A successful table top sale and art exhibition held at the Aqua Bar in Pevensey Bay yesterday (Saturday 3 June) has seen the popular venue take another step forward in their profiling of the pub and restaurant as one of the key family based visitor destination venues in the locality—Bay Life 4 June 2017.
Art event in Pevensey Bay adds profile as visitor destination in key beachside venue
The event which joined generations of people in viewing, buying and enjoying the artwork on display, also saw a raffle prize won by a very young art fan beaming with delight as she proudly held her prize.
Stuart Thomson, one of the key organisers of events at the Aqua Bar, talked to Bay Life about the consolidation of the approach being taken by the Aqua Bar in relation to the ways in which the venue is connecting furhter with both residents and visitors (Saturday 3 June), “it was a good day. Pevensey Art Group will be having a permanent exhibition at the Aqua, we will not be charging any commission.
“They will donate 10% of any sales to charity. The table sale went well so we will continue on the first Saturday of each month”.
Art is a draw both for residents and visitors because the subject is of interest across ages and gender. In particular in places like Pevensey Bay with strong connections historically with nineteenth century art movements, we have a natural breeding ground for local art.
Roads here like Rossetti. Prinsep and Leyland are all named after famous nineteenth century art figures. We appear to be the only village in the country with two roads in parallel to be named after two major art figures from the nineteenth century (Prinsep and Rossetti).
Perhaps it is something in the soil and the beach landscape here that inspires local art. What is interesting is to see that there appears to be a protogenic open house movement developing here in Pevensey Bay to promote arts and crafts, with the possibility of a launch in 2018.
In addition there is now a groundbreaking arts, crafts and photographs exhibition held here annually.
It is understood that the artwork of Michael Stringer (1924—2004),Pevensey Bay resident in his later life, the Oscar nominated set designer, responsible for many blockbuster films, including the classic Genevieve in 1952, is to be displayed for the first time in many years.
His work was on show in galleries across the world. The large prints, discovered in a garage in Pevensey Bay will be shown for the first time here in Pevensey Bay this summer.
In St. Ives in Cornwall, there is a major vernacular art movement based on the work of London artists and crafts people that moved to the location in the late twenties, people such as Bernard Leach, Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson.
Seasides hold a special attraction for artists because of the light and connection with the sea, as well as the sense of finding themselves embedded in interesting small coastal communities.
Here in Pevensey Bay and Normans Bay we already have four artists and crafts people whose work is being noticed beyond the locality, Julie Snowball, Barbara Butterworth, Glynis Mockford acnd Christine Racher. In the case of Christine Racher, for example, some of her ‘quirky buildings’ series of work have seen the independent valuation of her work with original pieces increase from £80:00 to £350:00.
Table top sales of artwork in Pevensey Bay in this context in Pevensey Bav begin to have an attraction to outside visitors and collectors as well as residents.
The value of the profile to the Aqua Bar, which is extending the welcome not just to residents but also to visitors looking to enjoy the a day our with for all ages with locally inspired artowrk in the form of events is demonstrable.
The popular seaside bar & restaurant, with a seated garden area opening directly onto the beach could not be more attractive as a feature with these kinds of emerging events.
The Aqua Bar is an ideal place to eat and drink in Pevensey Bay on the Sussex coast. The Aqua bar may also have identified a potential new niche as the place to go to see local art exhibitions.
Families can head to the venue and now find an eclectic mix of events. What is being noted is a best practice effort to see Pevensey Bay on the local visitor destination map as a place that encompasses some of the best spirit in relation to what Peveney Bay has to offer.
In talking to Bay Life, co-owner, Julie Rowe stated, ““This is our table and our sitting room and I just want everyone who comes here to feel comfortable”.
The new theme, the Aqua Bar Ethos, a homegrown phrase cooked up by organisers at the venue, is proving to have worth with the spirit of the endeavours at the popular venue.
The table Top Art Saturday takes another step forward with their organisation, profiling and savvy, well chosen mix of events, that can be shared by all the family.
IMAGE CREDIT: Aqua Bar, Pevensey Bay
