February News

The fit out of the first floor is going well, we anticipate to be finished on time, mid March. There has been a lot of interest and lettings are happening fast. We are looking forward to completion and are excited for the future.

Estelle Thompson is featured in the new book Painting Today by Tony Godfrey, an overview of contemporary paintings and an enquiry into how we experience its images, what they mean and why the practice remains vital.



Yukako Shibata took part in a one evening group exhibition on the 15th of January. The show, Swan Song, took place in an evacuated 19th century townhouse in Soho soon to be demolished and encompassed a variety of suddenly empty spaces, cleared of possessions with only hints of its former domestic past, as though abandoned in pre-apocalyptic haste.



The Impossibility of Escapism is Sophie Molins' upcoming solo exhibition in Westbourne Grove Church, showing 24th February to 30th March. The show contains Sophie's provocative, abstract and often ironic photographs taken in some of London's most notorious prisons and anonymous city spaces. Sophie has, since 1999, been working with Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust (RAPt), photographing aspects of the rehabilitation program they run within prisons across the UK. In November 2009 Sophie became the chair of the committee for the launch and publication of 19 Raptures. Curated and published by another Great Western Studios artist, Neal Brown, 19 Raptures is a unique collection of self-help guides reinterpreted by some of the UK's leading artists and writers including Will Self, Tracey Emin, Billy Childish and Beth Orton.



Sophie Smallhorn's work is featured in the March issue of Shiseido's cultural magazine Hanatsubaki. You can see the article below, unfortunately I can't help with the translation.





Joy Richardson is exhibiting her paintings in the show Journeys through Childhood; part of a cultural event at the Kellogg College in Oxford, on the evening of Friday 26th February. You will be able to see Joy's work inspired by her roots in Guyana and her childhood in England, as well as listen to storytelling and sample Guyanese and South Asian cuisine. The exhibition will also be open on Saturday 27th.



In time for Valentine's Day Julie Goldsmith is selling themed limited editions of her plates at Ida Restaurant, 167 Fifth Avenue, W10. You can also see one of Julie's sculptures, Eskimo, in the restaurant.



Having returned from West Bengal, India, Stuart Mackay was invited to exhibit his photographs at the Nehru Centre. The World of CINI - Motherhood in India is a photographic journey illustrating the lives and times of the people of the charity Child In Need India, the work they do and the people they work with - inspiring examples of humanism in practice.





The Great Western Choir will be back at the studios on Wednesday 24th February at 6.15pm. The first evening will be a workshop event and cost £5 per person. Newcomers keen to try out their singing talents are very welcome. The choir are especially encouraging men who are ready to make a regular commitment to join in! The normal rehearsal schedule will then start on the following Wednesday 3rd March, and once again cost £5. Anyone interested should contact Tom Currie at tom_currie@btinternet.com.

The premier for Yoga at Great Western Studios was this week and the feedback from the instructor Elvan Erdin and the people taking part was very positive. The location was ideal with the added benefit of underfloor heating, and the art hanging on the walls made it an inspiring evening. The classes will continue every Monday at 6.30pm from now on.

Great Western Studio's inaugural Bingo Night this week was a resounding success. A big thank you to Liza Campbell and Steve Williams for organising the evening. We look forward to the next 'Big Event'!