Press Release- Basildon Art Trail

For 10 days in October (5^th October – 15^th October) the eclectic borough of Basildon will be home to this year’s Basildon Art Trail, a collection of temporary exhibitions by local artists and art groups who will use shops, businesses and public spaces to exhibit work. The aim of the Art Trail is to provide the public with the opportunity to walk around the town of Basildon to not only view the diverse range of artwork on display, but to explore the town, it’s history, landmarks and many shops, businesses and establishments.

The Basildon Art Trail is a fantastic opportunity to see some of the more creative work that takes place, by talented local artists throughout the year. 26 artists are preparing to exhibit their work for the general public in an array of venues including Gallery 2 (in Eastgate), Wat Tyler Country Park, The Towngate Theatre, Hobby Craft, Summer Hills Garden Centre, Build-a-bear, MSB and many more.

As the name suggests, most of the venues are within walking distance of each other and the Basildon Art trail brochure contains a handy map detailing all the venues. The brochure is available free of charge from participating shops and outlets on the Art Trail, including the Library. The brochure is also available to be viewed and downloaded from the Art Trail blog  www.basildonartrail.blogspot.co.uk

For the duration of the trail there will be a central hub, situated in Gallery 2, (on Level 1 of the Eastgate Shopping Centre – opposite New Look) where visitors can pick up brochures, view a piece of work by all exhibiting artists and find out more about the trail. 

Central Hub at Gallery 2

Our laminating team, cutting and sorting at Gallery 2

Hanging the work

Welcome to the Basildon Art Trail central hub - Gallery 2

Steve Judd's "Kennedy" sculpture gazes at the works of art opposite

How fabulous do the children's Spin Painting look?

Gallery 2 is open, 10:00am-4:00pm Monday - Sunday. All other venues are open normal shop/business hours. For more information pick up a brochure from any of our Art Trail Venues:

Eastgate Hub, The Towhgate Theatre, MSB, Summerhill Garden Centre, Hobby craft, Build a Bear, Basildon Library, Gateway Radio Station 97.8FM, Wat Tyler Country Park, The Green Centre, Club Kingswood and The Place . If you require any further information please email basildonarttrail@hotmail.co.uk 

Children's Spin Paintings - Gallery 2

In this year's Basildon Art Trail we are pleased and proud to have work in two of our venues by local children. Gallery 2, one of the venues featuring art by local children, showcases 6 stunning spin paintings created as part of a fringe event organised by Tate Modern Gallery.

8 lucky pupils from schools in Basildon were given the opportunity to visit Covent Garden with artist Lisa Smith to see Damien Hirst create his famous Spin Painting art. At the event the talented group of 8 children met, spoke and worked alongside Hirst and his team from Science LTD. 

The children chose a template from a selection of six images that related to Hirst's catalogue of work. These included a sharks head, a rocket, a heart, a spot, a butterfly and a skull. The children then patiently waited their turn to create their unique piece of spin art with the assistance of Science LTD.

The paintings were made by first pinning the template to the turntable then applying a coat of water to the surface of the template. 

The template was then set spinning while brightly coloured paints were poured onto it by the children.

These are the amazing finished pictures

Please find time to stop by Gallery 2 to experience the beautiful artwork Basildon's creative and talented children have produced.

Dorothy Pestell

Dorothy Pestell's artwork will be displayed as part of this years Art Trail in The Eastgate Hub (just outside of Starbucks and Debenhams in the Eastgate Shopping Centre).

Dorothy was born in 1938 and took up painting as a "recycled teenager" in her retirement years. Dorothy Explains "I thought I would try my hand at art in my retirement years, and enjoy showing my works that display how I wield a paint brush in and out of the most fantastic colours, tickle a pencil, move an oil pastel and create sculpture using mod roc. I have been delighted to display my works in the BEA gallery and pleased with the supportive comments viewers have offered. I encourage all to visit the space. Like life, the art in the gallery is full surprises!

My work is inspired by the people I meet and all the wonderful things that I am proud to have and share on this earth today. My life in the art world has been touched by people like Dean Smith, Cheryl, Paul, Rob, Vin, Graham and Jim. Not to mention all my co-artists in the gallery".

