THE MAGIC LAMP
Welcome to The Magic Lamp Artists Open Houses event for May 2016, Seven Dials Trail, Brighton & Hove.
As ever, visitors can expect a diverse, exceptional, knockout collection of artworks and creations from local artists and designers. Check out our online Gallery for a taste... of course there's no better experience than the real thing, plus opportunities to meet the artists, so welcome one and all, join us at The Magic Lamp in May.
The Magic Lamp 2016 presents:
rubandagar: It's an exciting year for the Brighton artist who is showing his new collection of original paintings, one of which, 'The Nameless Tree', has been selected for the My Brighton gARTen x Artfinder exhibition at MyHotel Brighton in May.
A limited edition print of his alter-ego, 'Vurt Cat', is part of this year's Big Heart Auction, which goes live in July and will be on show at the Brighton Dome. www.bigheartauction.org.uk
At The Magic Lamp expect beautiful, deep, dreamlike, engaging and dramatic themes, with colour mastery throughout his paintings and prints.
'Beach Huts' from his popular Brighton & Hove collection and other typographic pieces featuring maps and landmarks from around the globe, along with his psychedelic and surreal collection, are all available as limited edition giclée prints.
rubandagar's work is thought-provoking, stunning, out there... and conjures all kinds of ideas from the viewer. He enjoys experimenting with techniques and materials. "Inspiration is everywhere."
Caroline Jones Woodworking & Design: A furniture maker trained in traditional cabinet-making techniques, Caroline works with all types of responsibly sourced wood to create beautiful, bespoke pieces for your home. "As a Brighton resident and commuter to London for more than a decade, I decided to give up the desk job and pursue my interest in furniture and design. I trained with master craftsman John Lloyd in his Ditchling workshop before setting up my own cabinet-making business."
Pieces for clients range from bedside to coffee tables, blanket boxes to bookcases. A bookcase she created for the Speaking Volumes HIV oral history project has been on display in the Houses of Parliament.
"I love to use contrasts in my work; mixing the traditional and modern, light and shade, natural and man made, dark and light timber, matt and gloss finishes; combining opposites to create beautiful and practical furniture for the modern home."
Caroline always brings something exquisite, plus eagerly anticipated surprises to our open house... Vinyl collectors will be very happy!
www.cjwoodworkinganddesign.com
Decadent By Design: Gorgeous colour and elegant design are highlights of Sharon's collection of hand-stitched cushions and accessories, using fine materials and patterns.
Her very cool handcrafted 'bottle' candles are hot picks as gifts, made with high-quality wax and long burning. Visitors enjoy guessing the original bottle brand.
She is also a professional photographer and will be showing a collection of prints, featuring nature in all its vibrant and moody glory.
www.facebook.com/DecadentbyDesign
Tradington's: Stylish, quirky laser-cut pin badges, necklaces, rings, cufflinks and other giftware, from clocks to barometers, a wonderland of pieces designed and made by Oscar. Laser-cutting involves hand drawing an image first, converting it to outlines on the computer; the laser then knows to follow these lines and cut or engrave. The finished product is a sleek and distinctive look. Oscar then assembles all the products by hand.
He has been living in Brighton & Hove 10 years and "designing products, or rather gluing and making things..." since he was about 5. He studied Art & Design, following this with a Science degree in Product Design from the University of Brighton. Oscar has worked for Locomocean Design in London (famed for the Glow-in-the-Duck range) and has worked as an independent design consultant for numerous companies, including Carkoon as featured on the BBC's Dragons Den (2012).
He now remains dedicated to Tradington's... with other things in between. Doggies galore and lots of shiny shiny precious things this year!
Sue Hurman: Beautifully handpainted fabulous critters and figures, full of character, we just had to invite them to our open house.
"I love making these little people and creatures, each one develops their own unique personality as they are being made. They combine my love of using cloth and painting. Each one has my thoughts stitched into its fabric. My mum was a medieval pottery expert and I spent hours as a child looking at ceramics. Some people think these creatures are made of clay before they pick them up."
Artist Sue is a super interesting creature too! Come and meet her and find out more!
Muscles By Milarski: "Imagine if William Morris met Arnold Schwarzenegger..." Canny and witty, Jenny combines powerful images with delicate, decorative design, and has created a distinctive, unusual style for her home and giftware ranges. Inspired by her passion for body-building and Polish folk art, you'll find her patterns and paintings featuring her muse Arnie and papercuts.
And just when you think she has outdone herself, you can be sure, she'll be back... with another muscly marvel!
Franchacha: Limited edition prints transforming her original photography and drawings. Featuring nature, robots and landmarks, Franchacha art celebrates individuality created by digital glitches, every piece unique.
The process promises a different effect each time, with fascinating results, random and so much fun. "I love the idea that perfection is not to be sought after but found simply in our traits, our so-called 'imperfections', everything that makes us... us."
From her RobotArte series, 'Falling in Love' is in the Big Heart Auction.
Melanie Hodge: Lustrous landscapes and fabulous fairy tales, every radiant artwork tells a story. "I look to paint my experiences not as they are, but as I sense their possibilities in my dreams."
Melanie's vibrant, illustrative beauties are created using oils in reverse painting on glass, a technique discovered during her time living in Croatia. You can find out more about the history of this method on Melanie's wesbite. Also available as prints.
Melanie also has a piece in the Big Heart Auction this year, raising money for Chestnut Tree House, Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival – bidding starts 1 July!
Helen Jewell: Helen's beautiful framed textile artworks feature seaside themes and scenes and moments... from beach huts to boats, starry skies and shore walks... they are filled with atmosphere, meditative pieces to lose yourself in thought.
Jewelfloozy Originals: Glorious stoneware, classical, divine, full of eccentric charm; and sensational ArtDollies, adorned with paint and découpage.
Charlotte works in ceramic, papier-mâché and fabric, drawing inspiration from the natural world, ancient history and mythology. "I've always had a deep love of the surreal and like my work to have humour and quirk as well as to be beautiful objects that are a pleasure to look at day in day out. This is especially true of my ArtDollies. When working in clay I like to imagine I am creating archeological objects to possibly confuse and hopefully delight anyone who finds one a few hundred years from now. As an actor and prop maker I feel a need to give everything a personality and character of its own."