On 19th and 20th October some 200 people visited artists in their WASPS studios and participated in the Big Draw – an international event in October/November with events aimed at getting everyone to draw and create art. Voice’s Suzanne Kelly was one such visitor.
Aberdeen has a pool of talented, diverse, international artists who exhibit work in important Scottish galleries and abroad, have work in international collections and are better recognised outside the city limits than they are at home.
However, WASPS studio space on Langstane Place, home to some 35 artists and makers whose work varies from portraiture to botanical art and from abstract landscapes to sculpture, held an amazingly successful open studio event in Aberdeen last weekend.
Visitors entered by photoghost, a printing and photographic services company, and then wandered through a labyrinth of art spaces, studios and corridors lined with artwork.
There was also the chance to participate in the Big Draw – by creating and drawing mythical beasts, drawing a picture of an aspect of Aberdeen for a large collage, and by learning how to make small artists’ books to take home.
One artist had lined studio corridors with newspaper and was busy redacting/blacking out words in the headlines (not unlike the city council’s practice of redacting text – like it did in the City of Culture Bid document before the public was allowed to see it, for instance.)
Artists who opened their doors included Keith Byres, Fiona Swapp, and Lorraine Taylor.
Keith, who was working from a model on a portrait, had this to say about the event:
“Wasps Artists’ Studios open weekend is our take on ‘Open Doors’. It gives the general public an opportunity to see artists at work and have an insight into their practice. We had between 150 and 200 enthusiastic visitors over the weekend, who weren’t shy to ask searching questions about what we do. It was very stimulating and refreshing.”
The visitors had a great time and the artists were all happy to explain their work and to encourage visitors to make their own art as well.
The studio open days may be over for the present but if you are looking for fresh original artwork produced in your own community, WASPS have something for every taste and budget.
You can get in touch with WASPS at:
Langstane Place Studios,
36-48 Langstane Place,
Aberdeen
AB11 6FB
email – info@waspsstudios.org.uk
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