Beth Williams 'Goddess Army' 29 August to 18 September 2022

Goddess Army
Beth Williams

Goddess Army is a collection of hand-molded clay figures inspired by the Venus of Willendorf, a 30,000 year old oolite carving. Discovered in Austria in 1908, she is thought to be one of the earliest pieces of evidence of humans living in Europe.

As part of a larger collection, these three figures are a reminder of the divine feminine and speak of ancient times when a fuller figure denoted status, not shame. They represent the power women hold, both individually and collectively.

To find out more about Beth and her work you can contact via:

beth.faeriequeen@gmail.com

or follow on Instagram: beth_faeriequeen insta 

Goddess Army

Beth Williams

Clay and acrylic

2022.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Beth Williams

Clay and acrylic

Goddess Army is a collection of hand-molded clay figures inspired by the Venus of Willendorf, a

30,000 year old oolite carving. Discovered in Austria in 1908, she is thought to be one of the

earliest pieces of evidence of humans living in Europe.

As part of a larger collection, these three figures are a reminder of the divine feminine and

speak of ancient times when a fuller figure denoted status, not shame. They represent the

power women hold, both individually and collectively

Katie Szysko 'Hyrc Krabowski' 6-26 June

 

HYRC KRABOWSKY

Katie Szysko

The strongest immigrant crab, fundament of the seabed found his way to Folkestone. After the long journey through the oceans of the world, he now sits at the altar, overlooking vast and foreign land. Coronated with the Pharaoh-like claw crown, he strives for the skies.

He cleaned the depths of the waters and clawed his way to the top. He’s seen the world at its gravest and its most profound. He earned his crown.

Hyrc is the altar of newly found peace. It represents the challenging journey; the struggles and obstacles one must overcome, and the strength gained. He’s homed on the pedestal above the wisdom of the written word in the little pocket as though still in his cave. For all to see his powers and put a light on in the tribute to his new life. Here, In the secret garden full of flowers, growth, and love.

Hyrc’s name is based on the sounds crabs make when feeding, fighting, and fornicating. Created by the Folkestone based artist duo Katie and Joseph.

Katie is a multi-disciplinary artist working in art, installation, film and creative writing.
To find out more about her work you can visit her instagram feed at 
Creative Writing Folkestone

'Hyrc Krabowski'

Katie Szysko.

Mixed media.
2022.

Sophie Wyllie 'The Nature of Being' 16 May - 5 June 2022

 ‘The Nature of Being’

Sophie Wyllie

This mini series has been inspired by Sophie’s book 'A Different Perspective, the nature of being' written in collaboration with her partner, music producer Scott Wyllie, to tell the story of how we can nurture the creative element within us. 

The inspiring little journal, illustrated throughout, offers a journey of self discovery to our highest potential and creating  new states of being to empower and thrive. Embodying the message into our daily lives we can create with ease from an inspired point of view. 

The journal can be purchased from Sophie’s website along with the audiobook and original artwork. 

www.sophiewyllieart.com

 ‘The Nature of Being’

Sophie Wyllie

Ink on card

2022.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Michał Kamil Piotrowski 'Visual Poetry' 14 March 3 April 2022

 Michał Kamil Piotrowski

Visual Poetry

Michał Kamil Piotrowski is a visual poet and text artist living and working in Folkestone. He writes experimental, visual, and technology-powered poetry. He enjoys making poetry interactive and he mostly works with found text. The themes he explores the most are technology, politics, love, and mental illnesses. His interactive book The Cursory Remix (2021, Contraband Books) has been co- written by Google Translate.

Below are some of his Visual poems:

'Druggy Pac-Man'

'Smile'

'Sonic Sonnet'

To find out more about Michał and his work, you can follow him on Instagram @somecoolwords or @artBLAB

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Joypolloi 'The Herald (of What?) 15 November - 5 December 2021

 

Herald (of what?)
Joypolloi

Hand cut and pasted collage and assemblage using Tunnocks Caramel Wafer wrappers, a magazine image and arms from a plastic doll.

Joypolloi is a collage and assemblage artist based in Folkestone.

You can buy Joypolloi greeting cards and prints at Objectables, just down the road at 67 The Old High Street. Joypolloi will also be selling cards and prints at the Harbour Arm Festive Market as part of the Daughters of Industry stall on 27/28 November and 5/6 December. You can also buy work via etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/joypolloi. If you have a commission in mind please get in touch!

Thanks to @thingsfoundandmade (instagram handle) for helping to name this work.

To find out more about Joy and her work please visit:

www.joypolloi.co.uk

instagram @joypolloi

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/joypolloi

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

White Paper Pen 'Love Me Love Me Say That You Love Me!' 25 October - 14 November 2021

LOVE ME LOVE ME SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME!

