Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

For those of you unfortunate enough to remember the 80s track, BMX Boys Have A Lot Of Fun, it’ll bring to mind the heady early days of BMX in the UK.

“Of course, it will just be a fad,” was said widely. Guess that’s another prediction that’ll be chucked in to the bin of history.

To prove it’s very much alive, there’s going to be a display of BMX skills by Joe Sinclair from Bournemouth, doin’ ‘is ting in Ryde this Saturday.

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There’s a comprehensive exhibition of the history of Brook – and the surrounding areas of Mottistone, Hulverstone and Chessell – on this weekend.

There’s a mass of information presented well in the Seely Hall on boards with photos and items from the period, helping to set the scene.

While parents are filling their brains with historical facts, the younger visitors will find things to do too. There’s a table by the large front window set up ink pens and wells where Victorian script writing can be attempted as well as other arts projects.

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Whilst taking a stroll around town mid-week we popped into Bizzy Lizzy’s to have a chat with Linda Chester, who is also the Chair of the Ventnor Business Association, about developments with the forthcoming V-Bay Festival running 23-25 October, 2009.

We were really encouraged to hear that, behind the scenes, there has been loads of organisation taking place and it’s sounding like it’s going to be a great things for the town and visitors.

Showcasing Ventnor to the Island (and beyond)
Linda was keen to point out that the main purpose of the V-Bay festival is to showcase all the great stuff that Ventnor has to offer, while encouraging people to pass between the Esplanade and the main town.

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You might remember us raving on about the HomeGrown Exhibition over the past week. And with good reason, it’s a great little exhibition that has been pulled together to feature eight Island artists, some who are trained, some who are trained but have never exhibited and others who are self taught.

One such artist was Chris Jones. Currently living in Ventnor, Chris’ work was a match made in heaven for the bare concrete walls of the back room of the exhibition space.

We’d seen his work online prior to the exhibition and instantly fell in love with his perspective on altered realities.

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Photographer, Paul Tucker, is responsible for a new exhibition in the Full Circle Exhibition Space at St. Mary’s Hospital this month.

He will be exhibiting a collection of shots documenting the working life of the laundry at the old Whitecroft hospital before it closed in 2004.

Paul, who we hear has worked for the local NHS as a maintenance craftsman for 15 years has a great passion for photography.

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Congratulations to Emma Muncaster from East Cowes brainchild of the debut Ladies Day held at Cowes Yacht Haven last weekend.

The Yacht Haven was a hive of activity as 400+ islanders took advantage of the live entertainment and demos, not to mention around 40 stalls selling jewellery, art, cosmetics and flowers.

We understand that there were belly dancing demos as well as a catwalk show.

The event raised more than £1,500 for CLIC Sargent, the children’s cancer charity.

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If you fancy something different today make your way to Smallbrook Stadium to take in the wonders of the Renaissance Festival.

The event organised by volunteers aiming to bring the community together have a fantastic programme of events lined up.

The programme includes; Acoustic Smoke and Mirrors, Lost Years Trio, Penguins have no Knees. There’ll be flute and harp, lute and violin…even a recorder consort to add to the Renaissance vibe.

Marc Tuckeys Isle of Wight Ghost Experience will perform sword fights and ghostly tales. There’ll be stocks, a hog roast, skittle run, tug of war and lots more.

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July might seem a long time off, but time flies when you’re having fun so make sure you stick this one in the diary.

The surreal disused basement of an old Wesleyan chapel in the heart of Ryde will play host to an eye opening collection of works from Contemporary Island artists for a week in July.

There’ll be all manner of works, from a projected photoblog and large scale silk screen prints, to dark digital photography and carefully hand crafted paper pieces

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Feeling the pinch? There are lots of free activities taking place at Ventnor Library during the month of May.

RNID – Deaf Awareness Week
Come along and check out Creative Dimensions – a free exhibition of work by a group of Island artists – there’ll also be free information and advice during the week 1st-9th May.

Police Beat Surgery
On Tuesday 5th May come and talk to your local Police about any problems

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Coral Seed will be showing and selling hand-embroidered fashion and home accessories from Mongolia, India and Bangladesh this Saturday.

Taking place in the Seminar Room at Quay Arts between 10am-4pm.

