Friday
16th April 2004
'Open Hand Open Space', but Closed
Door? |
| By
Linda Serck |
|
 |
| Artist
Tris Aver at Open Hand Open Space. |
|
|
Art
studio and gallery Open Hand Open Space is a valuable part of the
Reading community: holding workshops, exhibitions and educational
projects as well as nurturing talented artists from Reading.
But
now they are facing closure unless they find new premises.
|
|
|
|
|
A group of artists are appealing for a new home after their Victorian
studios off the Oxford Road, Reading, are being closed down.
 |
| Mass
(Colder Darker Matter) 1997 - Cornelia Parker. Photo courtesy
of Tate Photography |
Open Hand
Open Space was set up by a group of university students in the 1980s
and has nurtured artists such as Cornelia Parker, who was shortlisted
for the 1997 Turner Prize.
It now
houses artists from Reading who are trying to carve out a career for
themselves while also throwing open the studios for educational projects.
There
is no other studio like it in Reading. It is the last studio standing
following the news that other art studio gallery The Jelly Legg'd
Chicken, based in the Oracle, is also going.
Funded
by Arts Council England, South East Arts and Reading Borough Council,
the OHOS building near the Brock Barracks has been deemed unsafe with
an unpayable £540,000 reparation bill.
 |
| Artist
Leanne Narewsky standing before art by fellow OHOS artist Emily
Smeaton. |
But if
OHOS can't find a new home then supporting and encouraging young talented
artists in Reading will be a thing of the past.
At
the moment OHOS provides affordable studios for around 13 to 16
artists and runs a regular programme of events, exhibitions and
educational activities.
The
gallery and studios are committed to promoting visual arts and artists
without a commercial emphasis. The art on display is purely for
the sake of art, not for selling.
Projects
include Taking P@rt, an educational scheme developed with Reading
Borough Council and other arts organisations in the area. Artists
undertook workshops in the community that led to two exhibitions in
the Jelly Legg'd Chicken gallery.
 |
| OHOS
artist Elaine Binns |
Visiting
artist Daro Montag held a Stalking Nature workshop for Maiden Erlegh
school students in Reading. Pupils explored Daro's methods of making
art using the gallery's location, and pawprints of small pets to create
computer generated prints.
Artists
also visit BT employees once a month to run a one hour creativity
workshop, and the studio participates in creating a sensory garden
with Reading Day Opportunities.
Talks,
seminars and workshops provide ideal opportunities for the public
to gain a greater understanding about contemporary visual art.
Big international
artists such as Douglas Gordon and Andy Goldsworthy have also exhibited
at OHOS.
BBC Berkshire
went along to the opening of latest exhibition by Brian Haddock and
Mike Picknett called Heliocentricity.
 |
| Still
from Heliocentricity by Brian Haddock and Mike Picknett. |
Description
is as follows: The awesome brutality and immense violence of the sun
is transformed into a melodic, wondrous dance in the work, 'Heliocentricity'.
Using real time footage of events of the sun, captured by SOHO artist
Brian D. Haddock has created a sensuous film that when combined with
the music of Mike Picknett, reveals the true beauty and magnificence
of our parent star.
Other
exhibitions planned but that may be cancelled are those of three
Canadian artists, Risa Horiwitz, Marc Mullin and Dianne Bos.
If you
can help or suggest any new premises, please email contact@ohos.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
