#2018 #Artizan #Newsletter #April #CristinaUlander #May #RAWArtForum #CocktailsandConversation

“Write to your councillors and tell them that this festival is going to be here for the next 50 years” DJ Chris Tofu “Write to your councillors and tell them that this festival is going to be here for the next 50 years” DJ Chris Tofu Grinagog Day 2 has passed, and yes, I’m feeling a little delicate again, but I challenge anyone to wake up feeling sprightly after a day which included, Kiko Bunn, Macka B, Tropical Tea Party, Sam Wulf, The Correspondents, Dizraeli and Downlow, Drystones, Henge, The Kaizens, and the New York Brass Band… twice! This was the big day, with the big man, Big Narstie and the festival site was buzzing. Chris Tofu was everywhere, sporting Grinagog cap, leather trousers, and bright gold shoes, and visibly bouncing in the sunshine. We started the day again at One World (still the best festival site in our opinion!) and quickly realised that we’d be needing the factor 50 as we slowly crisped on the sundeck. Tropical Tea Party were back again in the DJ pergola with their signature blend of fruity flavours, having tp’ed the surrounding area with colourful bunting and palm fronds. It was a look that pretty much epitomises the feel of the whole festival; vibrant enough, tropical enough and colourful enough, that you might forget you were in Torquay. Moving on to Torre Abbey, we spent most of the day enjoying the sunshine, flitting on the edge of the Supersonics tent to watch Torquay indie band The Kaizens who rocked one of the biggest crowds we’ve seen in the tent so far. The Crypt took on a far more mellow countenance hosting acoustic acts throughout the day. Here we caught Samuel Wulf, who mixed funk and acoustic guitar with a loop pedal to offer some soulful melodies. Then we took up residence in the Spanish Barn for a large helping of Reggae! First up, Kiko Bun – the man who brings the fun, and something about sun which we didn’t quite catch – delivered a DJ set that despite seemingly being fraught with technical issues, was hit after hit; we bumped into Kiko later on enjoying Dizraeli and Downlow in the RICC and he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself. Kiko was closely followed by Macka B, famed vegan reggae artist perhaps best known for his viral “Medical Monday” video, “Cucumba”. We’d been looking forward to this one and Mr B delivered some exceptional Jamaican vibes with his sterling band. “Health is wealth, ital is vital!” We tried to avoid the RICC for the main part; the sun was too nice to be in the dark of the Forum and if we had one criticism of the festival it would be that this venue still lacks a bit of atmosphere, although it has been significantly improved since last year! However, the draw of The Correspondents was too much, so we ventured into the dark for what was definitely the highest energy performance of the weekend. This British electro-swing duo made up of frontman Mr Bruce, who threw his lanky self around the stage in an otherworldly two-piece suit with UV detailing, and DJ Chucks, who mixes drum and base as though he’s working out on an elliptical cross trainer, were intense. These guys do electro swing but dirty, with retro soul and blues mixing with the most modern electronica and jungle beats. It’s all quite improper, in a good way. This was of course just a handful of highlights from an epic day, but for me the crown goes to the last performance of the evening from the band so nice we saw them twice, the New York Brass Band. The Chapel is a thoroughly unexpected venue in itself, but add in The Egg, a projection masterpiece across the back wall and high domed ceiling and it becomes something else. Drop in some great bands and this space is really something else. We arrived a bit early to see the end of the Drystones set who were mesmerising their audience – all taking a well-earned rest in the chapel pews – with furious fiddle playing and acoustic guitar. To quote the flyer we found on the floor, this duo is indecently talented, and they play a mixture of folk influenced music from every corner of the world. Having come from the angry rhymes of Dizraeli and Downlow, the calm of this space was quite overwhelming, and their more relaxed numbers very nearly lulled me into a peaceful repose. But then came the brass. The New York Brass Band are a York based New Orleans style brass ensemble performing modern hits in brass formations and boy do they perform! At their command the audience was upstanding, and The Chapel’s pews emptied out to fill the centre aisle with foot stomping, fist-pumping energy as they played an hour of hits to see in the night. The highlight for me was undoubtedly their cover of The Human League’s, Don’t You Want Me, which if it had it my way would have been their closing number. Either way, it was the perfect end to an absolute party! We’re heading back in again today, for what might be a quieter finish to the festival. But then again, we may as well go out with a bang! #Grinagog #Grinablog #Torquay #Torbay #Festival #TorreAbbey #RivieraCentre #OneWorldCafe

