Make Art: Brighton

Make Art:

Brighton Issue #1: November 2024 - June 2025

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

Christian Holder

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. outsidein.org.uk