Provided in collaboration with Quay Arts, these are bi-monthly group Crit Sessions for creatives working in disciplines such as visual & performance arts, animation, moving image, photography, craft.
Crit session coming up: Mon 20th Jan 2025, 6-8 pmQuay Arts West Gallery, Newport, FREE
A crit is a critique where one creative will be invited at each session to share their work with a group and speak about their work, idea or a project they are pursuing, looking for honest, constructive feedback from other artists. These sessions will be limited to max 20 places within each group.
Chaired by Alys Scott Hawkins:The group Crit Sessions will be chaired by Alys Scott Hawkins. Alys is a specialist in Artist Support, providing guidance and advice to overcome barriers, plan projects and make funding applications. She is a member of the Artist Council: the advisory panel for a-n: the UK’s largest membership organisation for visual artists. Previously she led the Artist Development programme at 'a space' arts, Southampton, drawing on her long-standing networks within the arts sector across the region.
To find out more about Alys and her work, please click here.
Alys Scott Hawkins, photo by Maria Bell
Presenting on Mon 20 Jan 2025: Steve BaxterAn opportunity to hear from and discuss the work of Steve Baxter, winner of the Quay Arts Biennial OPEN 2023 Exhibition: 'The Art of Sculpture', with his exhibition 'Living | Room' in the West Gallery at Quay Arts.
Through its current phase, Steve has learnt that his work is trying to make sense of disorder through helping the familiar become unfamiliar. The pieces come as much from walking along our coastal edge as reading the common-sense philosophy of his favourite fictional philosopher, De Selby, created by Flann O’Brien.
When you move through a coastal landscape you see the fundamental forces of survival and growth that are shared by humans and that landscape. You can see how much of our terrain is unstable. But it’s not so easy to see that same instability in the burrowings of our lives. It is perhaps the job of this work to make that more visible. Each piece is an expression of the changing state in the fabric of the world around us. Fabric where permanence is often taken for granted.
To learn more about Steve's work please visit: https://www.quayarts.org/event/living-room/
This is a unique opportunity for Isle of Wight creatives to gain valuable feedback, share insights, and develop their practice in a supportive group setting. All creatives are welcome!
What others have said:
"Presenting my work at the crit session and discussing my practice with other creatives was incredibly valuable. Having just completed my DYCP and having lots of ideas about what I could do next, it was really helpful to hear from others about what they found most interesting in my work. Alys’s guidance and the structure of the session meant that I was able to get feedback on the questions that really mattered to me. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone!" - Gemma Mallinson, artist.
"When I received the opportunity to participate in the group Crit Sessions, I found it incredibly valuable for the development of my 'Drip Splatter Smear' project. These sessions provided a unique space where I could openly share my work with a diverse group of creatives, gaining feedback that was both insightful and constructive. This supportive environment encouraged me to explore new perspectives and approaches I hadn't considered. The chance to discuss my ideas was instrumental in shaping the direction of my project, offering guidance that continues to influence my work as I push 'Drip Splatter Smear' into new phases. This experience not only strengthened my current practice but also provided me with tools and insights that I’ll carry into future projects." - Laura Hathaway, artist.
The event will take place in the West Gallery, upstairs at Quay Arts.
MON 20 JAN 2025 SESSION - BOOK HERE!
If you would like to be considered for future group Crit Sessions, please email georgia@creativeisland.org a brief outline of what you’d like to present, along with any links to your work and technical requirements to show your work.
Light refreshments will be available at these sessions and there will be a chance to network with other creatives after the discussions. We’ll also hear from the Quay Arts team about opportunities coming up at the Centre.
Venue address: Quay Arts, Sea Street, Newport Harbour, IW PO30 5BD(access via side terrace entrance door).
Parking available via two car parks on Little London Rd and Sea Street. Buses also regularly come into Newport from all areas of the Island and is a 5 min walk from the bus station.