We're doing Gringog Festival 2018! Here's our round up of the Day 1 mudless fun! Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m hungover, I’m prepared to admit that Grinagog Day 1 has left me feeling somewhat fragile this morning, but frankly, it was totally worth it for what is already promising to be another exceptional weekend of mudless festival fun! We were early adopters of the festival, sneaking in the first two days of Grinagog 2017 and partying until two in the morning on the second day, before dashing up to London to catch long haul flights out to Jamaica; we were determined that Torquay’s inaugural major music festival was not something we were going to miss! It turned out that Grinagog’s laidback reggae vibes were the perfect warm up to a holiday in the Caribbean and staying up for two nights straight makes it exceptionally easy to sleep through a 9-hour flight. So, when it was confirmed that the festival would indeed be returning to the Bay, we snapped up some early bird tickets the first chance we got and then spent the next 6 months counting down the days. And Friday night has not disappointed! We headed down to a festival site that its fair to say is looking a lot more official this year. Checkpointed entrances are a staple, and there’s fencing restricting a few of the handy shortcuts between Torre Abbey and the RICC. It takes away a bit of the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere the festival had at first glance last year, but we get that its all necessary steps for security and traffic control. There’s more stages this year too, more food stalls to choose from (not that we had any complaints about Meat 59 being the sole outlet last year!), and Torre Abbey Gardens are playing a much bigger role with a couple of small stages. We sampled the offerings of the Caribbean Kitchen who are making some great jerk and our friends at the Cognitive Coffee Company are brewing some fine beans for a caffeine injection. We’re disappointed to see that the Gathering Space has not returned though, but again, we’re not entirely surprised to see that the use of Torre Abbey as a venue seems to be a bit better thought out this year with “one in one out” policies in The Crypt and The Chapel, and much more clearly defined routes as opposed to a free for all across the whole ground floor. After grabbing our wrist bands, we started off the day at One World Café which won our award last year for best venue of the festival. We love One World every day but add in live music and sunshine and there’s really no better place to be than their sunsoaked courtyard. DJs perform in their tiny gazebo, and crowds spill out into the surrounding paths in what must be the most chilled out place at the festival. Dogs aren’t allowed at the festival, but because One World is on an open part of the site you’ll find plenty of four legged friends enjoying tunes here too. We caught “It’s a Swing Thing” which was an ideal way to get in the mood for the festivals mix of electro, acoustic, reggae and world music. We’re heading back here today for Tropical Tea Party! The rest of the night flashed past with Craig Charles Funk and Soul in the RICC undoubtedly being the highlight. We also did a brief stint in the Crypt on the hunt for “New York City’s most beloved blues bashers”, Daddy Long Legs. We were definitely not the only people there disappointed to find that we should have actually been expecting @daddylonglegsacid a much better fit for the festivals alternative rave venue! We stayed for a little while, and after we’d come to terms with the fact we weren’t there for some foot stomping I actually quite enjoyed Mr Long Legs bassfest. The Crypt is also a really cool venue with its cavernous walls, low ceilings and UV. And now, it’s time for Round 2! Our line up for the day includes, Tropical Tea Party, Macka B, The Drystones, New York Brass Band, Kiko Bun, Henge, The Correspondents, and Dizraeli and Downlow. See you there! #Grinagog #Grinablog #Torquay #Torbay #Festival #TorreAbbey #RivieraCentre #OneWorldCafe

