The OHOS office will be closed on Wed 24 Dec, Fri 26 Dec, and Wed 31 Dec, as the administrators are away, but post, email and phone messages will be checked every few days.
Also, there will be no arjeea21 meeting on 1 January, so next one is on Thursday 5 February 2015
In the meantime....
***A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR TO ALL!***
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Monster Club - OHOS artist Prabhat Basu Exhibition in Birmingham
Opening Event
Friday 7th November 4.30 – 8.30pm
Artists talk Sunday, 16th November 2.00pm
Open Daily from Saturday 8th November to Sunday 16th November.
11.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday
12.00pm – 5.00pm Saturdays and 12.00pm – 4.00pm Sundays
The Works Gallery, Jubilee Centre, 130 Pershore Street, Birmingham B5 6ND
Monster Club is a visual art exhibition of Monster themed work, including drawing, painting and sculpture as well as performance based film. The artists bought together for this exhibition have created work that encompasses the idea of the monster. Their interest may be something innate and deeply rooted in perhaps a childhood passion for exploring or depicting a monster or masked character of some sort. The exhibition explores aspects of fear and the uncanny, as well as humour, the absurd and the fantastical. The artists tap into their passion for literary and cinematic monsters, folk stories and allegorical tales. They are conjured up and imagined, they are a dip into the pool of childhood play and the grown up performance of art. The monster makers in the show create a conversation with themselves, the other monsters makers and with you!
The Artists: Alexi K, Amelia Seren Roberts, Andy Newman, Craig David Parr, David Miller, Hannah Honeywill, Ian Andrews, Matthew Krishanu, Ole Hagen, Paul Langford, Paul Newman, Prabhat Basu, Rafal Zar, Rebecca Nuttall, Sarah Fortes Mayer, Shelley Hughes, Yuyu Wang and the young artists of Friction Arts Saturday Art Club.
Monster Club is curated by Birmingham based artist Paul Newman. Paul has exhibited at The Jerwood Drawing Prize and Marmite Painting Prize 2012 as well as Painting Show at Eastside Projects in 2011. He is a previous prize winner at The West Midlands Open 2012 and Nottingham Castle Open 2011.
MONSTER CLUB is funded by A Grant for the Arts, Arts Council England and supported by Friction Arts and The Midlands Industrial Association.
Parcel Fever Comes to Town! - Constellation at Reading Museum - Friday 24th October 2014 5:30pm - 7:30pm
A trail of dynamic art, theatre and site-specific installations will spread throughout Reading town on Friday 24th October 2014
Parcel Fever Comes to Town – Is OPEN HAND OPEN SPACE ARTISTS contribution to this important annual arts extravaganza.
Parcel Fever Comes to Town – Is OPEN HAND OPEN SPACE ARTISTS contribution to this important annual arts extravaganza.
A Live exhibition that unveils its self bit by bit... OpenHand OpenSpace's amazing collection
of artists, will be bringing a series of ‘parceled up’ art work to the museum entrance. Each
'gift' will be unwrapped as a live experience, and the exhibition will gradually grow before
your eyes. The artists will be on hand to discuss their work.
Monday, 13 October 2014
The Big Draw - A National Event - The Keep Sunday 19th October 2014
Join artists Martin Stubbington and Ingrid Jensen on a drawing adventure at The Keep this weekend. Try different drawing methods and materials working on large and small activities. All events are free, suitable for all ages and you are more than welcome.
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
365 drawings 365 dessins

Last week at the Keep, curators Cally Trench and Tineke Bruijnzeels brought together their year-long drawing project. This included the work of 51 guest artists from England, France and Switzerland, many of whom gave talks and performances. About 100 visitors participated in lively discussions and a sumptuous banquet. Many thanks to all who made this event such a success! For anyone who missed it, there will be another chance to see the drawings at La Galerie d’Anières, near Geneva in Switzerland, 4 - 17 May 2015.
www.365drawings365dessins.co.uk
Sunday, 28 September 2014
The Boundless Museum at Reading Museum: The Last Week!
Join OHOS artist Jon Lockhart at Reading Museum for the final week of his Arts Council England funded exhibition: The Boundless Museum. Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm.
Sunday, 21 September 2014
Drawing for Beginners
Wednesdays 7.30 - 9.30pm, 24 September, 1, 8, 15 and 22 October
Tutor: Ingrid Jensen. www.imjensen.co.uk
Ground floor of the Keep. £60 for five sessions, or £13 for each one.
Enjoy drawing, build skills and confidence, explore techniques and materials. Basic materials provided. Booking essential
Tutor: Ingrid Jensen. www.imjensen.co.uk
Ground floor of the Keep. £60 for five sessions, or £13 for each one.