You can view Dorothy's work in Gallery 2 from the 2nd October and the Eastgate Hub from the 5th October 2012.

One of Dorothy's beautiful watercolour and pencil drawings

This stunning mixed media still life can be seen in Gallery 2 as of the  2nd October

1 Week to go...

Only one week to go until the Basildon Art Trail launches!!! Over the next week make sure you check in on the blog to see sneaky peeks of some of the stunning art work that will be on display. To pick up your brochure pop into the BEA gallery in the Eastgate Shopping Centre or any of the following venues from Tuesday 2nd October:

Wat Tyler Country Park

The Green Centre

The Towngate Theatre

Hobbycraft

MSB

Club Kingswood

Gateway 97.8fm

Build a Bear

The Place

Eastgate Hub (outside Debenhams)

Basildon Library

Summerhill Garden Centre

Gallery 2

Plus you can also view a selection of local artist's work currently on display at The Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital.

Barleylands Art Trail

This blog showcases some of the stunning work which can currently be viewed as part of the Barley Lands Art Trail. Following the success of last year’s event, this time the art trail has been extended to run for a whole month, allowing more people to have the opportunity to view the local talent of Essex, both professional and amateur. Now in its third year, galleries and workshops within the Barleylands Craft Village have again opened their doors to local artists to display their work.

The trail was formed two years ago by a voluntary committee with the aim of creating opportunities and links between local artists, business and community whilst promoting the profile of all three.

The Barleylands Craft Village is the perfect venue for such an event of this kind as it is home of more than fifty studio shops working with a whole host of materials including paint, canvas, paper, clay, glass and steel to produce an array of unique products. Take the opportunity to visit soon and view some great art and very creative product.

In the mean time here is a sneaky preview to wet your appetite....

Official opening of the Barleylands Art Trail 2012

Graham Collins, Illustrator in Studio 52 (image to follow)

Martin Dyer, Visual Artist in Studio 30

Richard Argent, Visual Artist in Studio 19

Donna Phelps, Visual Artist in Studio 33-35

Liz O’Brien, Visual Artist in Studio 42

Caroline Weidman, Sculptor in Studio 44

Denise Gannon, Textile Artist in Studio 48

Lisa Smith, Visual Artist in Studio 28

Steve Burdett, Visual Artist in Studio 15

Danielle Clements, Sculptor in Studio 41

Jennie Clements, Fantasy Art in Studio 41

The trail blazers, reviewing this years Art Trail

Willerby, Visual Artist in Studio 43 (image to follow)

Paul Magner, Photographer in Studio 50

Sandra Bonner, Photography in Studio 24

Mandy Davis, Painter in Studio 20

Pearce Hall, Visual Artist in Studio 18

Janet Stout, Visual Artist in Studio 40

Jan Simon, Jeweller in Studio 43

Robert J Railton, Visual Artist in the Courtyard Tea rooms

If you would like to see the works mentioned in this blog and much more, why not visit Barleylands Craft Village, Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD. To find out more details go to www.barleylands.co.uk

Stephen Grayston instructing children how to paint the sign for the "Sun"

 At the beginning of July Stephen Grayston's beautiful Japanese Calligraphy exhibition opened at the Gallery 2 space based in the Eastgate Centre in Basildon. The exhibition by Stephen (who exhibits annually in Japan), contains traditional sho with bokujo and some work with acrylic on canvas. 

On the 14th July Stephen was joined by local children and held a demonstration workshop in front of Stephen Metcalfe MP and Mayor of Basildon Councillor Mo Larkin. Following the expert instruction provided by Stephen the children used black ink and paint brushes to paint various symbols in a traditional Japanese format - including symbols for the sun, happiness and wind.

Stephen was exceptionally impressed with the concentration and talent of the local children commenting " This was an opportunity for school children to come along and try something that they had not tried before."

You can see Stephen's exhibition at the Gallery 2 space next to the BEA gallery in the Eastgate until the end of July 2012. Or if you have been inspired by this blog and would like to try your hand at a bit of calligraphy, come along to the Gallery 2 on Saturday 28th July between 10:00am - 2:00pm for another opportunity to experience and take part in another live demonstration of Japanese Calligraphy by Stephen.

