WIREDGOV

Over 35,000 art lovers are expected to visit artists all over Devon who will be exhibiting their work in studios, sheds, gardens, farms, fields, village halls and remote parts of Dartmoor.

Devon Art Works is a two week open studios event which the organisers anticipate will generate over £200,000 in sales adding considerably to the value of the creative economy in the area.

Almost 600 Devon artists will be showing their work in the largest open studios event ever staged in the county between 8 and 23 September with artists and artist groups opening their studios to visitors and showing a broad spectrum of work from traditional painting and ceramics to installations, digital work and performance pieces.

The event receives funding from Arts Council England and Devon Country Council. Arts Council England, South West Executive Director Nick Capaldi said: ‘Open studios are a fantastic opportunity to see how art is made, talk to the artists and buy work directly from them. Devon has a huge number of artists and this promises to be a successful event for the people who live here and for visitors to the area.’

Devon Arts Works is the flagship project of Devon Artist Network, an artists’ membership organisation. Building on the success of previous, smaller projects, the new annual event will see studios across the county being opened simultaneously for the first time.

Part of the excitement of the event is in getting from one venue to another and a good number of the artists are hidden away down Devon’s leafy, secret lanes. Painter June Arnold lives in a remote spot on Dartmoor but this does not deter visitors from seeking her out. She explains ‘opening my studio to visitors is an opportunity to show not just finished paintings but the preliminary work and ideas behind them and it’s really nice to talk with people who are interested in your work.’

Textile artist Peet Leather, a long-time exhibitor in Open Studios events, will be showing work with her partner, sculptor and furniture maker Carl Hahn and their daughter, painter Ejan Dalal Hahn on their farm in the South Hams. Peet says ‘for us it’s an exciting and stimulating time, giving us much needed feedback, new friendships from diverse backgrounds and ages and a boost - over a long period following - to sales.” She continues “our visitors come for many reasons, curiosity in our lifestyle, to learn about our work, specific interest in buying or seeing work from one of us, other artists to socialise and the intrepid few who make a holiday of it and visit each and every studio. All are welcome, many staying an hour or more. We learn as much as our visitors, often exploring ideas coming from a very different field to our own.’

In addition to the more established artists, Devon Art Works will be showing work by up-and-coming talents like artists group one.C, all recent graduates from Dartington College of Arts. They will be presenting new work collectively titled one.C goes to Broomhill as part of Devon Art Works special events programme at Broomhill Art Hotel near Barnstaple in north Devon. Photographer and performance artist Kath Wynne will be showing a collection of photographs produced with her partner Pete F. Davies she describes as ‘a departure from the family portrait’ and inspired by the feeling of being trapped “in a no-man’s land of between tourist and local.” The show will also feature ‘paintings’ made of beer bottle tops by Robson Cezar and the ‘performative’ drawings of James Topple.

A comprehensive on line guide to Devon Art Works is available at http://www.devonartworks.info and printed versions are available from Tourist Information Centres, libraries and arts venues across the county.


For further information (press only) contact Gillian Taylor on 01392 229207 or 07989 430881


Notes for editors:

Devon Artist Network is a membership organisation open to all visual artists and craftspeople living and practising in Devon and is funded by grants and earned income from membership and open studios fees.

It has recently been awarded three year funding from the Devon County Council Arts Investment programme as well as one more year’s support from the Devon local authorities/Arts Council England South West Partnership fund, which prioritises the development of sustainable artist networks.

Devon Artist Network has also been awarded a special grant from Devon County Council’s Culture budget for Devon Art Works.