Today's idea - Hook, Line and Sinker

Today Brighton University's art faculty displays an annual mass of over 500 graduating students' work, becoming the largest art gallery in the South East for a short time only! This year's show is titled Hook, Line and Sinker and will see over 15,000 visitors walk through the doors.

"Brighton is well known for its forward thinking and eclectic artistic talent; previous arts graduates include Turner prize-winning artists Rachel Whiteread and Keith Tyson. Fashion graduate and founder of the Biba label Barbara Hulanicki returned to Brighton last November to give a rare talk on her life as a legendary fashion designer. More recent fashion graduates have also embarked on successful careers since leaving Brighton. Julien MacDonald was voted British designer of the year in 2001, alongside Gresham Blake who has now become a tailor to the stars." - Rosie Rogers, Editor of the Verse

The Brighton University website does a nice summary of the 'best bits' of the show. Which is useful, but of course arguably unhelpful to other students:

"There are many student names worth remembering:
Steven Woodward, fashion with business student who was runner up at this year's Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) competition had his work showcased as part of London Fashion Week. His designs were selected from more than 100 entrants in a competition described by Vogue.com as an 'undeniable springboard' for the next generation of talent.

Knitted textiles student Debbie Holman, who received a £2000 bursary from The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters, will be displaying her clothing range, which is designed to help improve the quality of life for eczema sufferers. Debbie has worked with designers at Accessorize and her work has been sold in New York.
Also the recipient of a bursary from The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters is knitted textiles student Sophie Penn. She will be exhibiting a range of work created as a result of her extensive research into the ways in which communication can be used in knitted textile design.

Textiles print student Laura Andrews, who has benefited from working in Ecuador, India and also at the design department of Accessorize, will be displaying her own range of fashion and textiles. With a great interest in fair trade, Laura is currently working as a designer for EcoChic, a company based in Hove, and she also contributes to the online magazine

Fine art print making student, Ania Zydron, jumped at the opportunity to take up a placement at the Nagoya University in Japan as part of her course. She had the opportunity to learn traditional Japanese woodcutting techniques and her exchange culminated in an international student exhibition." - Find more on the Brighton Uni Website

Rosie's written a brilliant write-up of the show, which we recommend checking out before you head out. It sounds brilliant - especially with the novelty as being the largest gallery in the south. There's also the History students whose show takes place at the Pavilion Parade, who always get a bit forgotten.

It's made up of a couple of 'exhibition within exhibitions' and you can find specific details of the Fine Art Printmaking and Lucid: the Photography Degree Show on Facebook. Lucid, very excitingly is off to FreeRange London this year which, having caught last year's, is brilliant.

Running until 10 June.
Time: 12 noon-6pm (find times for the entire week here)
Map: here
Cost: Free
Event Page: here

Today's idea - A-B Exhibition at Boxbird

Today Boxbird presents A-B Exhibition of contemporary printmaking and illustration "inspired by travel and foreign adventures. Last year's exhibition won the Argus Angel Award for Best Show in Festival.

This year's brings together 30 of "the most most exciting international designers to create a fresh and exciting exhibition jammed full of affordable prints and original art works by the likes of Graham Carter, Jon Burgerman, Lidia De Pedro and The Peepshow Illustration Collective. The exhibition will also showcase 10 new and emerging artists selected from over 120 applications to be part of A to B. This continues Boxbird’s commitment to support new and emerging artists, graduates and students by providing a first step into the commercial art industry with the support of the gallery owners Alice Teague & Illustrator Graham Carter."

It's running until Thursday 27th May as part of the the Brighton Fringe.

Time: 11am-5pmt
Location: Boxbird Gallery, 14 St John;s Road
Map: here

See Bust

"Probably one of the last chances to buy a wholesome Christmas present for people worth forking out for."

For casual gallery types like me, or for people who like art that comes at fifty pounds, Bust is an exhibition to investigate. Old smoke illustrator of the Old Street variety, Jack Mitchell, comes from The Big Orange Studio collective, Glasgow School of Art, and the Stella Door gallery (not necessarily in that order).

The host, Artist Residence, is a strange creative-styled hotel with rooms designed by artists. The gallery often plays host to upcoming artists and have an interesting mix of past shows.



Mitchell produces a mix of own-style portraits, privately commissioned work, and published illustrations. We think he's rather good.

You can find his work here and if you're Facebook orientated, you can find the event page here.

Bust is free, and runs at Artist Resident in Regency Square until the 4th January 2010.

Eine and Zeus' 'Crimes and Punishments' exhibition.

Today the Ink_d gallery plays host to "Crimes and Punishments" by two urban artists, Eine and Zeus. "Both are prolific street artists and innovators in typography and both have pushed the boundaries in a way that has redefined how we see graffiti as an art form."

The prolific mural painters have made a change from their traditional spray cans for the exhibition. The show, based around representations of the alphabet, sees the artists put down their spray cans in a move to typography and illustration in an experimental display more than traditional illustrations.

"The final outcomes were occasionally compositionally awkward, although this did add to their authenticity and was justified since the process was based on the children’s game consequences, with the results birthing from accident."

A lovely premise and well worth a look (and free, horray).

Upstairs there's a Christ shop for 'stockings and eyes' - and a book and artzine section that requires a good browse from a comfy place.
Crime and Punishments runs today from 10am-6pm until the 2\4th December at the Ink_d gallery. Directions to Ink_d on North Road: here.


img via: cybersexism