Skipton Open Studios Workshops

James Qualtrough | September 26, 2012 | 0 Comments

Skipton Open Studios community art project continues over the autumn and winter with workshops and courses led by members of Jersey’s vibrant artistic community.

Skipton Open Studios 2012 summer celebration of local art was launched at Weighbridge Place in June with an artists village in ten shipping containers, featuring galleries, hands-on workshops and demonstrations including container painting, free photographic portraiture, stonemasonry, print making, needle turning and photography. In addition, over two consecutive weekends, 46 Island artists opened their studios to the public or worked in unusual and historic locations including Morel Farm, St Thomas’s Church and a blacksmiths above Rozel.

Skipton Open Studios 2012 on-going events, workshops and courses begins on Sunday 30 September when textile artists Christine Witham leads a workshop at the Harbour Gallery in St Aubin. Christine is a textile artist specialising in textile jewellery and pictures using fine materials, hand embroidery and beads. Her work is characterised by its decorative quality and skilled craftsmanship and each item is unique.

Christine’s workshops at the Harbour Gallery will continue over the autumn half-term and Christmas holidays on themes aimed at children and families. The other three participating artists are; print-maker Kerry-Jane Warner, Sasha Gibb who will be dying vintage wool blankets ready for her autumn/ winter 2012 collection and stone Sculptor Mark Guest, who will be offering workshops and courses from their home-based studios (see note to editors for full programme).

Tom Dingle of the Jersey Arts Trust said a key objective was to enable Islanders to discover the diversity in the local visual arts scene.

“Having the chance to learn from such talented individuals as Christine, Kerry-Jane, Sasha and Mark presents a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in specialist mediums to share their passion. Such first-hand experiences, following on from the activities held Islandwide in the summer, will enable those who maybe visited these artists in their studios or at the Weighbridge, to develop their own skills,’ she said.

The Managing Director at Skipton International, Jim Coupe, said it was a pleasure to continue supporting the Jersey Arts Trust in taking art into the public domain in such innovative and engaging ways.

‘We are delighted to be involved in such a great community endeavour designed to take the arts to the people and in such innovative direct ways and in such unusual locations. The artistic village at the Weighbridge in June and July, and the 46 open studios around the Island demonstrated the diverse artistic talent that is thriving in Jersey the Island. We hope that the courses and workshops on offer over the coming months will be as well attended and that those who take part discover their own talents,’ he said.