It is that special moment again, when the three Pullens Yards fling open their iron gates, and invite the world in – the Winter Open Studios 2016.
Sir Terence Conran called Pullens Yards the “centre of London’s hand crafts”.
Over 50 studios host a rich variety of artists and artist-makers; ceramicists, illustrators, jewellers, printmakers, furniture makers, rug, bag, doll and scarf makers, and more. Several artists of world renown will be showing; painter Frank Bowling, ceramicist Daniel Reynolds, lute and guitar makers Stephen Barber & Sandi Harris, and popular florist JamJar Flowers.
It’s free to enter, just come and stroll around. There are three Yards, each with a distinctive character.
The studios are where the artists work, day to day. The artists themselves will be present in most of the open studios, and visitors will have a rare opportunity to see and talk to them about how they work. All of the crafts practiced in the Yards have one thing in common, everything is hand made. In an increasingly robotic, mechanised, generic world, every piece in the Yards is unique. They vary in price, from a few pounds to a few hundred, but any would make truly special Christmas gifts.
Pottery, drawing and flower-arranging workshops or demonstrations for children and adults are planned, local walks will be taking place by @guidedbyisobel, many artisanal food stalls will be present in addition to our own award-winning Electric Elephant Café, and both Piccalilli Caff & Orbit Beers have stalls.
The architecture and atmosphere of Pullens Yards are worth experiencing, the original cobbled streets are some of the last left in London. The studios have housed craftspeople, working with their hands, for a hundred and twenty years. Over this length of time what most of the crafts-people produce has evolved: at one time the Yards boasted lace makers, fan makers and cabinet makers. These have been replaced by today’s filmmakers, jewellers and artist potters. A few crafts have remained the same, furniture designers and letterpress printers are here now, just as in the days of Queen Victoria.
Visit our website for more information on individual artists:
Watch this space for further information and pictures…
