Contemporary Christmas Art Shopping

Here's a new idea for artists. Speed Objet D'Arting, a new term and concept conceived by my fabulous friend and Coventry art guru, Emma O'Brien with artistic upcycler, Jessica Timmis.


The event took place last Wednesday evening and was pitched as speed dating for artists (without the dating), which, I suppose, really just leaves you with speed for artists. Actually it turned out to be more like Alcoholics Anonymous (or Artists Anonymous) because we had just the right turnout to sit in a big circle with some wine, and tell each other about our work. And, really, that beats talking at speed for 2 minutes before moving on to the next alcoholic...artistically-inspired person and repeating the same story over and over again. Also means you can eat cake and mince pies when it's not your turn *greedy grin*


Much fun was had, even for an ol' weed (read: tea) drinker like me! In fact, so much fun and banter that there's no photographic evidence from the evening. I mean, c'mon, we're talking about speed for artists and anonymous alcoholics here. If I showed you pictures, I'd have to kill you. Ps. this is my imaginatively fashioned excuse for the fact that the photies have somehow become irretrievable...maybe the fault of alcoholic artists, maybe gallery ghoulies...who knows?


Over the week, our work has been arranged in a most lovely fashion at The Lock Gallery, run by Emma, which will be open this Wednesday for an evening of Contemporary Christmas Art Shopping. If you've never been to the Canal Basin before, the gallery is at Studio 23; see directions below See, aren't I helpful? *beam*

Walking directions:

If you're walking from Coventry city centre, follow signs to the Canal Basin, cross the bridge that goes over the ring road, then cross the road and turn right. The gallery is Studio 23. Don't enter the Canal Basin, otherwise you'll get a bit lost, like I did last week!

Driving directions:

Either take the Radford or Foleshill Road exits off the ring road. 

From Radford Road, follow signs to Canal Basin, follow St Nicolas Street to the end, which becomes Leicester Row as it rounds a bend to the left. The gallery is on your left.

From Foleshill Road (B4119), take the first left onto Leicester Row, Studio 23 is on your right.

Free on-street parking alongside the Canal Warehouse, so you can do lots of shopping and won't have to carry everything very far!

Featured artists and their work:

Alison Perry, All About the Beads

Emma Gluyas, Arty Em

Emma O'Brien, Naughty Monsters & Dead Dudes

Jessica Timmis, Upcycled Objects

Julia Gandy, Hole Button Jewellery & Cute as a Button

Julia Prior, Cutting Gallery

Laurence Tilley, Sculptural Ceramics

Paul Whiteside, Bodice Beautiful

Tony Prior, Cutting Gallery

Tracy Dix, Sock 'N' Soul

and last...but cutest, Ruby the dog!

I suppose I might post some pictures later of Contemporary Christmas Art Shopping for the benefit of readers overseas, but all the good stuff might be gone by the time I whip out my camera tomorrow evening, so for anyone based within a reasonable 30 minute drive away from the Lock, it'll be your own fault if you don't come and don't get to see Made in Coventry art objects in all their glory!