In the midst of the winter lockdown, when I was due to be travelling through Mexico, an entity now known as “Steve” emerged in paint. He came seemingly out of nowhere and has been present in my work ever since. A presence I’ve found unsettling and somewhat ridiculous. Despite trying to kill him off, he’s become as resilient as he is colourful,  appearing in numerous guises and predicaments. Manic, often crying, he’s nostalgic, likes to dress up and be silly, travel the world and isn’t afraid of a bit of controversy. It’s even got to the point where people ask me how he is. A scenario that I find beyond comical yet at the same time intriguing. 

I’m asked regularly if “Steve” is actually me to which my knee jerk response is “Christ, I hope not” but I’ll admit there’s a strong resonance between us. There are days where I love him and days I hate him. Our evolving relationship is both bizarre and confusing but I’ve become resigned to the fact he isn’t going anywhere. A therapist would have a field day with this no?

This diorama is a further step in accepting his presence and is inspired by the Mexican tradition of the Nicho.  A form of folk art I’ve become fascinated with whilst researching my eventual escape to Mexico… 

White Paper Pen

'Love Me Love Me Say That You Love Me' Wood, Clay, Paint, Paper, Swarovski Crystal 10cm x 10cm x 10cm 2021.

Love Me Love Me Say That You Love Me (2021)

White Paper Pen is the studio of Folkestone based artist Steven Aron Williams. His work encompasses ideas about identity, politics, mortality and commemoration, bound together in a style which finds its origins in the cartoons of his childhood. Travel and popular culture are also recurring themes. He sees his  practice as an introspective process underpinned by anxiety, ageing and a dark humour ; an attempt to make sense of the world and his place in it.

Love Me, Love Me, Say That You Love Me is an extension of the exhibition entitled “Self” at the Eight Squared Gallery, Folkestone from the 28th Oct - 8th Nov.

25th October - 14th November

The Pocket Gallery / Payers Park Community Garden / Folkestone

Elin Melberg 'Untitled' 4 - 24 October 2021

Elin Melberg

Untitled

Elin Melberg (b. Stavanger, Norway, 1976) graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from the Royal College of Art (London) in 2002. Since 2003 Melberg has lived and worked in Stavanger, also co-directing the artist-run project space Prosjektrom Normanns (closed 2020).

She is co-founder and co-owner of the creative working space ELEFANT in Stavanger. Melberg is a member of Arrangørutvalget for Visuell kunst in the Arts Council Norway.

Elin Melberg has recently exhibited at Stavanger Art Museum (NO) (ongoing);

Hå gamle Prestegard (NO) (ongoing); Nordnorsk Art Museum (NO) (2020-21);

Oppland Art Center (NO) (2020); Abingdon Studios (UK) (2019);

Interface Gallery (SF) (2019); KUBE Art Museum (NO) (2018);

Nord-Trøndelag Art Museum (NO) (2018);

Kunsthall Stavanger (NO) (2018); Untitled San Francisco (2017 & 18)

and Nordenfjeldske kunstindustrimuseum (NO) (2017).

Collections include Stavanger Art Museum (2021, 20 & 14),

Stavanger University Hospital (2016), Oslo Municipality Art Collection (2016),

Stavanger Concert Hall (2015), KORO (2011), Statoil Art Collection (2011, 05 & 03),

Stavanger Municipality, Royal College of Art (2002),

Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (2012) and the Bazil Alkazzi Foundation (2002).

 To find out more about Elin and her work please visit her website:

www.elinmelberg.com

or take a look at her instagram: @elinmelberg

Elin Melberg

'Untitled'

Mixed media.

2021.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Local Foreigner 'Rust to Dawn' 13 September to 3 October 2021

Local Foreigner

'Rust to Dawn'

In this sculptural installation for The Pocket Gallery's Triennial Fringe programme, Local Foreigner utilises objects found in Folkestone Harbour to make us think about local identity. Revealed by the receding tide, these seemingly worthless objects are elevated in status and placed on a sparkling, crystalline bed of sea salt, a once valuable and vital resource which, although now commonplace and easily affordable, at one time held more value than gold. Similarly the plated spoon, twisted and patinated, and pieces of iron, now disintegrated beyond recognition of the original object, would have held purpose and value for the original owners, perhaps feeding them and maybe tethering a boat or holding a wooden cargo barrel together.

Local Foreigner playfully invites us to think about what we value, what we hold important, what we hold necessary, both metaphorically and materially, and how this relates to our locality and/or changes over time.

About Local Foreigner:

In 2015, Local Foreigner emerged from the tense and confused socio-political climate surrounding ideas of locality and foreignness, of belonging and being other. Local Foreigner is interested in the underlaying current of this tension and confusion, that point to a society in a psychological and existential crisis, and how we might find new ways of relating with ourselves, others and the rest of the world.

To find out more about Local Foreigner and his work visit his Instagram

or go to www.JustAnotherCrossing.com

Local Foreigner

Rust to Dawn

Found objects and salt

2021.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Poppykins 'New Beginnings' 23 August to 12 September 2021

 

Poppykins

'New Beginnings'

Textile artist and designer Poppykins, AKA Sam Taylor, has installed this 3 panel mixed media textile piece in The Pocket Gallery.

