Skipton Open Studios, sponsored by Skipton International and produced by ArtHouse Jersey, celebrates and promotes Jersey’s diverse creative community of artists and makers, providing both visitors and Islanders exclusive access into artists’ working studio spaces across the Island. This year over seventy artists are taking part, with additional artists participating in group displays of their work as part of pop-up exhibitions. This includes exhibitions at 10 and 20 Commercial Buildings, La Folie Studios, the Frances Le Sueur Centre and a number of Jersey’s unique historic properties, such as Le Moulin de Quetivel Mill.
However, this year it’s not just about the studios. They’ve grown the programme to feature a broad variety of unique events for the wider public. They are strong believers that art is for everyone and want to see people who wouldn’t typically enter arts spaces, cross the threshold and have a go. Below are five new projects taking place outside of the studio visits:
Former Police Station Takeover
They will be running a ten-day ‘takeover’ of the former police station, Piquet House, in the Royal Square. As the epicentre for Skipton Open Studios, it will be the venue for several artistic projects and exhibitions, as well as an information hub for finding out more about the full programme of events and studio locations. Piquet House will also be home to a number of pop-up events, such as ‘The Story Exchange’ installation curated by Sarah Taylor who is interviewing local artists for their stories, which will be archived as part of a growing collection of Jersey voices. Nick Romeril will be using the site to show for the first time some of the paintings and studies from his recent residency aboard the HMS Proctor, travelling to Antarctica, as well as a virtual-reality film created in collaboration with FLUX.
Piquet House will be open 10am – 5pm, Saturday 23 June – Sunday 1 July.
Food Styling & Photography Workshop
Whether you’re a budding food photographer, or a self-proclaimed foodie, this event will teach you to snap Instagram-worthy dishes and to style your plate like a true chef.
Run by The Bean Pot and Photographer Holly Smith, the event will take place at Piquet House on Sunday 24th June, booking in advance required.
Drink and Draw
Hosted by Abi Overland at the speak-easy styled cocktail bar, Project 52, this event is a human figure drawing night with a twist! Open to both trained artists and first-timers, they’ve got some tricks up their sleeves to make it an entertaining night and to inspire people to pick up some charcoal and ‘get sketchy’.
The event is Friday 29th June, booking in advance required.
Mural Project III
In the run up to the event, St Helier will also welcome the continuation of the Mural Project, coordinated by local artist Ben Robertson (aka BOKRA). This will see ten new murals pop up around St Helier’s streets over the next two months, paving the way for Jersey’s first ever street art tours taking place for free during Open Studios.
‘Food as Art’ Pop-up Kitchen
It isn’t a secret that food and art often go hand-in-hand as an intrinsic part of our culture. This pop-up kitchen event in partnership with Nourish Dining and Love Wine will consider ‘food as art’ and promises to be a feast for the senses. To find out more about this event and to book please visit their website.
For full details on participating artists and the full programme of events visit www.skiptonopenstudios.je
#SkiptonOpenStudios2018
Images by Holly Smith
