Review / 05

Written By Jennifer Gilbert
a photo of a group of people - some standing and some kneeling - with artwork hanging on the wall behind and some ceramics on a table infront

Artbox London artists share their views on Art et al.’s first exhibition titled Season One, at Cromwell Place in London earlier this year.

 

"The exhibition really interested me, it was nice to see other artists exhibiting their work.” – Chris

Artbox London came to visit Season One at Cromwell Place in London in March 2022. After a tour of the space from Jennifer hearing about all the artworks on show, and being able to hold Alan Constable’s bronze ceramic camera (a real treat!), we got down to being creative, what Artbox London does best! With the British Council’s Australia/UK Season theme of ‘Who are you now?’ following the pandemic, it was great to hear from the artists and see their artwork creation around what made them happy now – including going out and about more again, seeing friends, and getting back to the studio itself. We sat for an hour, happily collaging, drawing and chatting about what it was like being back in the studio at Artbox and being creative around others again – something that was greatly missed by all the artists!

 
a photo of a group of people standing overlooking a table of ceramic objects, with one woman in a coral coat, her arms spread wide, talking about the work on the table in front and everyone listening
 

Jessica Mackney, a facilitator from Artbox London, said of the trip, “I've seen an increase in confidence with the artists who attended the trip, and many were talking about pieces they liked afterwards. I think the discussion of the exhibition was excellent and really engaging for the artists, especially the sculptures that could be picked up and touched. There was a good variety of work in the exhibition that made it accessible for the artists and their differing interests, so I felt that everyone got something out of it. The workshop provided enough inspiration and guidance, as well as independent art-making that made it very enjoyable.” 

"I really enjoyed the portraits on the wall in particular, and the workshop was fantastic." – Herald 

 
a photo of 6 people sitting around a table, covered in arts amterials, drawing an looking through magazine for inspiration
a photo of two artists sat a table, one is dressed in a blue hooded top and is drawing some flowers on a white piece of paper. A large blue drawing features on the wall behind.
 

We think Seatton’s drawing of himself here, with his thumbs up being happy, sums it all up quite nicely! It was a wonderful morning spent in the Gallery space. You can see some of the other creations by other Artbox London artists, on top of the fireplace in the photograph here.

“I really enjoyed making art outside of Artbox, and doing different drawings." – Seatton

 
a drawing of a blue outline of a face with a big smile and a thumbs up drawn in outline next to the face in blue too
above an ornate fireplace is a sculpure made from found objects hanging on the wall. on the mantlepiece is a row of drawings sat one next to the other.
 

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Artbox London is a registered charity and social enterprise that runs art workshops, trips, exhibition and sales opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autism. Through their work, they aim to improve the wellbeing and inclusion of people with learning disabilities and autism, whilst increasing their visibility in the community and raising the profile of their artwork in the wider art world.

© All images copyright Art et al., with permission of Artbox London.

Jennifer Gilbert
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