Viva Brighton Issue #84 February 2020

ART
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ART & ABOUT
Out of town
On the 1st of February, Shani Rhys James: tea on the sofa, blood
on the carpet opens in the Wolfson Gallery at Charleston. In
this major exhibition of portraits, interiors and still lifes, the
celebrated Welsh artist explores the transience of being. Early
paintings stage the drama of the mother/daughter relationship,
while her recent work confronts the fragility of domestic life,
ageing and the curious infantilisation we face during old age.
(Until 19th April.)
‘Yellow Wallpaper II’ (2012) courtesy of the artist and
Connaught Brown
‘Interference’ by Susan Lynch
The Art of
Temptation
continues at
Chalk Gallery
in Lewes until
February 23rd,
offering a 20%
discount on
all work in the gallery for this limited
period. From the 24th, the first featured
artist exhibition of the New Year is Lewes
resident Rue Asher. With a background in
hypno- and psychotherapy, Rue’s abstract
and mixed-media paintings explore the
‘psychological landscape’. Continues until
the 15th of March. (chalkgallerylewes.
co.uk) Also in Lewes this month, follow
the trail of illuminated installations in
LewesLight (28th Feb–1st Mar). Inspired
by environmental stories, this year’s
contributing artists explore themes from the
beauty of moonlight, to the menace of the
growing climate emergency. Free and open
to all. (leweslight.uk)
Five exhibitions run concurrently at Hastings
Contemporary this month. Earthly Delites is
the first major UK exhibition by the Irish artist
Anne Ryan, who also curates The Studio at 4
a.m. – a showcase of work by eight emerging
contemporary artists. The Age of Turmoil: Burra,
Spencer, Sutherland features rarely seen works
by the three seminal modern British artists, and
Quentin Blake: Airborne shows a collection of
whimsical flying machines created especially for
the space by the
gallery’s artist
patron. Finally,
Drawing Life
features artwork
produced during
life drawing sessions
with local
artists, carers and
people living with
dementia, as part
of the gallery’s
ongoing Wellbeing
programme.
‘Welsh Landscape With Yellow Lane’ (1939-40) by Graham
Sutherland. Photograph Estate of Graham Sutherland
Janet Sutherland
From the 27th of February until the 1st of March, the Crypt Gallery in Seaford
is home to Litfest 2020: a celebration of words and music by a lineup of
largely local authors, poets, storytellers and musicians. There are twelve events
to choose from over the three-day festival, including Umi Sinha, Janet Sutherland,
Nicholas Royle, Alex Josephy, Wendy Atkinson, Peter Martin and Susan
Evans. Tickets are available from eventbrite.co.uk and cost £5 for individual
events, or £40 for a three-day pass. (thecryptgallery.com)
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