On Sunday afternoon with the weather looking a bit grey we took a trip to Greenway House. Not our first trip but our National Trust membership gives us the luxury to return as often as we like and takes away the pressure of trying to take in everything in one go; an impossibility here as it is fair to say that Agatha and the rest of her family were great collectors. Agatha Christie called Greenway 'the loveliest place in the world' and treasured it as a holiday home for her and her family. They filled each room with items dear to them, brought to Greenway from Ashfield, Agatha's childhood home, and their travels and extensive collections. The contents of the house are as the family left them when they gifted it to National trust, with rooms laid out as they would have been used by the family, so that when walking around you might almost believe that you might bump into one of them and strike up a conversation. We enjoyed chatting to the knowledgeable guides, and listening to audio recordings of Agatha and her grandson Matthew as we wandered around,, we learned that Agatha would read her new works to her family before going to print challenging them to work out 'whodunnit', that some of her curios became characters in her books, that she didn’t drink alcohol but preferred to drink cream with her meals! With the day outside still looking ominous we headed home planning to return to explore the extensive gardens and the boathouse on our next trip. #AgathaChristia #Greenway #Torbay #NationalTrust

#2018 #Artizan #Newsletter #April #CristinaUlander #Cockington #May #RAWArtForum #KirsteenTitchener #SusanCavaliere #FGDavis #JoWest

Back at the start of March we let you know about a little mystery at Artizan. A photo was left hidden above our doorway (presumably by someone quite tall!) of a seascape scene. We still aren’t sure where it came from, but since then the plot has thickened… One month on, we’re now beginning to gather a small collection from our mystery photographer with a total of three photos finding their way into the gallery. We still have very few clues as to who this might be, but the scenes in the two most recent photos perhaps stand a slightly better chance of being recognisable with some very unique rock formations and a wider backdrop of coastline to identify. We’d love some help identifying where the photos may have been taken, so if anyone has a good knowledge of the local coastline, do come and check them out and give us your best guess so we can go off exploring! #2018 #April #ArtizanUpdate #Torquay #Mystery #Photography #Coastal

Last year we received the exciting and sad news that artist and friend of the gallery Karen Lorenz would be moving out of her studio behind Artizan and migrating south for our neighbours in Cornwall. The fact was disappointing for several reasons; for one, Karen is an exceptional artist and has exhibited her beautiful work with us on occasion in the past; beyond this she has always, and continues to be, a committed supporter of the work we do, attending performance evenings, talks and previews with us on a regular basis. What is more, knowing that Karen was just across the road from us in her creative space, gave a comforting feeling of solidarity to know there was a cultural comrade a stone's throw away. But opportunities in Cornwall beckoned, offering successes that Karen's work undoubtedly deserves, so we waved farewell wishing her all the best. We're pleased to say however, that Karen has not been a stranger since making the move, and as well as keeping in touch regularly she’s also recently returned to Devon for an exhibition alongside Kate Walters at Space in Dartington Hall. Curated by the art.earth group for Dartington Arts, the show is called My Looking Ripens Things, and features new works inspired by the arts spiritual reaction to the world around them. The two artists are old friends, and their works are very complimentary; neutral earthy tones combine with splashes of rich burnt colours to unite their series’; abstract flowing forms, rough lines and heavy textural marks recall natural formations; overall, works are primal, recalling cave painting, geological beauty, lifeblood, fire and energy. Individually and as a collection, these are very powerful images. The exhibition runs until May 16th, and we definitely recommend a viewing. For more of Karens work visit www.karenlorenz.co.uk or for Kate head to http://www.katewalters.co.uk/ #Exhibition #Dartington #Devon #KarenLorenz #KateWalters #April #2018 #Nature #ArtistPreview #Event