The Basildon Art Trail is delighted to announce that you will also be able to see some of Stephen amazing canvases and calligraphy as part of the Basildon Art Trail in October 2012.

Stephen Metcalfe joins the workshop to see what the children are painting

Sitting patiently awaiting the next instruction

 Alongside the amazing work produced by Stephen, artist Alistair Smith (who has been working at the Eastgate recycling cardboard boxes discarded by local retailers) created a large golden pagodas that stands just over 6 metres. Traditionally pagodas have five stories (one for each element) but the Writtle based artist used his artistic licence to add a sixth floor to represent grandeur and the spirit of  friendship between our nations .

Artist Alistair Smith stands in front of his amazing cardboard pagodas, joined by Yuko Warwick-Yamamoto, Reiko Aitken, Nanae Miller,  Mayor of Basildon Councillor Mo Larkin and Stephen Metcalfe MP

 Eastgate shopping centre has dedicated the sculpture to the Japanese Olympic swimming team, who have used Basildon as a base. It is displayed as a warm welcoming gesture of friendship and thanks to the team on behalf of the Eastgate Shopping Centre and the people of Basildon. 

Stephen Grayson with Yuko, Reiko and Nanae

Essex Summer of Art

The Basildon Art Trail is very proud to be affiliated with the Essex Summer of Art festival.

This year Essex is celebrating its fourth Summer of Art festival, which will see local artists exhibiting their work on art trails and open studios in the county's rural, coastal and urban settings, showcasing the county's artistic talent. Essex Summer of Art 2012 is the biggest yet and please to announce that it is representing trails/fringe events/open studios by every borough  across the county celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games through art.
Taking place from May to October 2012 Summer of Art encourages people to visit the Essex art trails and explore the landscapes that have inspired generations of artists.
Essex Summer of Art has been brought to you by firstsite in partnership with Essex County Council's Arts Development, 2012 Legacy and Tourism Teams, participating District, Borough Councils, Unitary Authority, BBC Essex and Essex's many and varied art trails.

Pick up your brochure today form various venues around Essex including libraries, Basildon BEA gallery and Barleylands Farm

Essex is proud to have a 2012 Olympic Games venue at Hadleigh Farm in Castle Point, which will host the Mountain Bike events. However, the legacy of the 2012 Games in Essex will not just be felt in sport. In the build up to 2012, the Essex Summer of Art will form part of Essex's innovative contribution to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, a four year programme combining cultural activities and education with sport to showcase the UK to the rest of the world through the London Games.
List of the 2012 Trails:

• Art on the Railings - Southend: 1st weekend of every month from May to September
• Braintree Art Trail: 12 & 13 May and throughout June
• Westcliff Art Trail: 12 -19 May
• Gatehouse - Harlow: 19 & 20 May
• Gosfield Jubilee & Olympic Scarecrow Trail: 16 & 17 June
• Leigh Art Trail: 16 - 23 June
• Brentwood Art Trail: 18 - 30 June
• Burnham Art Trail: 23 June - 1 July
• Thurrock Art Trail: 2 - 15 July
• Parndon Mill Open - Harlow: 21 & 22 July; 14 &15; 21 & 22 July
• Essex Craft & Design Show - Hyde Hall: 28 & 29 July
• Art Trail Barleylands - Billericay: 3 August - 3 September
• Billericay Art Trail: 30 August - 9 September
• Jaywick Coastal Open: September - October
• Colchester and Tendring Open Studios: every weekend during September from 8 & 9 September
• ‘Works Like a Charm' - Epping Forest: 16 September
• Essex Craft & Design Show - Cressing Temple: 29 & 30 September
• Maldon Art Trail: 29 September - 6 October
• Basildon Art Trail: 5 - 15 October
• Hadleigh Art Trail: 6 - 13 October
• Rochford Art Trail: 27 October- 3 November

Why not have a look on the Essex Summer of Art Website and view information on the Basildon Art Trail as well as finding out more about then various other cultural events and Art Trails in the borough http://www.visitessex.com/discover/cultural/summer-of-art/basildon-art-trail.aspx