Baobab Jenkins could live here

From the River Arts District

The River Arts District - My New Favourite Place

So many cities have gentrified their arts districts for the benefit of tourists, which ironically makes them too expensive for artists to stay in and often removing the soul of the place. So it is really refreshing to find the the River Arts of District of Asheville is still a genuine work area for artists. It's a place of great integrity, where buildings from past industry have been repurposed with impressive respect.

During my exploration of the area I got talking to a ceramic artist in one studio, Greg Vineyard. His work is full of compelling rustic grace and you can find more of it here. He told me that a large number of the buildings in the district are owned by artists who rent sections out to other artists hence the rent is kept affordable. Where Greg rents space was an oil distribution building and the owner Constance Williams, herself a prolific and innovative artist, has been keen to keep the building well preserved. (More of her work here) No new nails are allowed in the walls, white temporary walls have been added for people to hang their work but are attached through already existing holes. We talked at length about art and influences, a rare treat.

Outside the sun lit the river bringing light and shadow to the buildings that still remain unused, but may one day live again through a new industry that has made the River Arts District of Asheville my New Favourite Place.

Digbeth Art Exploration Part II

The thing about Digbeth is the variety of smells; greasy food, but mainly chemical smells like diesel, oil and paint. It's a quietly busy area with businesses ranging from graphic design studios to limousine rental places. You walk down a street not quite sure what you're going to find and then not sure what you actually have found. On several occasions I was sure I had found an art space of some kind but never found out how to get in or what it really was.

My full, 2 day exploration of Digbeth came about because I felt I had not done enough when I was still living in B'ham. When the chance came to go back, I also decided to return to Digbeth. I knew the Custard Factory well, it has been a favourite place mine for years. It's the old Bird's Custard factory turned into a complex with shops, art studions, galleries, a theatre, places to eat and its own radio station Rhubarb, amongst other things. Every time I go back something new and really cool has sprung up. This time I noticed the Creative Open Workshop (link below) seemed to have grown and there was a shop selling paints with a lad hanging out on a couch inside drawing amazing pictures with felt tips. Truly, the Custard Factory is an exciting place.

After checking out the Custard Factory I used my art map from the Digbeth Is Good website to find more hidden gems, more on those tomorrow.

LINK ATTACK:

The Custard Factory

Digbeth is Good - Get the map and follow the art trail

Studio 4 - Brilliant Gallery and Shop showcasing the best in local art talent and they offer free mags like Vice.

Rhubarb Radio

Creative Open Workshops - craft tutorials and a great craft shop, fairs regularly.

Oxford Malmaison

We don't often get the chance to stay somewhere swanky, but this was a little treat for us all at the end of my in-laws post wedding trip around the UK. The Malmaison in Oxford has won design awards for transforming the old prison into a high-end hotel. It is indeed an achievment.

It has become more and more common to turn old buildings of interest around so that they no longer remain derelict, but also make the buyers money. While studying in Aberystwyth I remember a rather stunning baptist church being turned into a bar. I really respect the fact that Malmaison made such an effort to keep the building's essential design and then developing the hotel from there. Although this is really admirable, I have to admit I felt a little strange padding barefoot over my heated tiled floor in the bathroom to the humungous shower head, knowing full well the previous tenants had little more than a slop bucket. The next morning we went to see the only cell that has been preserved as it was, a less than six foot by four space containing three iron bunk beds. I am glad I didn't see this before I sank into my huge bed with its feather-down duvet the previous night after a hot bath.