Secret Postcard Show

The Secret Postcard show was a great success – thanks to all the contributing artists who donated work and supporters who bought work on the day.
Total sales came to £1920 and after deducting costs, we raised £1600.

Funds raised will be used to underpin the costs of our programme of exhibitions, workshops and talks.

We would also like to ring fence a small amount to make a contribution to assist with the development of the SoCo website – to make it more exciting and interactive.
SoCo's web team does not include a web designer, so we are thinking of doing this by offering a student bursary ( Hastings College degree student) early in the autumn term,
with a brief to redesign the site.

If members have any thoughts / ideas about the website and/or what they would like to see included please contact us: socoartists1@btinternet.com
This will help inform our brief and make the most of this opportunity for the benefit of all our members.

Watch out for our latest newsletter, coming soon - with more news and details of exhibitions, events and opportunities for the rest of the year.

Webs and Nets: Contemporary Kimonos

Due to the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to the Contemporary Kimono installations in WPS and Oak Passage Studio (March 28/29 th , April 2 nd , 4 th and 5 th ) SoCo are increasing the scope of the project in order to perhaps have a larger installation of kimonos early in 2010.

 A further workshop has been scheduled on Sunday May 24 th , 10am-4pm at the Beacon, St Mary's Terrace, Hastings

The aim is to enable artists to produce a kimono, whether as wearable garment, soft sculpture or textile hanging using the basic principles of the traditional Japanese kimono; to bring their own practice to the form and to contemporise it.

Sewing skills are not necessary as there is help available. There are some fabrics to use, but you can also incorporate your own (which would add symbolism, personal meaning, memories etc) or construct textiles from scratch.

The workshop has a maximum of 10 artists to allow enough space for working on and looking at these large structure in the round. The cost is £30 (SoCo members £25) and includes a light lunch.

If you are interested in making a kimono and being part of this project please contact Judy Dewsbery: judy@beaconhastings.com for an application form.

There are more events listed in the Spring 2009 newsletter. Please click here.

Painting with Colour and Light
A painting workshop with Angie Braven

Sunday 10th May 10am to 4pm
at The Beacon,
67 –68 St. Mary's Terrace, Hastings
Admission Fee: Soco members: £20,
non SoCo members: £25.
This includes a light lunch

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to gain an insight into the theory underpinning this internationally known artist's own practice.
Starting with a limited palette of 3 brilliant saturated colours; process cyan, magenta and yellow, you will explore the language of colour and develop a full painters palette from these 3 primary colours.  You will then be encouraged to work from still life, the interior/exterior landscape or your own imagination to create rich and light-filled paintings.                                                                  

BOOKING ESSENTIAL Deadline for booking is Thursday 30th April
To book please complete and return booking form (click here for form) with cheque, made payable to Soco , for full amount to: Judy Dewsbery (SoCo) The Beacon, 67 –68 St. Mary's Terrace, Hastings

Places are limited. We advise you to contact us before sending any payment

We regret that we are unable to confirm your booking until payment has been received

Enquiries: Judy Dewsbery 01424 431305 e: judy@beaconhastings.com
For map and directions see www.beaconhastings.com

Materials to bring with you:

·      Tubes of acrylic colours: Process Cyan, Magenta and Yellow
         plus black and white
·      A1/A2 paper
·      Brushes, water container, rags

Reconstructing the Familiar
A new experimental workshop
led by Carly Ralph (tutor CSM)

Saturday 25th April 10am to 4pm
at The Beacon, 67 –68 St. Mary's Terrace, Hastings
Admission Fee: Soco members: £20,
non SoCo members: £25.
This includes a light lunch

A workshop for those who would enjoy working speculatively in response to ‘found' materials to create a small wall based low relief textile structure. Joining methods will include hand stitch, binding, stapling and gluing.

Advance preparation essential:  1-3 hours:

·     Find a substantial second hand SHOE* OR BAG with eg laces, eyelets,
      ‘worn' and concealed layers etc   (*not trainers)

·     Carefully deconstruct along every seam, to ‘release' the shoe or bag back to its original component pieces.

·     Preserve every piece as ‘precious' and bring to the workshop with:

      a sewing needle , thimble, sewing thread , scissors, stapler, knife, cutting mat, glue, masking tape, (camera)   

BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Deadline for booking is Thursday 16th April
To book please complete and return booking form (click here for form) with cheque, made payable to Soco , for full amount to: Judy Dewsbery (SoCo) The Beacon, 67 –68 St. Mary's Terrace, Hastings

Places are limited. We advise you to contact us: before sending any payment

We regret that we are unable to confirm your booking until payment has been received
Enquiries: Judy Dewsbery 01424 431305 e: judy@beaconhastings.com
For map and directions see www.beaconhastings.com

SoCo “ In Conversation”

Art and Sacred Places

The passion, the power, the process behind contemporary art conceived for sacred places.  
Angela Peagram, Project Director of Art and Sacred Places , will reflect on the practice
of this internationally renowned organisation working with today's leading artists.

