25/05/2026
I have spent the day as a tourist in my own hometown!! 🧡
First, a visit to the Shipwreck Museum - Hastings, where despite having my mirrors in the gift shop, I hadn't looked around the museum itself for a while. There's now an outside area where some interesting boats are being preserved - one had been involved in the Dunkirk rescue, and one looked incredibly old and was being enjoyed by a flock of pigeons.
There was a fascinating film about the wreck of The Amsterdam - it's amazing how accents have changed in the last few decades, very few speak RP these days! I'd recommend a visit - it's free but donations to help with running costs are much appreciated.
Then on to Hastings Contemporary for the Odyssey Open exhibition, displaying work by artists from Sussex. There was an eclectic mix of pieces - some wonderful work by incredibly talented folks, and others not necessarily to my taste, but that's the beauty of this type of show, something for everyone!
However in my opinion it was a wasted opportunity to build and strengthen relationships with the local arts community, who have previously often felt excluded from exhibiting there in the Jerwood years.
They selected just 150 pieces from 2500+ submissions. The exhibition was hung sparsely, with predominantly very large, high priced artworks, and large areas of bare white wall between them.
It seems to me that this is at odds with the ethos of what an Open should be - ie an opportunity to include as many people and as much local talent as possible and really celebrate all that the Hastings and Sussex art scene has to offer.
The Royal Academy have a 'gallery hang' at their famous Opens, showing as many artworks as they can fit in to the space - a real feast for the eyes! Why HC couldn't do that for at least part of the exhibition I don't know, and I'm not sure if they're aware of the negative impact the decision to offer so few opportunities to participate in the exhibition has had on the creative community.
If you have been along I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Lastly I had a delicious rhubarb and custard ice cream from Munchies at Rock-a-Nore. Much needed in this weather!! ☀️
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