Art:
Issue #1: November 2024 - June 2025
Make
About Make Art: Brighton
Make Art: Brighton is a community of artists who meet monthly at Fabrica in Brighton. The group is led by artists Eden Brackenbury and James Shreeve, who create a space for skill sharing, ideas and collaboration. At each session, artists are invited to work on a postcard. A selection of these are presented here.
Make Art: Brighton is part of a programme of art groups across the UK organised by Outside In and funded by the National Lottery Awards for All grant.
Front cover image: Hannah Singleton Above: Luc(e) Raesmith
Introduction
“To create one’s own world takes courage.”
Georgia O’Keeffe
Make Art After Dark begins with a tradition, a particular opening ceremony. Each artist is invited to creatively embellish a standard issue 148 mm by 105 mm blank postcard in any manner that calls to their heart. These small works are a tangible evidence of presence, a snapshot of mood, creative intuition and artistic introspection.
Some work is presented here (with more to follow later), digitally bound and electronically produced. Second Empire style architecture nestled beside psychedelically vibrant cats while monochromatic horses rest. Each submission is voluntary and returned to the creator after documentation.
Watching my hastily sketched small “wellbeing postcard check in” idea grow into something larger has been a humbling and deeply rewarding experience. I am grateful to share the evolving journey with you.
- James Shreeve, Make Art Ambassador and facilitator
The Make Art sessions in Brighton have found their rhythm with both familiar and new faces coming to work on their art from 6pm - 8pm once a month without a minute wasted. Many artists have taken up the ritual of making artwork on a postcard as a warm-up to the session. We’ve now collected well over 50 of these to present in this curated collection for you here. It’s exciting to see them all in one place, showcasing the talented artists who come to our sessions.
- Eden Brackenbury, Make Art Ambassador and facilitator
Left: Terry Watson
Right: Sophie Valiex
Luc(e) Raesmith
Left: Debbie Caulfield
Right: Ana Tewson-Bozic
Ian Sherman
Left: Luc(e) Raesmith
Right: Ana Tewson-Bozic
Left Isabella Gill
Right: Sophie Valiex
Clare Gibbons
Alice Wisden
Left: James Shreeve
Right: Eden Brackenbury
Left: Louise Gibson
Right: Tess Springall
Afterword
“
Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.”
Pablo Picasso
The ink has dried, the brushes have been cleaned and the chairs have been put away but the creative energy does not. What began as a simple plain postcard with a guiding prompt has become a site of exploration, vulnerability and connection. Each bit of work shown here and the many more yet to be seen speak of courage it takes to make, to share with others and to show up.
Thank you for witnessing this moment in time, our ongoing conversation. The page may end here but there is more to follow and the making shall continue.
- James Shreeve, Make Art Ambassador and facilitator
Issue # 1: Make Art: Brighton, November 2024 - June 2025 Outside In is a registered charity which provides a platform for artists who encounter significant barriers to the art world due to health, disability, social circumstance, or isolation.