A few weeks ago, we headed over to Torquay’s gorgeous Little Theatre for a night of board treading and thespianism. It was the final evening of their production of Anthony Shafer’s Sleuth, directed by Anna Reynolds who I first met at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School where she produced their musicals for many years. Shamefully, the last time I’d been to see a show at the Little Theatre must have been when I was around 10, for a production of Wind in the Willows that I remember being captivated by, so when I bumped into Anna on a dog walk and she told me about her show it seemed like a great reason for a long overdue visit. Sleuth for many may bring to mind the hit 1972 film adaptation starring Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier, or, if your less fortunate, may recall the less critically acclaimed 2007 film adaptation, also starring Michael Caine this time alongside Jude Law. However, it was first and foremost a Tony Award winning play, a dark comedy in which thriller writer Andrew Wyke seeks to exact his revenge over the young Milo Tindle, his wife’s new lover, through a meandering series of games which he devises as he might stratagems for one of his crime novels. The culmination, is a humiliated Tindle, having feared for his life at the hands of Wyke, taking his own revenge in a complex chess-like arrangement of counter and parry that perhaps, briefly, leads the pair to a begrudging acknowledgement of the others ability. Built upon twists and turns which are acknowledged as only having a place in fiction, the plays plot is ultimately contrived; for Milo to be fooled by them he must be taken for an idiot, or at least be highly gullible, but to devise his own game the opposite must be true, and likewise the same can be said of Andrew. It is Wyke’s character though that perhaps offers the solution to both these contradictions. His authority as a novelist grants him the capability to convince even a discerning mind of the reality of his fiction, and with Milo predisposed to dismiss Andrew’s literary style as beneath him, believing it to be a product of upper-class parlour games that bares no resemblance to “real life”, he becomes susceptible to the trickery. This is particularly plausible given he is exposed to these circumstances on Andrew’s home turf, the surreal and disorienting setting of his palatial estate, an apparent museum of the artefacts of his theatrical and literary career. On the other side of the coin, Wyke, in a best-case scenario is eccentric, in a worst-case scenario is perhaps insane. Either way, he has clearly begun to blur the lines between reality and the fiction of his novels, and his penchant for these games ironically makes him the perfect target for them; he wants to be deceived and outsmarted, to have a worthy competitor. With the complexity of this relationship, a production of Sleuth will undoubtedly be broken if these two personas are not delivered with extreme dexterity; it is on their shoulders that the tension is built and maintained; they must unravel the twists not too fast nor too slowly; these drivers must take the turns not so recklessly that they lose control, nor too cautiously that they lose momentum as they exit the bend. This was certainly achieved by the duo of Jonathan Manley and Richard Gent who barely missed a beat throughout the whole performance. The necessary dramatic irony was maintained throughout and revelations were granted to the audience at the requisite moments to ensure that suspense and uncertainty were balanced with a marginally superior cognizance over the plays unfortunate dupes, an equilibrium which could have all too easily been unsettled by a fumbled line or misplaced plot device. The feat is even more impressive when you consider there are no supporting roles and with the addition of a number of slapstick elements, which were delivered with accomplishment, a not inconsiderable degree of stamina is undoubtedly required. The backdrop to all of this, was a highly professional set and technical display, both of which The Little Theatre are renowned for. The complexities demanded were by no means limited either; Wyke’s mechanical dummy, exploding crockery, but most importantly a convincing space which delivered the depth to portray a faux murder mystery, all of which were delivered. Most importantly, The Little Theatre remains an incredible and unique performance space and one we should count ourselves lucky to have in Torbay. It’s impressively sustained membership and sublime atmosphere make this the perfect destination for an evening of theatre, and I’ll certainly be making the effort to attend more regularly in future. #TheLittleTheatre #2018 #March #Sleuth #AnnaReynolds #Theatre #Play #MurderMystery #Torquay #Torbay

Last night I went along to the postponed Preview of the Tattoo Exhibition at Torre Abbey which opened on 3rd March and will run until 3rd June. I would like to say that I have always been ambivalent to the concept of tattooing but in truth, I have just never got it. I can appreciate it as an art form and maybe a small and discreet image, in a usually hidden place would be as far as I might ever go but to cover large expanses on one’s body permanently has never had any appeal. Tihoti Faara Barff (Tahitian Tattoo artists featured in the exhibition) ‘It is not about fashion. Fashion changes. A tattoo is on your skin for life. You must be proud of it for life.’ So why, you are probably wondering, did I go along. Ostensibly, I went to view simply the art, with the images that I had seen in print of the ‘100 Hands’ exhibit curated by Alice Snape, firmly in mind, but an hour and a half or so later, I came away with so much more and perceptions changed. That’s not to say that I will be rushing out to my nearest tattoo artist for some large statement tattoo, but it is surely testament to a truly great exhibition that you leave it feeling informed, engaged and permanently affected by it. The Exhibition runs throughout the house, with mock up tattoo parlours, video, and an historical exploration of this truly unique art form, showcasing the rich maritime heritage of tattoos but also showing how people from all areas of society have always been tattooed, even royalty. On the night we also had live tattooing with the chance to win a tattoo, I wasn’t quite ready to throw my name into the hat for that one but there were plenty of people there who were! One aspect of the exhibition that particularly resonated and significantly changed my perception was the ‘Torbay Tattoo Tales’, a collection of photographs of tattoos with the stories behind them, from the simple ‘missed heartbeat’ representing a near death, images that challenge inner demons or significant illnesses, to those that celebrate life and pay homage to lost loved ones. #torbaytattootales https://www.instagram.com/torbaytattootales/ I missed the opening speech from guest curator Dr Matt Lodder (lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Director of American Studies at the University of Essex) who says, ‘Tattooing is a magical, romantic, exciting and often misunderstood art-form’. With one in three young adults now having a tattoo, wider acceptance and understanding of this art form may not be so many years away. Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed is curated by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, an independent Museum based in Falmouth and the exhibition at Torre Abbey is the first stop on its nationwide tour. ‘My inspiration for this piece is the nature in my home islands of Tahiti.’ #TorreAbbey #TattooExhibition #2018 #March #Exhibition #Torbay

