Brighton Festival: Open Houses

For many it is an opportunity to put their work on display while, for others, there are very personal reasons behind the exhibitions.

The Open Houses provide the perfect way to make art accessible to the public.

Formed in 1982, the Open Houses is part of Brighton Festival Open, a section not included in the main programme, which enables performers, musicians and artists from the area to get their work seen.

There are nine main Open House groups, which cover different areas of the city.

These include Ditchling Arts and Crafts, Beyond The Level, Fiveways Artists, Hanover Art Trail, Hove Arts, Prestonville Trail, Kemp Town Artists, Rottingdean Artists and Patcham Artist Group.

Other people also open their houses independently of the groups.

Pauline Crook is displaying her work in the Magical Earth exhibition at Hanover Community Centre in Southover Street, Brighton.

Pauline, 50, of Sadlers Way, Ringmer, near Lewes, explained how she became involved.

She said: "I had breast cancer last year so most of the work I have done for this exhibition has been about getting my head together. The work is from the heart. One of the pieces I have done is a screen print which is a storyboard of my life. It is quite factual.

"The other pieces are about what is inside. I believe we are not just bodies.

"We have to go beyond this because we do not know what is going to happen. You have to think about what life is really about.

"I finished my treatment last summer and have been working on the art since. I did not do the work for the festival.

"I just did it. I suppose it was important for me to be working. Then I was invited to join the Hanover group by a friend. The result is I have produced some quite personal work.

"If someone who sees my work can get something out of it then it will be worthwhile."

Magical Earth is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

For Susan Taylor, 39, putting her artwork on show at her home at 5A Whippingham Road, Brighton, is the realisation of a dream.

She said: "I really appreciate the Open Houses system because it is giving me a chance. I am very excited about it.

"Being an artist is something I have always wanted to do since I was a child.

"I had gone to art college when I left school but unfortunately did not stick at it. When I hit 30 I decided I was fed up with doing a job in finance which I did not enjoy. I wanted to do more with my life so decided to go back to college.

"I suppose I looked at myself in the mirror and thought 'What have I done with my life?'.

"I left my old life, job and partner behind and completely turned my life upside down. So I went back to college.

"When I finished, I needed to build up some money so I got a job with Royal Mail in London.

"I was born in Brighton and wanted to come home so, with this job, I got a transfer down here.

"I wanted to get myself secure before I ventured into art properly.

"Last year I gave up Royal Mail and took on a part-time job with the Brighton Festival so I could spend time concentrating on my art.

"Having my home as an Open House during the festival is the beginning again. I have been painting the work which features over the past year. This will be the first test.

"The great thing is this makes art accessible to the general public, to people who would not normally go to a gallery."

Susan mainly does fine art as well as metal sculptures. Her house will be open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the festival from 10am to 5pm.

The Fiveways Artists group was established in 1982 by Ned Hoskins. In the following years, other artists followed suit and it is now a very popular part of the festival.

Annelies Clarke is a member of the Fiveways group and she has opened her home at 32 Rugby Road for the past eight years.

She said: "There are seven other artists as well as myself who display their work in my house.

"I paint realistic paintings, watercolours and oils but the others produce more three-dimensional work like jewellery, mirrors and murals.

"This year we have a jubilee corner, where the artists have done something relating to the Queen, such as a corgi, crown or watercolour portrait of her.

"I think the significant thing about our group is we are very much a group but also very individual. The Open Houses are great because they offer direct contact with the public, which is very, very important.

"It means the artists can get feedback on their work. This stops them from standing still. I also like the fact that artists are part of society, they are mixing with people for people."

Annelies's house is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

A list of all the Open Houses can be found in the festival brochures, which are available from a variety of places around the town centre or visit www.brighton-festival.org.uk