Open between Friday 5th and Sunday 7th June 2009 @ Jamaica Street Studios, Bristol
With Opening After-Party on Friday 5th June 2009 @ The Croft, Bristol

The Jamaica Street Artists Studios have been an active and vibrant home to numerous artists, illustrators painters, photographers, film-makers, embroiderers and sculptors for over 20 years. Each year they open their doors to the public to showcase their work so head along and check it out for yourself!

This year the event is particularly exciting because the artists have been given the opportunity to purchase the building from their supportive landlords, securing the future of the studios as a permanent home for the arts. They aim to convert the ground floor into a gallery/ shop and space to run seminars and workshops, widening participation to the arts in the local community, encouraging new audiences and to help act as a catalyst to regenerate Stokes Croft.

SY caught up with Emma Dibben, one of Jamaica Street’s current artists to chat about the upcoming Open Studios event:

Can you introduce yourself and your work?
I am a freelance illustrator working in pencil, inks, gouache and sometimes collage and at the moment specialising in food illustration. My work is inspired by time spent on my allotment growing my own fruit and vegetables.

What are the Jamaica Street Artists Studios?
These studios are a brilliant, lively and inspiring place to work, with 43 artists currently working behind the cast iron façade of this old carriage works. Jamaica Street Artists (JSA) encourage a broad variety of disciplines and it’s a principle of the studios to take on newcomers as well as established artists so there is a really good mix of stuff going on. The very strong community is what makes Jamaica Street so special and having other artists to work alongside and to give each other advice and support is really precious when many of us have experienced the difficulties of working alone. I moved into Jamaica Street in 2005 and it really turned things around for me.

What can people expect to see if they come to the Open Studios event?
The Open Studios is a fantastic chance to come and see an inspirational and lively exhibition of work from some of Bristol’s most talented and diverse artists and makers! Come meet and chat with the artists and help support us in securing the future of JSA. One of our designers has made a beautiful book that brings together a piece of every artists work for £5 and there will also be a mini canvas auction with all proceeds going towards securing the future of Jamaica Street!

See you there!

www.emmadibben.com

www.jamaicastreetartists.co.uk

Matt Whittle