Wednesday 11th February 4.30pm to 6.30pm
Reading Room,12 Claremont, Hastings

Booking by 1st February essential.
To reserve a place please contact
Carolyn Jackson e: c.jackson811@btinternet.com
or telephone 01424 423194
For more information visit http://www.artandsacredplaces.org

Admission £2.50 SoCo members, £3.50 non SoCo members

For map and directions visit: http://www.claremontstudios.org/contact.html

SoCo ‘In Conversation'
Thursday 29th January 7- 9 pm

Japanese textiles and the kimono

Robert Mucci shows items from his extensive collection of 19th and 20th century Japanese textiles and garments, in a talk on the history and symbolism, the sensuality and creativity, the workmanship and skill involved in the fabrication. This is a rare opportunity to see these amazing textiles at close quarters. Some of these are ‘museum quality', all are visually splendid.

An example of garments on show: ‘Lozenge Diaper. Stitchwork on hemp. Kogin Type, end of Edo period (1801-1868). The patterns are hand embroidered in white cotton threads on dark blue hemp cloth in a technique which involves crossing of the threads over and under regular numbers of warp and wefts, each motif requiring a specific system of counting. Repetition and combinations of these motifs give rise to a rich variety of design. This coat is Quilted Sashiko method of sewing together one or more layers of textile, sometimes rags, that is strong and warm.

This cloth is embroidery work by women of agricultural villages in Aomori and Akita Prefectures. To ensure a good marriage it is essential for her to learn the Kogin technique. Training began at an early age and by the time of marriage a woman would have woven a number of kimono for herself and her husband to be'.  

The Beacon , 67-68 St Mary's Terrace, Hastings TN34 3LS ( www.beaconhastings.com for downloadable map)

£5 (£4 SoCo members) includes glass of wine. For booking, please see contact details below.  

Booking is essential as places are limited. Please phone Judy on 01424 431305 or email judy@beaconhastings.com to book or for more information.

The contemporary KIMONO :
a SoCo workshop:
Sunday 1st February
10am – 4pm

Based on the concept of the Japanese garment, with its symbolism, geometric cut, its history of customs and rules, its potential for sensuality and storytelling, this workshop offers the exploration of the potential for all of this moving into a contemporary context.

Seen as an object suspended from a horizontal pole, the outside surface is open to decoration, elimination or expression, the interior there for discovery.

Worn on a body, moving, softening the geometry into curves and folds, the kimono becomes the expression of the wearer, enhances them or perhaps eclipses the wearer altogether.

The workshop will provide basic shapes on which to draw, paint, glue, cut or sew so bring paint, anything to add or sew on etc. to build ideas. This conceptual stage may be as far as you want to go.

Bring your own fabric if you wish to work with something in particular. This isn't a dyeing or embroidery workshop. There are sewing machines and people to help you to sew if required.

Remember there are only 5 hours in this workshop.

£25 for SoCo members, £30 for non-members, the price includes refreshments, light lunch and a VERY basic kimono in a flat form.

Booking is essential as places are limited. Please phone Judy on 01424 431305 or email judy@beaconhastings.com to book or for more information on either of these events.

The Beacon , 67-68 St Mary's Terrace, Hastings TN34 3LS ( www.beaconhastings.com for downloadable map)

To read our
Autumn 08 newsletter
please click here

Computer skills
Many artists need lessons on computer skills involving Photoshop, making websites, simple creative designs for postcards, name cards, posters etc. We have an Applemac computer, scanner and printer at Oak Passage, and are planning small classes for up to three people at a time with a small fee, to develop your skills.  If anyone is interested, please email us with your specific requirement and when you would be free. If we receive enough response, we will set up a pilot class in the near future.

SoCo has started to archive images of its events online. To see the archives please use the link to the left or click here.

SoCo celebrates CHRISTMAS

Exhibition at the Burton Gallery
5 Marine Court, St. Leonards-on-Sea

An exhibition of works by SoCo members

Private View Friday 28th November 6.30 - 9 pm

Open Sat 29th November - Weds 3rd December
12pm to 6 pm

Rendering visible the sub conscious: A workshop with Chris Milton
Sunday 23rd November 10am to 4pm
at the Beacon, 67 –68 St. Mary's Terrace, Hastings
Admission Fee: Soco members: £12,
non SoCo members: £15.
This includes a light lunch
There will be an extra charge for sheets of A1 cartridge paper
(up to £5 - dependent on amount used)
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL Deadline for booking is Tuesday November 18th
(click here for booking form for full details)
Enquiries/bookings:
Judy Dewsbery 01424 431305
e: judy@beaconhastings.com
Places are limited. We advise that you contact Judy Dewsbery before sending any payment.

Let's Do Business
13th November 2008
at Kings Church, The Ridge, Hastings.
SoCo will have a presence at this event.
We have been offered a free stall and it's a great opportunity for Soco to network with business sponsors/partners.
It's also a great way to promote your own art. So please do support us by letting Lesley have any of your artists cards, posters, leaflets and a piece of visually stunning artwork that we can display to represent our organisation. It can be for sale so include your name, title, price.
We need this by November 5th.
Lesley asks for help in manning the stall, even for two or three hours, please call her on 01424 713 873, also for information about delivery of artworks, etc.