When I moved to the city that never sleeps, unless it snows, I knew it was for the right reasons. I was in love, and still am, with a man who had enticed me over with his siren ways. What I did not know at the time was that it would also start a new sub chapter in my book of life called “Photography”. I started to think the way of the pixel when I just started to mess about on my IPhone and the end results were rather good. Looking back, the first statement I made as a photographer was a picture of a brick wall when I was 6 years old. I knew it was different and I knew that I liked it, but I never thought it would lead to people buying my work. I am now in 15 countries and have just had my first solo exhibition in Torquay at Artizan Gallery. I had to leave the country to have an exhibition, that’s how performance arty I am. Some people have very strong feelings about using the iPhone as a camera. In some instances I agree; wedding photographers should never turn up to a job and use an iPhone. But if you are an art photographer, it does not matter. I class myself as a communicator; I am aware how that makes me sound but it is the best description. It covers performance, writing, photography, painting and performance art (www.iamcerealkiller.com). People that know, and own, my work understand that generally I do something to the picture so that it is changed from everyday life. The New York skyline has been of great inspiration to me; the iconic statement that it makes is what draws many tourists to the city. Now, my strongest outlet is photography and I am returning to college soon to take my training further. I have work coming up as a set designer for a play and this excites me as it is a different use of my photographic skills. I am also working on my next exhibition “Not looking at You” that is exploring personal security in the street and the use of Apple products. Moving to New York from Cornwall was a giant leap, but it was good for me. It has let me grow in many aspects of my life and the people I have met here have been inspirational to me. #MarkWallis #Travel #International #Photography #Cornwall #America #Poetry

This year marks the second annual Devon Life Landscape Artist of the Year award, a competition celebrating professional and amateur artists who share a common love in the landscapes and seascapes of Devon. The remit was expanded this year, with the competition opened up to invite artists of all mediums and attracted illustrators, collage makers and markmakers. Arthub artist Rosemary Bonney, is one of six finalists selected with work on display at the Mayne Gallery, Kingsbridge, where the winners will be announced at the exhibition preview on 31st March 6-8PM. "I am honoured to have been chosen as one of the six finalists for the Devon Life Landscape Artist of the Year, 2018” Rosemary Bonney You can view Rosemary's Arthub Profile here for more on her work. #RosemaryBonney #DevonLife #Competition #LandscapeArtistoftheYear #Landscape #ArthubArtist

