Judy Dewsbery

The Beacon _ Hastings

paintings
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Projects

Supermarket Sanctuary

The evolution of "supermarket punch" into a bedspread

Judy Dewsbery, New Work, 25th - 27th April, 2008

'SPLASH', the current series of paintings and drawings is a fantasy upbeat exploration of Hastings' seaside. With a nod to Donald McGill and perhaps Beryl Cook the work is also a continuation of my 'Cuban' series which featured some splendidly buxom ladies, but with a touch of the Hastings' girl and boy at play. These are totally fictional scenarios, as opposed to the Cuban paintings which were based on sketches done while I was there and then developed once back in England. I'm constantly amazed by the inappropriate clothing (and lack of) of our youth, while celebrating their spirit and lust for life.

Many events are either rehearsed or performed here at the Beacon. The most recent being dab Art's Youth Theatre's 'STREET' , performed in the garden as part of the Coastal Currents Arts Festival. This was also during the Open Studios' final weekend, thereby benefitting from a sizeable audience.

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A costume project at Xtrax young people's centre, Hastings making and customising outfits with the young people for their 'prom', June 2007. Pictured is an outfit designed by Sonia - an evening hoodie.

Chinese portrait

One of a series of photographs taken by fellow Soco artist, Grace Lau, part of a project originally based in St Mary in the Castle based on a traditional Chinese portrait studio. Work from this project has been exhibited in The National Portrait Gallery.

Transgender Project

In spring 2007 I designed and produced the props and costumes for 'He was Sailor..........'. Written and performed by Lazlo Pearlman, developed and directed by Christine Harmar-Brown, the cabaret style evening described the journey undertaken by Lazlo in search of gender. It was presented at the Drill Hall, off Tottenham Court Road, 15th - 19th May 2007.

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Nunah Physical Theatre Co. have been rehearsing their short piece on the subject of domestic violence in the large studio at the Beacon. It is site specific, designed to be performed in the crypt of St Mary in the Castle, and forms part of the exhibition 'Penny and Others' (open Thursday - Sunday until 11th March).
It is choreographed by Vicky Heath. For the four performers - Nikki Joy, Laura Dunton Clarke, Judy Dewsbery and Julian Humphries, who are all part of dab Arts, - the experience was a challenge, and regarded as professional development, as no-one had done this kind of theatre before.
The response to the performance on the evening of the private view, was 'very moving', 'as the performers are not dancers, it made their feelings and expressions more obvious through their movements' (quote from another performance artist), 'the bleakness of the space accentuated the raw subject'.
The performance is to be repeated on Saturday afternoon, 10th March at the closing ceremony of the exhibition.

Costumes by Judy
Photos: the Lambie Brothers.

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Jack and Mae's wedding

photos

A Tribute to Benny and Gus,

- the two sheep Simon and I got to replace the broken lawnmower. They evolved from timid year old lambs to sinister stalking creatures over the period of the year they spent in our garden, eating all our flowers, shrubs, vegetables and those of our neighbours as well.

The history of Venezuela, through dance.
My brother Mark and his family from Venezuela visited England in August 07. His two elder daughters and his current wife devised and hosted an afternoon performance of 'the history of Venezuela, through dance' for an invited audience of 40. They emphasised that current Venezuelan culture was a true mix of African Slaves, indigenous Indian and Spanish peoples using music, projected images and their own dances. Rebeca, student and flamenco dancer and Adriana, MA student have worked together on projects in the Barios of Caracas with disadvantaged young people. Sabrina, Mark's wife, studied the History of Venezuelan Culture at University. It was the first time Mark had seen any of them perform like this.
The performance also touched on the melding of Santeria and Christianity within the culture using a full bull's head mask and matching maracas which they had brought with them from Venezuela (used,apparently, to put a 'hex' on people), a golden sun burst and an image of the Crucifixion (both of whicch I had to go off into the Old Town to find; Roberts Rummage, naturally). The dancing ended with an energetic salsa which the audience joined in - from 3 year olds - 70+, after which they were served with a meal of rice and beans and fried plantain. The afternoon was captured on video by Dave Reading and the extracted stills can be seen by clicking here

Latin American music

For the final part of the October Oriental Rug Sale, in the studio and the front garden, Ricardo Curbelo played Latin American music on his Columbian harp as the sun went down, and guests listened from the comfort of antique rugs on the grass, while sipping wine. This was the fourth rug sale at the Beacon organised by Eve Weston Lewis and Sharif, events which combine gorgeous rugs and textiles for sale with social interludes.