Creative Workshop led by Oska Lappin
Sunday,  9th Nov from 10am-4pm
at the Beacon, 67 –68 St. Mary's Terrace, Hastings.
This introduces woodblock relief printing from a simple narrative which will be constructed by participants.
All materials provided.
Cost is £12 for Soco members, including simple lunch. £15 for others.
Booking by 2nd Nov is essential.
Please phone Judy Dewsbery
on 01424 431 305

Seeking Sanctuary:  A Multi Venue Exhibition

Local people and artists working together to explore their interpretation
of the meaning of Sanctuary.

See below for exhibition venues & times.

When ?

Saturday 13 Sept- Monday 15 Sept
Saturday 20 Sept - Monday 22 Sept
(Opening times vary - see details below)

Where ?

1 St. Clements Church, Croft Road, Hastings  Old Town  Open 12.30pm – 4.30pm

2. Friends Meeting House, 5 South Terrace
2pm to 5pm (Open Saturdays & Sundays only)

3. South Lodge, St. Leonards Gardens
Private Event Saturday 20th September
2 pm - 4 pm only
Public Event Sunday 21st September
2 pm - 4 pm only

4. St. John the Evangelist Church, Pevensey Road, St. Leonards Open 12.30pm  - 4.30pm
(except Sundays: Open 1.30pm to 4.30pm) Main Entrance on Brittany Road

5. Beach Hut 1, West Marina, St. Leonards 12.30 pm – 4.30pm
(Open Saturdays & Sundays only)

FOR MAP OF LOCATIONS PLEASE CLICK HERE

SEEKING SANCTUARY
BY HAND

Rachel Spring has been photographing hands at work in the Seeking Sanctuary project in the course of an analysis that will culminate in an event examining the process of Seeking Sanctuary. The event will take place at South Lodge on 20th and 21st September (details in box below).

To see some of the photographs that Rachel has taken at the workshops so far, and to read what each of the lead artists have written about their workshops, please click here for the image archive page or use the link to the left.

GRACE LAU AT BRIGHTON MUSEUM

EXHIBITION

SoCo member Grace Lau's
"21st Century Types: A Photographic Study"
is at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery Café Balcony
from 12th August to 10th November 2008.

To download a PDF poster please click here.

DISCUSSION

Thursday 9 October 1pm
Picturing the Chinese
Grace Lau discusses her photographic work
inspired by 19th century travellers' representations of the Chinese.
The Old Courtroom, Church Street, Brighton
£5 (£3.50 concessions)

BOOK

Grace Lau’s project began during research for her book "Picturing the Chinese: Early Western Photographs and Postcards of China". In it
she explores photographic portraits taken in China by Westerners during the years between the Opium Wars (1839–60) and the Boxer Rebellion (1900).
The book is to be published in August 2008.

Soco – In Conversation:

Webs and Nets – The Exhibition

Thursday 4th September 2008
7.15 - 9.30pm
The Beacon, Hastings

Penny Precious leads our second discussion on “WEBS and NETS”, and will outline the plan for Soco's touring Textiles Exhibition in 2009.
Other presenting artists will include:

Carly Ralph who uses reclaimed materials from the local shoreline, eroded fragments and fibers, metal, rope and plastics.

Lorna Dallas-Conte, textile artist, collaborated with painter Carolyn Jackson in the recent Soco ‘Conversations' event. Together, they conversed and created an extraordinary piece of artwork that exposes layers of personal memories and emotions through metaphors with the folds, tears and darns and stains that are traces left by the ‘lives' of textiles.

Penny will explain submission requirements for the exhibition, and talk about taking textiles beyond existing boundaries to explore exciting and diverse directions.

Wine and food provided £5.00

To reserve places email : gl@gracelau.plus.com or socoartists@btconnect.com

Late arrivals will not be admitted. This is to prevent disruption to artists' presentations

" conversations"
An exhibition of experimental work
resulting from a wide variety
of conversations between artists.
Join us
for afternoon tea, cake and good conversation
between 3pm and 6pm on Saturday 26 July
at
The Beacon
67-68 St Mary's Terrace
Hastings.

Exhibition open
Monday 28th July to Saturday 2nd August
3pm – 6pm
and  
Monday 4th August to Friday 8th August
3pm –6pm

SoCo (South Coast Artists)
Funded by Arts Council England

For map and directions see www.beaconhastings.com

" " " " " " " "

SoCo Community Project: SEEKING SANCTUARY

SoCo is inviting proposals from visual artists
familiar with the Hastings and St. Leonards area and able to deliver community workshops for this (funded) project. This is paid work for artists.  Artists will be working with members of the local community, aged 18 years and above. Workshops will be taking place during a period from mid July to 1st September. The project will culminate in a multi venue exhibition during Coastal Currents 2008. The project will explore the meaning of places of sanctuary in a contemporary context

For full details, project brief and proposal form please contact: socoartists@btconnect.com , placing Sanctuary in the subject line.

Deadline for proposals is 30 June 2008