Thoughts from our recent intern Xhen who joined us from Germany at the end of last year via TTPL. She offers her perspective on how art is viewed and participated in by young people today. Do you know what art means? Well, let me copy and paste the definition from Oxford Dictionary in here: “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their own beauty or emotional power.” So, in fact we are all artistic in a way, but not everyone has the courage to show the world its hidden talents. I was always fascinated by art, although my fascination was in the history and its development. I was asking myself often why, so many people are not interested in art especially the younger generation. Do they feel out of place in a way when they enter a gallery, because they do not know anything about the artist or even don’t have any clue about the works? Art is like any other subject you can learn about. You just need to find the time to read all the wonderful books about art, artists or simply go to a gallery and admire some pieces. When you feel to create something just do it and even it is not perfect do not be disappointed. Art takes time, you can develop your own style and notice what you like and what you do not, never thinking that your work is ridiculous or everybody could do your work. If that were so your artwork would have been produced a long time ago. So be patient and do not expect to be wonderful at the beginning; babies aren’t able to walk like models when they learn to walk for the first time. Surrounded by creative, open-minded and heart-warming people, I began to understand at an early age, that what makes you happy relates to your own creativity. Do you remember the film “Dead Poets Society”, when John Keating said to his students: “Medicine, law, business, engineering: these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love…these are what we stay alive for.” I think with this saying he was recognizing something most people sadly forget nowadays. In my article I will introduce you to two talented people, who I am lucky enough to know in person, they are my friends. We went to school together in Germany. Introducing Dana Koehler One of these young artists is Dana Koehler (19 years, Hamburg). Amongst friends she is known for her skills using her pencil, focused on fine details. But there are some works painted with acrylics as well as watercolours. She started to draw very young but began at the age of 13 to go into details. For her, art/drawing is her balance to reality, within the colours and shades she found a place to be. The first piece of hers is called “The Great Champion” and is based on the film “Dreamer”. She was inspired by the saying: “You are a great champion. When you ran, the ground shook, the sky opened, and mere mortals parted. Parted the way to victory, where you'll meet me in the winner's circle, where I'll put a blanket of flowers on your back.” She loves horses and wanted to capture this moment in a picture, working with watercolours and black inks she created the piece. The second piece is called “Ladybug”, which is drawn with pencils. Her inspiration was found by the original picture, hung in the family that she babysat for. This picture is linked with the children and their happiness; therefore, it has a personal connection to Dana. Introducing Lilli Lassen Lilli Lassen (18 years, Hamburg), another artist, told me once: “So, if you ask me when I started to do arts, I can only tell you it has always been there, and it will always be there.” All of her life she has been surrounded by art, since her mother is a freelance artist, painter and author. She grew up in an artistic family, her brother is into music and her father was the lead in a pop band back in the nineties, where he met Lilli’s mother. Lilli found her passion in writing, but also does some paintings and drawings. She mostly uses pencils, enjoying keeping everything as simple as possible without any equipment. Her pieces are simple pencil drawing and she draws whatever comes to mind. This piece depicts a girl. Something streaming out of her eyes and mouth, which representing the emotions she feels and the words she speaks. From her head emerges something which may be a flower, a symbol of the beauty she springs from, or in the other hand it could be flames as she seems to burn down trying to tell someone something. She tries to tell of something beautiful but is not understood, so there is beauty and pain combined in this picture. The second pencil drawing piece shows different perspectives and it seems like each person is losing pieces of themselves. They would merge with each other, like one does in a crowd of people, but every face looks different and unique, showing the beauty in the individual. Art for them is personal, they create something to express their own feelings. Their goal is not based on impressing someone, but simply being away for some minutes form reality. Compared to Dana, Lilli just uses her intuition, whenever she feels to create something she does. Her inspiration is found in every art which has the power to make people feel something. With a certain picture in her mind, followed as a template, Dana starts her work. She uses a template, so she can focus on the details and show them in her work. Dana finds her inspiration in her enthusiasm for certain things, her drawings/paintings based on things she is passionate about. Dana does not have a certain person, who inspired her. Her creativity flows while watching films, especially animated ones. An inspiring person for Lilli is her mother, because she has always done what she loves no matter what people say or think about it. Also, books are a source of inspiration. Lilli loves to discover pencil drawings as well as reading anonymous poems, while listening to music. Because of her huge captivation with colours, Dana is open-minded when it comes to the question of which art form she would create, she simply replies with the fact, that she just loves colours and their different shades within, and it is this she aims to reflect in her pieces. Two different personalities and to different ways to create something, so what we have learnt through these people is that art is individual and does not have any rules, so get out of your chair and find your personal connection to art! If you want to find more about each one of them, visit their Instagram pages. On Dana’s page, you will find more works of hers. Dana Koehler: https://www.instagram.com/dana_klr/ Lilli Lassen: https://www.instagram.com/lilli_la/ #2018 #ArtistStories #XhenisaKika