Monday 8 December 2008

Compilation


arjeea21's latest exhibition opens on Friday 12 December, 6.30 - 8.30pm at Gallery 10, 10 Gun Street, Reading RG1 2JR. It continues until Sunday 28 Dec, Tues - Sun 11am - 6pm (closed on Christmas Day).

Artists showing this time are Penny Adamson, Jean Aust, Lesley Brown, Nikk Brown, Gill Goodwin, Ingrid Jensen, Ellen Jewell, Jerry+Helen Lunn, Bithja Moor, Joy Needham, Julia Rogers, Hazel Strange, Marie Sudwell, Roxana Tohaneanu Shields, and Neile Wright.

arjeea21 meets monthly at the Jelly (in Reading Town Hall) to talk about work that artists bring in, and to plan exhibitions and gallery visits. For dates please see the website. The ethos is to encourage development of each artist's practice though supportive and constructive discussion. New members are welcome to come along and join in. The focus is on contemporary art.

arjeea21 is supported by Suzanne Stallard of the Jelly who provides meeting space, by Greg Muden and Danny Fraifeld of the Purple Turtle who provide exhibition space, and by Zoe Funge-Smith of Rogues Gallery who administers Gallery 10 with Suzanne.

www.arjeea21.com

Monday 1 December 2008

Review by Roxana Tohaneanu-Shields: On Our Watch

ON OUR WATCH
by Roxana Tohaneanu-Shields

One of the small cultural tragedies of Reading happened a few years ago: a very important contemporary art space for local artists, Jelly Leg’d Chicken Gallery closed. Recently though an extraordinary place has been available for local artists to set up art exhibitions. It is called Gallery 10 and is right in the middle of town, on Gun Street near the Purple Turtle overlooking the Minster Graveyard. I went last week to the private view of an unusual exhibition entitled On Our Watch. There are two local artists exhibiting Jo Thomas and Alex Buhagiar. I know both of them and their work from previous artistic encounters.
I think there are two kinds of artists: some very active who exhibit regularly, pumping blood into the artistic arteries of the town and others who are seen rarely while their creativity is hidden and protected. Jo Thomas and Alex Buhagiar are the first type of artists. Their work is not only about themselves but about everyone else. In their work there is a communal dedication and a love for physical places that is impressive. How many people do you know that are interested in creating art as a gift to you? The ‘On Our Watch’ exhibition is about us and our environment. Full Review in Comments ..