Friday 19th November: BV Open Studios

Greetings! Last Friday myself and a friend attended the BV open studios in Bristol. For those of you who (like myself until recently) might be wondering what BV studios are then please read the following info about them taken from their blog:

'BV Studios, a new and exciting development of artists’ studios in Bristol, is opening its doors to the public for the first time with an Open Studios event in November 2010.The converted 30,000 square foot warehouse is located in the heart of industrial Bedminster, in the space formerly occupied by the Wiltshire Print Works.The studio building currently houses over 80 professional artists who have been selected based on the quality of their work and commitment to their creative practices. The artists work in a variety of mediums and range from recent promising graduates to award winning, international and established artists.'

Over 80 artists! That sounds great to me, and it really was! After visiting the equally exciting Jamaica Street studios in Bristol this summer, I was looking forward to a similar experience of seeing a diversity of different art styles and studio spaces. So on the evening of Friday the 19th after a half an hour train journey to Bristol and 'slight detour' to get some fish and chips we arrived at the bustling BV studios in Bedminster (and believe me, it really was bustling!). During the two hours we were there there was no way near enough time to see all the work and talk to artists, so its taken some thinking to remember all the stuff I saw. Actually what I found to be more or as interesting as seeing/meeting the artists was the whole atmosphere of Bristol as an art community and seeing so many more artists my own age involved in the arts there, it was inspiring. I think refreshing too, to see a space that wouldn't be used, like the one at Jamaica Street, being inhabited and cared for by artists. The kind of hub of excitement it created in that particular part of Bedminster that evening (as I'm sure it will continue to do) was something I would love to see in my own town.

Below are a selection of images from the work of artist's who have a studio space there.Just to give you a taste. If you'd like to see any of the other artists' websites follow the link to the BV studios blog below:

http://www.bvstudios.blogspot.com/

(above) Sophie Woodrow

http://www.sophiewoodrow.co.uk/

(above) Mariele Neudecker
http://www.marieleneudecker.co.uk/

(above) Alex Korzer-Robinson
http://www.alexanderkorzerrobinson.co.uk/

(above) Lydia Halcrow

http://www.lydiahalcrow.com/

(above) Stewart Geddes

http://www.stewartgeddes.com/