Well done!!!

The selection panel met last week to discuss and select this years artists. We are pleased to announce that 62 artists will be taking part on this years art trail. There will also be a smaller exhibition at Dean Smith Arts studio in Barleylands during the trail. This should bring the total number of artists up to nearly 100. Everyone should be very proud. The A127 comittee were impressed with last years responce of 35, this year we are overwhelmed.
This proves the amount of talented people we have in the area. It is also great news, as many of the areas festivals have been cut from the 2011 calendar.

Artist Spotlight - Paul Clancy

Welcome to the first artist spolight interview. In this interview we talk to local artist Paul Clancy. Paul was one of the artists in residence during the BDATs 2010 art trail, where he produced artwork in Wickford High Street. You can see the artwork Paul produced by visiting http://basildondistrictarttrail.blogspot.com/

Town where you live? The heart of Basildon

What initially got you into art? 

My mum, she painted a bowl of brightly coloured fruit in oil paint when I was a young boy. I was so impressed. So, I started with flick books of matchstick men then copied Beano cartoons and moved onto 2000AD comics after finding a bundle left out for the rubbish on my news paper round.

Have you studied art (school, college, evening course, uni, self taught)?

At Southend Collage of Art & Technology i did two years National diploma Art & design. One year foundation fine art, One year EPA Drama, two years Lens Based Media Animation. 

How would you describe your artwork?

My pictures give the impression of life, a freestyle dance of supple twists and natural  infinity loops.

Who is your favourite artist/artists?

The intense artist Simon Bisley, 

What artists have influenced your work?

George Bridgman, Boris Vallejo, Simon Bisley, John Ennis.

Have you exhibited your artwork/ Where can people view your artwork?

Exhibited and sold artwork at the Cliffs Pavilion West-cliff art gallery, also on the Internet.

What venue was your artwork shown at during the 2010 art trail?

Life as art studio based in Barley-lands craft village.

Do you have any exhibitions planned for the future?

Basildon Library, The Bee-croft art gallery West-cliff.

Do you have a website, where people can view your artwork?

Paulclancyart.blogspot.com

Any advice for people looking to get into art?

Remember there are no mistakes in art just creative accidents. A simple pencil is the master key to unlocking your hidden artistic channels of the mind.




Hear Pauls interview on Gateway 97.8 on Tuesday 15th Februrary between 2pm - 2:25pm   http://www.gatewayfm.com/

If you missed the interview with Paul, please visit the Culture Spotlight blog at
http://gateway978.com/blog/2011/02/culture-spotlight-15-feb-paul-rix-clancy/

Basildon Art Trail, Billericay Art trail, Wickford Art Trail Group - Closing date for applications

Don't forget, if you haven't already done so, application forms for this years art trail need to be submitted no later than the 31st January.


They can be obtained via
http://www.a127trail.com/ or
Dean Smith 01268 522973 or
or from Dean Smith Art, Studio 41, Barleylands Craft Village, Billericay.


There are already alot more applicants than last year, so hurry up and be sure not to miss out.

In the news and on the radio......

Two artists who exhibited on last yeas trail were this week interviewed by local radio stations. Carl Brind, who had his work exhibited in the Eastgate Centre, appeared on the Culture Spotlight feature on Gateway 97.8. Graham Clark, who had his work exhibited in Billericay and was the Basildon artist in residence, was interviewed on BBC Essex.


The trail is also promoted in this weeks Yellow Advertiser.

The A127 Trail - 2011

We are in the press......

and

and

Calling all local artists

*** CALLING ALL LOCAL ARTISTS ***

Are you an artist or know an artist who lives in the Basildon, Billericay or Wickford area. If so, why not join the A127 Trail (formerly the Basildon District Art Trail)? During the 2010 art trail, 35 local artists exhibited at 30 venues in the area. The 2011 A127 Trail is already looking to be even bigger and better.

So, what are the benefits of being an artist on the art trail?


* Your artwork will be exhibited at your selected venue from 9th Sept -18th Sept. However some venues, which participated in the 2010 trail, have gone on to continue supporting their artist outside the trail. 


* Your details, along with an example of your artwork, will be added to the A127 Trails website. Our website had over 22000 hits during September, the month of the arts trail. Interest did not stop there, through October there were more than 14000 hits and November still saw over 13000 hits. 


* Your details, along with an example of your artwork, will also be added to our brochure. Last year, our 24 page glossy brochure had a circulation of over 5,000 copies.


* You will be invited to attend other events the A127 Trail will be hosting throughout the year.


* On top of this, you will have the opportunity to network with other artists in the area. Frequently in the media, the Basildon area is portrayed in a negative light. The district is often referred to as a cultural wasteland, devoid of talent and cultural awareness. The 2010 Art trail showed this was not the case. In 2010 we had a very friendly group of artists who took part and were always keen to help others. 

* The trail also has a strong support by local businesses and organisations. The A127 Trail is also part of the county-wide, Essex Summer Of Arts.




We hope the A127 Trail will help raise awareness of the artistic talent within the area, along with public art that can be found in and around the area. If you are interested in taking part or know someone who may be, please visit www.a127trail.com to download an application form. If you have any other questions please contact Dean Smith on 01268 522973.


Closing dates for application forms is 31st January 2011.


We look forward to hearing from you soon.




The A127 Committee.

Welcome!!!

2011 brings a whole new trail to the Basildon, Billericay and Wickford area. After the huge success of the 2010 Basildon District Art Trail, we are pleased to announce plans are well underway for a bigger and better art trail for 2011. Artists from Basildon, Billericay and Wickford will once again have the opportunity to exhibit their artwork at venues around the area. The dates for the 2011 trail are 9th Sept -18th Sept.

Less than a month after the end of the 2010 trail, the committee were already preparing for the next trail. A new look? A different approach? More venues and artists? All these questions and more were discussed, however the largest decision was prompted by a political change, as Basildon moved from being a district to a borough. And so we unveil our new name: A127 Trail
Applications to be an exhibiting artist are now open, please download a form here. The closing date for all applicants is the 31st January 2011, so please don't be afraid to enter.
To find out what happened on last years trail, please visit:
http://www.basildondistrictarttrail.blogspot.com or
http://www.thebdat.com/