Enjoy drawing, build skills and confidence, explore techniques and materials. Basic materials provided. Booking essential
Thursday, 4 September 2014
You Only Look Once
Exhibition of Fine Art Photographic works
Saturday 6 September 2014, 7-10pm
Maggie Shannon (New York), Baoyang Chen (Beijing), Rehan Miskci
Curated by www.youonlylookonce.org
OpenHand OpenSpace
Brock Keep, 571 Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1HL
Free entry, free parking behind the Keep (via Brock Gardens)
Saturday 6 September 2014, 7-10pm
Maggie Shannon (New York), Baoyang Chen (Beijing), Rehan Miskci
Curated by www.youonlylookonce.org
OpenHand OpenSpace
Brock Keep, 571 Oxford Road, Reading RG30 1HL
Free entry, free parking behind the Keep (via Brock Gardens)
Exhibitions and Archive Assistant from the University of Reading
OpenHand OpenSpace was delighted to to appoint Lisa Barnard for the summer arts internship post kindly funded by the University of Reading. Her official title is "Exhibitions and Archive Assistant" and she has been working very hard to bring new order to OHOS's 30 year archive. All kinds of interesting documents and images have emerged from her researches, including photographs of a very young Douglas Gordon installing work in OHOS's car park in 1989. Some of Lisa's finds will be displayed in the Keep during Heritage Open Days, 12 - 14 September 2014
http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/brock-keep
Lisa has also been an impressive source of help with other exhibition related tasks, and we hope she has gained much useful experience into the myriad tasks and skills needed to keep a small arts centre running smoothly. Lisa will shortly be returning to her MA Fine Art course at the University of Reading, but we hope she will continue to be part of the OHOS community in future.
http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/brock-keep
Lisa has also been an impressive source of help with other exhibition related tasks, and we hope she has gained much useful experience into the myriad tasks and skills needed to keep a small arts centre running smoothly. Lisa will shortly be returning to her MA Fine Art course at the University of Reading, but we hope she will continue to be part of the OHOS community in future.
Graduate Platform Prize
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Peter Driver's March for Optimism |
www.aspex.org.uk The prize shortlist will be announced in the autumn and the winner of the prize will be announced at Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth on 1 November.
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Friday, 22 August 2014
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Summer visitors to the studios
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Trying out the artists' sofa! |
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In Kate Lockhart's studio |
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
tree little milk egg book
OHOS is pleased to present this exhibition of recent work by London-based artist Steve Perfect. His drawings, photographs and books take the viewer on a thoughtful journey through urban "sidelands," making the most of what most of us overlook, and capturing small instances in time and place. His drawings are variously poignant, funny, glum, beautiful, puzzling - and altogether enjoyable. Don't miss them!
Open 11am - 5pm Sat 14 - Sun 15, and Wed 18 - Sat 21 June 2014.
Closing event: Saturday 21 June 2.30 - 4.30pm: all welcome.
www.steveperfect.com
Friday, 13 June 2014
New Grounds
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Big Boy, by Sarah Britten Jones |
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Letters from Overseas, by Gill Goodwin |
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Sand, by Katy Pike |
This summer is a good opportunity for Reading residents to see REME's excellent museum collection while it is nearby, before it moves to Lyneham in Wiltshire in 2015.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Test Pieces
"Test Pieces" was part of OHOS's partnership with the REME Museum of Technology, funded by Arts Council England. The exhibition at the Keep examined the process of making models, drawings and small-scale sculptures in preparation for making larger work in both science and engineering. It included examination pieces machined to fine tolerances by REME's apprentices, drawings of motors and other technical equipment, and explorations of artwork by the OHOS and arjeea21 artists commissioned to make work for the "New Grounds" exhibition at Arborfield. It also showed some work by distinguished sculptor Eric Stanford - see image above of drawings and maquettes carved in stone made in preparation for much larger outdoor sculptures of Diana and Actaeon.
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Springfield School visits OHOS studios and gallery
Students and their teachers from Springfield School visited OHOS at Brock Keep during West Berkshire and North Hampshire Open Studios. They climbed up the tower to see two floors of artists' studios upstairs, talked to the artists and learned about the processes of making art. They also spent some time in the ground floor gallery studying the exhibition "Hanging Tough" and making their own drawings. All the year groups will be visiting during May and June in a programme coordinated by OHOS artist Kate Lockhart.
Open Studios and Hanging Tough exhibition
Artists Kate Lockhart, Mary Riley and Peter Driver discuss OHOS's May exhibition "Hanging Tough, showing work by current OHOS artists as part of West Berkshire and North Hampshire Open Studios.
March for Optimism in Winchester
OHOS artist Peter Driver leads a public procession through Winchester city centre celebrating optimism, acceptance and embrace of all humankind. This work is part of a major project for Peter's degree show at Winchester School of Art, 16 - 22 June, 10am - 5pm. A slide show was shown at OHOS's recent Open Studios exhibition "Hanging Tough, and some work from the project will also be on show at the The Bargehouse, Oxo Tower wharf, on the South Bank, Friday 11th - Sunday 13th July.
www.peterdriver.info
Winchester School of Art
www.peterdriver.info
Winchester School of Art
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Royal Holloway students shoot film at Brock Keep
In May OHOS was delighted to help out undergraduates from Royal Holloway, University of London when they were looking for a venue for their film project. Their film was about an artist in his studio, so it was convenient for the students to tour OHOS's studios upstairs, looking for inspiration. It was also easy for the artists to lend some props to give the film extra authenticity. A good time was had by all, and we look forward to seeing the final production.
