Exploring Rye with Brian Hargreaves is a fascinating new guide to Rye. By Joyce Rye The beautifully produced book is packed with dozens of black and white drawings of buildings and streets each one correctly drawn along with short captions giving their history. There is a map which enables the reader to locate the street that they are looking at easily while walking round the town. Continue reading Exploring Rye with Brian Hargreaves
Category: Art
Rye’s Award Winning Artist
From Ukraine to UK Award Winning Artist Makes Rye Her Inspiration,
Yulia Podolska has come a long way since her childhood in the former Soviet Union. Only six months after arriving in the UK, the 25 year old sculptor has been awarded the Bronze Age (Young) Sculptor Award at the Society of Women Artists’ 149th annual Summer Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London, which showcases an accomplished and eclectic mix of artwork in all media. Continue reading Rye’s Award Winning Artist
New Show at Roche Gallery
A new exhibition at Roche Gallery in Rye showcases a fascinating selection of portraits by local artist Marina Kim. The exhibition features newly-completed works and earlier commissions loaned back to the gallery by their owners. Many of the faces were familiar to residents of the town and some were at the shop in person! Continue reading New Show at Roche Gallery
Jerwood Foundation Working with Hastings on New Art Gallery
By Amber Rudd
The Jerwood Foundation is to work with Hastings Borough Council to explore the opportunity and potential for a new gallery in Hastings which would house the main body of the Jerwood Art Collection and receive temporary exhibitions. Jerwood and Hastings are exploring the feasibility of the options and working closely with local partners to develop this exciting and important project. Continue reading Jerwood Foundation Working with Hastings on New Art Gallery
Stephanie’s First Book
Thomas Peacock Students Illustrate Stephanie’s Very First Book.
Rye author Stephanie Dunk has written her first children’s book which must be commended for it’s originality. The book, “Level Control” is the first in a series of five and tells the imaginative story of a journey which moves from level to level under the ground into a land of fairies, elves, gnomes, witches and wizards. Continue reading Stephanie’s First Book
John & Priscilla
John Ryan at Pugwash Book Signing .
The much loved Captain Pugwash, created by Rye’s own John Ryan has been a children’s favourite since his creation, as a strip cartoon, over fifty years ago. Continue reading John & Priscilla
The Winchelsea Players
Committed to producing high-quality drama and galvanising local talent
The Winchelsea Players was founded in May 2006. Its prime objective is to produce a wide variety of quality plays that are long-established favourites. The Company’s inaugural production was Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest in July 2006 which enjoyed rave reviews and sell-out performances. Continue reading The Winchelsea Players
Friends of Rye Art Gallery
Garden Party
By Elaine Robertson
Every Rye Society or institution that gives coffee mornings, open gardens or garden parties, holds its collective breath about the weather, but after an unnerving early part of the week the Friends of Rye Art Gallery sighed in relief when 8 July turned out to be a beautiful day with the site of Mrs.Rae Festing’s garden looking at its best. Continue reading Friends of Rye Art Gallery
Julie Andrews was her Claim to Fame
The year was 1945, the War ended and 14 year old Doreen Palmer left school (that was the leaving age then). Doreen lived in the east end of London and started work in the West End for a Russian lady named Katya Krassen in Saville Rowe. By the time she was sixteen Doreen was quite proficient and was asked to make a dress for a twelve year old child. Although she was not keen on the idea, (she was really only into ladies dresses), she went along with it. Doreen was told the little girl was twelve, had a lovely voice and was appearing before the King and Queen in a Command performance and wanted something special to wear. Continue reading Julie Andrews was her Claim to Fame
Andy MaConnell In a Glass of His Own
First Ever Glass Expert on the Antiques Road Show.
Andy McConnell has dealt in antiques since adolescence, but served an apprenticeship in journalism. After working in music, film and television, his return to writing was marked by the publication in 2004 of his tome, The Decanter, An Illustrated History of Glass From 1650. His latest book, Miller’s 20th Century Glass, will be published in August 2006. He writes regularly for numerous newspapers, magazines and guides. He has recently opened a gallery/exhibition centre, Glass Etc, here in Rye. He appeared regularly on The 20th Century Roadshow and recently became the first-ever glass specialist on The Antiques Roadshow, appearing three times in the current series.
In these days of doom and gloom in the antiques world, it is pleasing to report that a newly established shop is already thriving. GLASS etc, a large gallery and exhibition space, opened in the Rope Walk, just before Christmas and is already attracting interest from across south-east England.
The building, comprising a 100 square metre shop with an adjacent exhibition room and workshops, was originally built as a Salvation Army hall and later served for 30 years as the premises of Ann Linguard Antiques. Andy is helped in the new venture by his wife Helen.
The Decanter, An Illustrated History of Glass from 1650 [Antique Collectors’ Club, 2004] is to be followed by a new book for which Andy is currently completing two years of research. 20th Century Glass, to be published by Miller’s in August [2006]. As he explained: ‘I live and breathe glass, but my private collection, built up over 30 years, currently numbers about 20,000 pieces. Most of it is packed in banana boxes in damp storage and I haven’t seen much of it for years. I’m still buying, so opening a shop seemed a logical step.
The exciting thing about GLASS etc. is that it offers so many possibilities. On one hand, we’ve got a great shop with huge windows and it enables me start opening some of my treasure trove of boxes. On the other, we can hold regular exhibitions, some sales-orientated, others simply to demonstrate what a dynamic, interesting and historic substance glass is’.
GLASS etc. specialises in table and lighting glass dating from c1700 to the present: bowls, vases, drinking-glasses, decanters, stained-glass panels, etc. It also stocks a wide range of other items, including architectural salvage such as door-knobs, hinges, knockers, etc.
The first exhibition, The Glass Salt Cellar, 1750-1980, will ran from April 10 until the end of May. The show centred on Andy’s collection of over 300 examples, mostly British and generally dating between c1770-1820, the classic period of British glass-cutting.
GLASS Etc. is open 7-days-a-week: 10.30-5 weekdays; 12-5pm Sundays. Admission to exhibitions are free.