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'Tight Modern' Showcases Marginalised Art In Brighton
By Richard Moss
21/05/2008
Tight Modern will be open for business on Brighton Beach during the late May 2008 bank holiday weekend.
Visitors to Brighton this late May bank holiday weekend might see a long snaking queue on the seafront - but it won't be for lager, cockles or chips.
Starting on May 24 and running until May 26 the country’s smallest temporary art gallery will take up residence on the pebbles of Brighton beach to showcase the talents of local marginalised artists.
Inspired by the South Bank’s Tate Modern, Tight Modern is a miniature replica of the world famous and iconic building on London’s Thames, measuring just 4ft x 6ft. Entry to the gallery (capacity three or four people - at a push) is free of charge.
Once inside punters will be treated to more than 50 pieces of art produced by people who are homeless, have disability issues or have mental health or substance misuse problems. Limited edition prints of the work will be available for sale at the Tight Modern shop, priced £20 each.
Image: a painting showing clothes on a washing line
Duartes Esteves, Washing Line. © the artist
The man behind the project is Simon Powell, whose organisation, Creative Futures, works to empower marginalised artists and writers by providing a bridge between the community arts and the professional sector.
“The idea is to get the artists I work with more exposure,” said Simon. “It’s also about making a statement about the quality of the artwork. If I’m putting artwork in something that looks as good as Tate Britain then I’m making a statement that it's worth looking at.”
The work has been produced as a result of workshops and has been collected from art projects from services across the south east region. It gives a rare opportunity for the public to view high quality works in a unique setting.
“I have a social care agenda so my remit is helping people to be part of the mainstream,” said Simon. “A lot of the people I work with are aching to get some kind of recognition. Their work is cutting edge and to get some stuff sold and to get some kind of recognition is absolutely brilliant for them.”
Image: a colourful painting showing orange flowers and green leaves on a light blue background
Dierdre Morfee, Flower. © the artist
Most of the artists exhibiting in Tight Modern have had no formal training but each of them possesses a remarkable raw creativity which Simon believes will impress weekend visitors to the show.
“There are definitely some potential stars and there are definitely collectable artists in this exhibition,” he added. “It’s my long-term ambition to have a couple of these people make it as artists. Some of the people I have worked with have already been accepted into art school so it’s already happening to a degree.”
Tight Modern will be taking Brighton’s seafront by storm over the bank holiday weekend, Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, 11pm-6pm, and Monday May 26 11pm-2pm as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival.
Find out more about the work of Creative Futures at www.freewebs.com/creativefutures
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