Reading and the Great War
OHOS artists were invited by the Friends of Reading University to organise a heritage display for their succesful and moving event commemorating "Reading and the Great War". Because OHOS occupies Brock Keep in Reading it organises occasional exhibitions about the Royal Berkshire Regiment, for which the Keep was originally built. The Rifles Museum in the Wardrobe, Salisbury kindly lent items for this event at the Institute of Education, London Road Campus. Artists Anna Mitchell and Roxi Shields photographed some of the exhibits using photographic equipment bought with the help of Battle Community First. Members of the public also brought in personal items for display and to be photographed.
Friends of Reading University
The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum,
Battle Community First
Saturday, 26 April 2014
OHOS at Reading Contemporary Art Fair 25 - 26 April 2014
Please join us at this super event that celebrates reading talent and also invites artists from all over the country to exhibit and to sell their work.
We are stall 35. You will not miss us!
We are stall 35. You will not miss us!
Monday, 7 April 2014
Jon Lockhart Crippling the Blacksmith Part II: The Boundless Museum P.V Thur 17 April 6:30 - 8:00
Jon Lockhart
Crippling the Blacksmith Part II: The Boundless Museum
P.V Thur 17 April 6:30 - 8:00
Exhibition 22 April - 16 May
Thu - Sat 1-8pm, Sun 1-5pm (or by appointment)
The Bracknell Gallery, South Hill Park Arts Centre,
Berkshire, RG12 7PA
T: 01344 416240
E: kate.ratcliffe@southhillpark.org.uk
http://www.southhillpark.org.uk/15306/shows/crippling-the-blacksmith-part-two-the-boundless-museum.html
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
17th International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair
OHOS artist Ingrid Jensen is exhibiting with AMBruno at the 17th International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair at The Tetley in Leeds, 7-9 March 2014. AMBruno is an alliance of artists that makes artists' books, short films and performance works based on current artistic thought, practice and sensibility. It is led by Sophie Loss with help from many others, especially John McDowall
www.ambruno.co.uk
www.the tetley.org
www.ambruno.co.uk
www.the tetley.org
Consultation - Thank you!
Very many thanks to all who helped with OHOS's successful consultation and activity days in February, especially the eight history students from the University of Reading who volunteered to help as part of their second year course "Themes and Practice." We gained much useful information from the hundred visitors who came over two days, and were delighted with the World War One information and artefacts brought in by the public.
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Rotate Response - ASPEX Gallery, Portsmouth
OHOS Artist Jon Lockhart is exhibiting at Aspex Galley until April 2014.
The project involves four artists responding to each others work and spending time making within the gallery itself.
The project involves four artists responding to each others work and spending time making within the gallery itself.
Sunday, 9 February 2014
Friday, 31 January 2014
Community First Portraits workshop at Reading Museum 1 Feb 2014 1pm-3:30pm
Experience a working photographic studio within the Making Faces:
Tudor to Modern exhibition at Reading Museum with OHOS artists Anna Mitchell and Jon Lockhart. Have your photograph taken and be
transported digitally to a variety of exotic and familiar locations
using editing software.
If you wish you can bring along a favourite object to add to your image and say something about you - like many of the people whose portraits feature in the exhibition. See our ongoing archive of 'The Faces of Reading' here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/105138563@N02/sets/72157636464692784/
If you wish you can bring along a favourite object to add to your image and say something about you - like many of the people whose portraits feature in the exhibition. See our ongoing archive of 'The Faces of Reading' here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/105138563@N02/sets/72157636464692784/
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Next to Nothing
Excellent exhibition of contemporary art by University of Reading students at the Keep. Well done!
Watch out for their degree show in June, and find out more about the Department of Art at http://artreading.wordpress.com/
Friday, 24 January 2014
Next to Nothing
Wed 22 - Sat 25 January 2014Open Wed - Sat, 11am - 4pm, free entry, all welcome.
Private View: Friday 24 January, 6pmAn exhibition of contemporary artwork by Reading University students. Dan Coogan, Lucy Hatch, Ro McCarthy, Faye Nelson, Bethany Oram, Hannah Purvey Tyrer, Jamie Sorensen, Olivia Stagg, Will Wilford.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
I'm Glad You're Alive!
14 - 18 January 2014, 11am - 5pm
New contemporary artwork by Peter Driver and Lydia Heath at the Keep seeks to establish a dialogue between their practices as they exhibit together for the first time. Asking what it means to be politically motivated, they allow the relationships formed through the juxtaposition of their work to expose tensions, parallels and observations about the political and social implications of living in a complex world.
All welcome, free entry, free parking.
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