintage
or antique piece of jewellery and taking it back to my studio whilst I’m still
giddy with excitement to create new jewellery from it straight away,” she says on
her mothandmagpie.com blog.
Sharp-eyed Ruth sees the
potential in re-working cast-off old jewellery, making a virtue of the unwanted
by merging it with heirlooms and ancient finds such as salvaged Roman glass
beads and metals. In doing so, she makes old into new, modern designs, enhanced
by techniques such as hammering, melting and enamelling.
“Old, found, turned around”: Ruth Claydon’s definition of her jewellery
“Because the thing about jewellery is that it’s never practical,”
her blog contends. “It’s not about what will ‘do’. You absolutely have to love
it. It’s emotional. It’s the icing on the cake. It’s as personal as perfume. It’s
about how it looks, but even more it’s about how it makes you feel.”
A light carbon footprint sparks joy for Ruth. “Because I want to wear things that have also made other women feel special,” she says. “Because I want to create value from individuality, exclusivity from design, and if an Elizabeth Taylor diamond winks at me across a room, I can twinkle right back knowing that pinning down my glamour is as complex as the history entwined in the piece I am wearing.”
Find out more at
mothandmagpie.com.
Jacqueline James with her large and sturdy Swedish floor loom
Jacqueline James, textiles
JACQUELINE creates one-of-a-kind,
custom-dyed, hand-woven rugs and wall hangings, mainly contemporary in style,
using natural and durable materials in geometric patterns and stripe rhythms.
Born in Dumfries, Scotland, she grew up in the Pacific Northwest, USA, before moving to York in 1982. From 1985 to 1988, she studied woven textile design and construction at Harrogate College of Art and Technology, where she focused on rug weaving.
In 1989, Jacqueline
established her weaving studio in York, since when her textile work for
commission and exhibition has blended traditional techniques with contemporary
design style.
“Everything is made by hand on my large and sturdy Swedish floor loom,” she says. “Inspiration for new designs comes from everywhere, especially all the colours and patterns I see in nature, landscapes and architecture.”
Geometric patterns by Jacqueline James
Jacqueline’s work is in public and private collections in Britain and North America and her major commissions include weaving for York Minster, Westminster Abbey and the British Library. “I particularly enjoy designing and weaving bespoke commissioned work from private clients, interior designers, architects and places of worship,” she says.
“For me, weaving is a
lifestyle occupation which gives me a great sense of purpose. I adore the
tactile qualities and the rich colours of the threads I use and find the action
of weaving very engaging.
“Rug weaving is the perfect vehicle for
my visual interpretation and expression. As a rug weaver, I feel
privileged being part of the international weaving community and continuing an
important heritage craft tradition.” Discover more at handwovenrugs.co.uk.
Jean Drysdale: Designing sculptural objects, wall pieces and items to wear
Jean Drysdale, textiles
JEAN has worked in felt textiles since leaving
modern language teaching in 2007.
“I was drawn firstly by the apparent simplicity
of a process that produces wonderful results,” she says. “Then I looked
further, researching the great history, breadth and the depth of the felt-making
tradition.”
In 2011, she completed a City and Guilds course and since
then she has developed her felt-making process to create highly textured
sculptural objects, wall pieces and items to wear.
Textile with style: The work of Jean Drysdale
“Now I delight in achieving a contemporary result through use of
wide-ranging and ever-evolving techniques,” says Jean. “I work with unspun
sheep’s wool fibre, ranging from British and European rare breeds to fine
Australian merino. The felting process bonds the wool with silks and other
natural fibres.”
She likes to
explore texture, form and colour. “I use traditional and contemporary wet-felting
and hand-dyeing techniques and enjoy contrasting colours which migrate and
transform during the process,” says Jean, who has exhibited in York, Leeds, North
Yorkshire and Scotland, including at Helmsley
Arts Centre and Kunsthuis Gallery at The Dutch House, Crayke. More info at
jdrysdalefelt.co.uk.
TOMORROW: Harriet McKenzie; Harriette Rymer; Steve Williams; Sam Jones and Gerard Hobson.
