Local artists open studios event – June 18- July 3

WITH the date of this year?s Bucks Open Studios art extravaganza fast approaching, artists and makers across Buckinghamshire, including many from Haddenham, are no doubt beavering away, creating beautiful, unique, inspirational paintings, sculptures, collages, ceramics, drawings, altered books and a whole lot more.

Bucks Open Studios takes place from 18 June to 3 July 2011 and is the largest visual arts event in the county. In the last two weeks of June every year over 480 artists and makers, in over 182 different venues across Buckinghamshire, open their studios and run exhibitions and events for the public to visit. This year is the biggest ever with a record number of participants, venues and new entrants.

For two weeks Buckinghamshire turns into a celebration of art. The Directories for this year?s Bucks Open Studios are now out so make sure you grab your copy. It?s yellow and blue in colour and really stands out head and shoulders above other leaflets and programmes on display. It?s taller than the others so no excuse for not spotting it. This year Haddenham seems to be a real hub of artistic activity with over 19 artists and crafts people taking part. If you have a directory check numbers 175 to 192. You?ll find everything from painters, jewellery makers, basket weavers, photographers, patchwork and stitchers, woodturning, sculptors, book makers… I could go on.

It?s almost impossible to pick a few from this amazing collection. However, of note are:

Alison Court ? Recycled hand-made bags. Alison makes by hand bags of all kinds from recycled and reclaimed fabrics. The whole ethic of her bags is that virtually nothing is new – everything comes from friends’ attics, charity shops, and her own cupboards. She wants them to be virtually zero carbon bags – bags for our time, when at last we are all being a bit more environmentally-minded! She is part of a group who are showing ceramics and jewellery; Rachel Craft, Tiny van der Velde, at the Baptist Church in Haddenham.

Heather Hunter and Jean Mould Hart ? Paper, print and book makers. There is always something happening in Heather’s small studio. Visiting artist Jean, new works, garden access for a small charge each day. No 186 in the directory.

Ed and Jenny Bullimore ? husband a wife team exhibition photography on canvass to enthral the eye, ceramics and sculptures. (No. 183 and 184 in the directory)

Anne Ratnarajh who is a basket weaver and also works with other mixed media. She?s the only one I?ve got a good high res image for.

Click HERE for a full list of the Haddenham artists taking part, and HERE for full details of the Bucks Open Studios event.