Work from Coral Seed is also on show at the Studio Cafe at the moment, if you’re in Newport make sure you take a wander down to check it out.

Coral Seed is a fair trade partnership registered with BAFTS

As part of the Open Studio event taking place next week, Ventnor Artist, Teresa Grimaldi and her sister Catherine invite you along to an open evening at their studios in Madeira Road, Ventnor.

You might have caught Teresa at the beginning of the year at the Learning Curve Gallery at Quay Arts, where she took residency for a month.

It was a great exhibition and we’re looking forward to future exhibitions of Teresa’s work at Quay Arts next year.

As an added incentive, keep your eyes open for the Isle of Wight Arts Directory, which you’ll find scattered around the Island.

There are a number of them which have hand drawn illustrations under Teresa’s entry in the directory.

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If you haven’t been along to Quay Arts recently, you won’t have seen the wonderful exhibition of works by Island based artist, Eric Geddes.

We were fortunate enough to meet Eric last month at the opening of his exhibitions (three in total) at Quay Arts and caught up with him after the showing of David George’s film short about his life and work.

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Wight Balance Photography Plus has a DEBUT exhibition at Ryde Library for the month of July.

You may remember us reporting on the group previously.

They meet each Wednesday night at the Riverside, Newport Wednesday 7.30-9.30.

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IOW Embroiderers are running a trip to Art in Action at Waterperry House in Thame next month.

Art in Action, founded in 1977, is an annual event set up by Bernard Saunders, then guardian of Waterperry Gardens.

Each year it showcases a broad spectrum of artistic talent, from painting to sculpture, drawing to ceramics and textiles.

You’ll need to check with organisers on timings, but as well as being able to see the wealth of exhibits, there are also various classes you can take part in, many lasting only 1.5 hours.
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Talking of art exhibitions, we hear that artwork by the old Shopping Trolley collective has travelled up to Derby Dance this week.

They were asked by Stephen Munn (ex Quay Arts director) who is now director of Derby Dance, to put a show together.

It’s just 2d work, but will be showing between now and 29 August 2008, so if you happen to be up that way, make sure you stop in and take a look.

You’ll recognise a couple of artists from VentnorBlog Presents in there too. (more…)

We weren’t able to get along to the recent RockPool event at the Ventnor Winter Gardens, but were pleased to see that fellow Blogger, WightEye did.

It seems that our friend in Cowes is a big fan of these kinds of events, so do pop over to his blog to hear what he has to say about the skate park fundraiser night. (more…)

All you arty types, don’t forget that returning to Newport tonight is the iCandi team.

Art, music, fun and games are in store for you if you head down to Joe’s in Newport from 8pm tonight.

Gaze at art by the usual suspects, Paul Brown, Kim Purton, Rachael Berry, Adam Harvey Kitty Linnington, Patrick E Wood, Dane Whitehurst, Thom Burt, TDK and a few more…
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Friday night saw the launch of Ventnor based artist, Peter Lawson’s exhibition – Images From Inside the Bell Jar at Quay Arts.

The gallery space was buzzing with activity as friends, artists and potential purchasers gathered to see a selection of Peter’s drawings and sculptures. Many will join me I’m sure, in expressing surprise at the eclectic-ness of Peter’s work. It’s true there are themes, such as the ‘through the window’ series, but sit those next to the sculptures and you wouldn’t imagine they were created by the same person. What a talented artist he is. The scupltures were definitely my favourite, particularly ‘Anniversary’.

The opening party ended with Peter having to rush off to catch the start of Guy Davies’ gig upstairs, but he returned to the gallery on Monday for an interview with Pete Thompson of BBC Hampshire.

Peter, a very friendly and likeable chap is well known in Ventnor, but not many people have seen his work before. He says during his BBC interview that by exposing his art, it makes him feel naked. I believe that people will only be able to think more of him after this exhibition.

When a family member told me on Friday that all of the works hanging in the Rope Store Gallery have been stored under the carpet in his lounge for years I didn’t quite believe them, but he’s confirmed it during the interview. Thank goodness he finally managed to get them out from under the carpet and onto some walls.

The exhibition runs until 19 November, so if you haven’t been along yet, it’s well worth a visit.

BBC interview
Quay Arts