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Once upon a time in Hastings

Once upon a time in Hastings is described thus: ‘Taking Hastings as their starting point, these three local artists – Kathleen Fox, Sally Meakins & Jo Welsh – have investigated different aspects of the town’s rich past and have discovered extraordinary stories, both factual and imaginative.’ HOT reporter Cathy Simpson had a highly enjoyable time at this delightful show – which is humorous, thought-provoking and disturbing in equal measure.

Though Hastings is acknowledged as the starting point, in truth the real stories being told here are the visions of the individual artists – interlinked by references to the town, but rooted firmly in their own creative journeys. These are three highly disparate approaches which nevertheless mesh seamlessly and are mutually enhancing. Striking images are packed with entrancing detail, and all the works in this show repay close attention.

Kathleen Fox has included a set of collages entitled Zoo des Refusés; these are composed of the beautiful organic patterns formed by dried river mud, plus found images – and purport to be animals rejected by the former zoo on Hastings Pier. She suggests that ‘joyous scenarios … may have followed on their realisation of this chance exclusion’ – and these pieces are witty and very clever. The clear reference to the Salon des Refusés is also a reminder of that first liberation of the art world.

Zoo des Refusés (Kathleen Fox)

Zoo des Refusés (Kathleen Fox)

Kathleen’s work includes a highly intriguing kaleidoscope – which really needs to be experienced at first hand! – and Memory – a series of polyester resin casts from the steel supports of Hastings Pier. Both these and the Zoo series are a highly original tribute to the town’s beloved pier.

Jo Welsh has shared her interest in Jack the Ripper and his victims in previous exhibitions at Hastings Arts Forum. It is an intriguing coincidence that Hastings has also played host to a man once suspected of being that serial killer – in the form of George Chapman, who ran barber shops in the East End, and eventually in George Street. This unsavoury character poisoned his three wives, and the story is told in a series of prints. We are reminded throughout of the connection with Whitechapel, in a series of prints showing the locations of the murders, a noticeboard charting the closing-in of the police on their suspect, and a box assemblage featuring a strangely sinister musical box mechanism. Despite their macabre subject matter, both prints and assemblages are strikingly beautiful – rich textures, sonorous colours and impeccable composition combine to tell their stories.

Transitionary Being (Sally Meakins)

Transitionary Being (Sally Meakins)

Sally Meakins’ work – mixed media in both two and three dimensions – combines the hilarious archaeological hoax, Piltdown Man, with the concept of the mythical sea-dweller – thereby neatly bringing together historic fact and legend. Charles Dawson, who fitted together the skull of a modern man with the jawbone of an orang-utan to produce Piltdown Man, was a co-founder of Hastings Museum Association. He described his ‘find’ as a ‘transitional being’ – and Meakins’ Transitionary Being recalls dolls, mermaids and humanoids in a delicate mixed media piece. Beautiful yet strangely sinister again; prints, low relief sculpture and soft sculpture explore the space between two and three dimensions, myth and hoax.

Despite some macabre themes, this exhibition is essentially a joy to behold. I have a theory that the viewer can sense intuitively when the artist has thoroughly enjoyed producing the work – and that sense is here in abundance.

Once upon a time in Hastings Hastings Arts Forum, 36 Marina, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN38 0BU. Until 9 August, 11am-5pm Tues- Sun. Phone 01424 201636.

Hastings Arts Forum website here.

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Posted 08:17 Saturday, Jul 25, 2015 In: Visual Arts

1 Comment

  1. patricia

    It is these little gems which make this town such a joy! Who could not love Hastings and St.Leonards?

    Comment by patricia — Wednesday, Aug 5, 2015 @ 09:43

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