Blog

This August, Towner is opening up its ground floor studio to become an interactive workspace and creative community for artists.

Over four weeks, forty artists — selected after an Open Call earlier this year — will come together to share ideas and perspectives, form intergenerational and intercultural connections and support each other in generating new artworks, collaborations and opportunities from across disciplines and regions. Everyone taking part will then have the chance to book a space at Towner to use again, either as a group or individually in the future.

The space will be open to the public for the duration of Open Plan. It is free, drop-in event so you’ll get an opportunity to view the artist's process and artistic practice firsthand.

This week's participating artists told us a bit more about their work and what they're looking forward to about Open Plan:

I am interested in the use of iconography, pattern and symbolism in art and am exploring ways of combining these elements with portraiture. I am really looking forward to meeting other artists, forging new connections, being introduced to new working methods and discussing each others' work.

instagram: @reemacason

The work I make is formed from research, with a layered historical context that I use as a basis for storytelling. The written word inspires my practice greatly with themes centred around belonging, place, memory, and community, especially in the context of the home and heritage. I work with range of digital, analogue and alternative photographic methods. What I am looking forward to: Being stimulated and inspired by other artists. Not just with the materials they may use and how they use them but also with discussion and conversation about concepts and meaning. I hope that I will gain knowledge about things I do not know and go down new pathways of exploration.

instagram: @elizabethbetsydoak

In my art I explore mixed media instruments to express my endless inspiration in diversity of natural world, shapes, colours, patterns believing that human life is connected with, dependant on and responsible for cherishing it whether we recognise this connection or not. Participating in Open Plan program I hope to get better understanding of my creative process, pushing my boundaries and learning new ways also to enjoy collaboration with the fellow artists.

My art practice follows an abstracting process that can retain figurative elements and may have a meditative focus, exploring limits and possibilities of different materials and procedures by combining analogue and digital art production methods. Collaboration with other artists may create a change in seeing and making for all involved that would not be possible in the same way otherwise.

instagram: @hmkartworks

I am looking forward to the Open Plan studios week at the Towner Gallery, because the communication with other creatives together with the physical hands on projects will inevitably enrich my practice.

instagram: @ikoun

I am primarily a painter, and in my work I hint at possible narratives, allowing the viewer to construct their own story through everyday objects, customisation, and my view of the world around me. I am most looking forward to meeting other artists and sharing ideas, as well as having a different space to work in and the potential this combination has!

instagram: @i.mills

My practice is concerned with the social and political nature of uncertainty. Working across drawing, installation, moving image, ceramics and photography, I use strategies of digital appropriation, manipulation and symbolism to frame personal and collective attitudes towards the mounting tension in our geopolitical landscape. Being fairly new to the area I'm most looking forward to stepping out of the comfort zone of my solitary art practice and embracing the opportunity to collaborate on fresh ideas within a new community of artists.

instagram: @mmiguelmartinn

I'm a local story detectorist, recycler, teller and music maker hoping for a week of connection with people that think in different ways to me.

instagram: @chalkhorsemusic

Always about the Anthropocene, seeing the loss of human species and triumph of nature as a positive outcome! Inspired to meditate on this future by the presence of rocks, fossils, ancient artefacts from past civilisations. Given the opportunity I quite like to work on more overt (but not didactic or cliched) ‘messaging’, either around oppression of women or the Anthropocene.

instagram: @giz2058

My current work is exploring the idea of where we are as a society and offering opportunities to unite and find comfort. I have been exploring shared histories and the objects and actions that unite us and offer solace. From union banners, to sweetheart cushions and repetitive beats. I am excited to work with others and try to surrender to a more collaborative and explorative process.

I am looking forward to sharing ideas, concerns and understanding through artmaking.

instagram: @isabeladevasques and @artcircleproject

I use my handwriting to create intricate, performative drawings, which are a way to think about and process thoughts and feelings about myself and the world. I’m looking forward to opening up my practice and ways of thinking to a group of new and diverse creative minds, excited and challenged by what might emerge when different mediums, approaches and stories come together in one space. 

instagram: @annemariesrevolutions

Learn more about Open Plan on its web page.

Follow us on instagram for updates on public events associated with the programme:

@townergallery

Week One artists

Week Two artists

Week Four artists