With crocheted sunflowers in her signature amigurimi style, appliqued over denim panels (drawing parallels with the indigoferin-rich woad and false indigo dye plants grown in the garden) alongside honeycomb shaped patchwork panels and decorative embroidered stitches, this work suggests a garden in high summer, full of bright, bold blooms and buzzing with life.

To find out more about Sam and her work visit her social media pages by clicking on the following links:

Facebook

 Instagram: Poppykins Crochet & Poppykins Patchwork

or her Etsy webshop.

Poppykins goods are also stocked in local shops such as Made in Ashford, Canterbury Makers and Made in Folkestone.

Sam Taylor

New Beginnings

Mixed Media

2021.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

David Alderman 'Untitled' 2-22 August 2021

David Alderman

'Untitled'

In the second show of our Folkestone Triennial 2021 offerings, David Alderman's graphic line work prints cover all walls of the gallery for this lino print exhibition. 

To find out more about David and his work follow him on Instagram at @davidartdavid

David Alderman

Untitled

Lino print on paper

2021.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

 

Candida Wright 'Sea Cave Discoveries No. 108' 12 July - 1 August

Sea Cave Discovery No. 108

Candida Wright

Come and see the latest finds from the book The Adventures of Zebrina - the Marine Biologist.

The image above shows her find No.107, The Sea Drifter.

In the Pocket Garden Gallery will be the find No.108 from her chapter, Sea Cave discoveries

To find out more about Candida and her work visit her website here.

Candida Wright

Sea Cave Discoveries Find No. 108

Ceramic

2021

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

Suzi Ashworth 'St. Gertrude of Nivelles' 21 June - 11 July

 

St. Gertrude of Nivelles

Suzi Ashworth

St. Gertrude of Nivelles is the Catholic Patron Saint of gardeners, mental health, mice and cats. She is also associated with saving people from plague, as during the Black Death she was venerated for driving out mice and rats. All of which seems very appropriate during these times!

Gertrude was a 7th century noblewoman whose first notable action was at age 10, when she  refused to marry an Austrasian (former kingdom spanning parts of northern france, germany and the lowlands) Prince, stating that she would rather be "married to Christ". Women's  feelings were rarely taken in to account, but the marriage did not go ahead as her father died shortly after. To protect Gertrude's virtue and chastity, and (possibly more importantly) prevent her being taken advantage of by suitors only interested in her families wealth and land, Gertrude's mother Itta is said to have shaved the girls head and placed her in a monastery. Gertrude spent the rest of her life fasting, praying and eventually became the Abbess of Nivelles.

She died quite young (by our standards) at 33 years old, with chroniclers crediting her weakened state to excessive fasting and abstinence. She is associated with two 'miracles'. The first was her vision of a burning sphere appearing above the altar she was praying at, and the second was an incident where a ship was attacked by 'a great storm and a sea monster' and was saved when the occupants cried out to Gertrude for help.

Whether you believe in the miracles or not, I think we can all do with a little help with 'Plague' and our collective mental health at the moment, so a beautiful garden with cats seems a perfect place for a tiny altarpiece to St Gertrude.

The cats portrayed in the altarpiece are (L to R) Bella (my house mog), Toby (the PPCG garden cat) and Archie (Toby's on-again-off-again #itscomplicated gentleman friend). Sweet violets are the flower associated with Gertrude, so these have been included in the painted panels (and sown in the beds beneath the Gallery).

Suzi Ashworth

St Gertrude of Nivelles Altarpiece

Mixed media

2021.

Suzi Ashworth is a Folkestone based yarn dyer and illustrator.

To see more of her work follow Folkestone Harbour Yarn on Instagram or Facebook.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

 

Jessica Rolan 'The Secret Lives of Animals: Wasp Edition' 1 - 20 June 2021

 

The Secret Lives Of Animals: Wasp Edition

JESSICA ROLAN

My name is Jessica Rolan, a part-time artist enjoying exploring different media and art-forms. This comic strip came from an art prompt by Sketchy Business for “a day in the life of animals”. 

Wasps are a very important part of our insect life and deserve more love than they get! I hoped that this little comic would be uplifting and speak to us all - wasp and human alike - that our worth is not dependant on our popularity.

 

Find me on Instagram jessica_rolan.art and follow sketchybusinessuk for awesome art prompts for your sketchbook!

Jessica Rolan

The Secret Lives of Animals; Wasp Edition

Digital Media

2020

If you want to find out more information about how useful and clever wasps are, this video made by Chris Packham for BBC Springwatch is a great place to start:

This is another great clip explaining the essential functions wasps perform in the ecosystem:

Charities such as Buglife and the RSPB have great information about how to help and encourage these essential insects in your garden.

Here's an image of a wasp drinking from the PPCG bird bowl before flying off to chew some wood for its paper nest.

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UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS: