On Saturday September 3 while playing with the Ukulele Experiment in the garden of 11 High Street, yet again, for the Sue Ryder charity, I overheard a conversation that the Elysian Centre at 18 Cinque Ports Street was having an open day with an exhibition of five local artists and a musician to entertain the visitors.I could not resist and popped in. Coming through the yard I could hear beautiful flute music from Bernie Goldman. In the gallery there were pictures by Laurence Freear – landscape/fine art photography, from Josephine Ho – textile/mixed media paintings, Freya Hubbard – oil/acrylic abstract seascape and landscape, Paul Marchant – artist/geometer focusing on experiments with universal geometry and local artist Nina Thorndike – ceramics/printmaker.
Nina Thorndike studied at Hastings College of Art and is an actress, now teaching drama at Benenden School.The exhibition is part of Coastal Currents Arts Festival 2016, lasting from September 3 – October 2, at various Open Studios across Rye, Hastings and the St. Leonards area. Do go and visit The Elysian Centre, which calls itself “A Place of Holistic Healing and Wellbeing in Rye”. Apart from enjoying art, you can find out about their various therapies/talks as well as pick up the brochure which gives you the venue addresses for the Coastal Currents Festival. There is an open day on Sunday September 18 between 2pm and 6pm.
The picture above is by Brenda Hartill, (Pound House, Udimore, Rye. She is just one of the artists who has an Open Studio weekend September 10 and 11, from 11am to 5pm. There is a print demonstration and talk at 3pm on Saturday, September 10.
Photos: Heidi Foster