‘Freedom Day’ has been and gone, so now is the moment to make the most of the beautiful weather.
If you need a day out then look no further, as there are plenty of local markets and fairs to explore. From art to food to music, there’s a market for every-one this summer in East Sussex – and you may even be able to pick up a bargain or two. 

By Ben Cornwell

Gallery on the Pier, Hastings Pier

Organised by Love Hastings, this arts and crafts market every Sunday, from 10.00am to 5.00pm, gives both new and established artists the chance to showcase and sell their work. There will be a huge collection of work on display, including oil paintings, photos and sculptures, which will be available to buy each week.

Pop-Up Market, The Stade Hall, Hastings Old Town

The pop-up market helping support local businesses and makers will be running on Saturday/Sunday 4th and 5th September 11.00am-4.00pm. There will be some beautiful, handcrafted items to buy, so make sure to put the date in your calendar.

Rye Farmers Market, Strand Quay

The Farmers Market has been running in Strand Quay every Wednesday 10.00 am-1.00 pm for over ten years. Pop down and check out their stalls containing fresh fish, meat, eggs, vegetables, cheese and so much more.

Rye Country Market, Rye Community Centre

Rye Country Market is open every Friday 10.00-11:30am and features stalls selling local produce such as cakes, savouries, eggs, fruit & vegetables and fresh flowers. Take a look for yourself the next time you have a free Friday morning.

Bexhill Record Fair, The De La Warr Pavilion

Thousands of records will be on sale at the Bexhill Record Fair on Saturday 14th August 10.00am- 9.00pm. Make sure you get there early to get your hands on some absolute bargains and rarities before anyone else.

Autumn Market, Manor Barn Bexhill 

Don’t miss out on this year’s Autumn Market on Sunday 5th September 11.00am-2.00pm, as there will be plenty of craft stalls, treats, food, music and entertainment to enjoy.

Hastings Contemporary
Until 22nd March 2020
Proceeds from the sale of work go to the Drawing Life charity. 

By Julia Mortimer 

The Drawing Life project has grown, almost beyond recognition. Long-term readers will remember the days when we looked at the drawings and said: “Wow, that’s amazing for someone living with dementia.” Looking at this latest exhibition displayed on the walls of Hastings Contemporary’s gorgeous new Boatyard Café, we now simply say: “Wow, these are really interesting pictures.”

Based on the premise that people living with dementia have as much right to add to cultural life as anyone else, Drawing Life takes a professional model and a practising artist to care homes in the Hastings and St Leonards area. As well as taking the team to the care homes, Drawing Life has also set up in the studios at Hastings Contemporary and The De La Warr Pavilion.

The Drawing Life show comprises 15 drawings made by people with different types and degrees of dementia. At the private view a fortnight ago today, the exhibition images were attracting a lot of attention. It was particularly uplifting to see the works being treated with equal care and attention to those in the Contemporary’s galleries downstairs and across the landing. The works produced in the Drawing Life project show a strength and intensity that calls for closer consideration. Two spectators I spoke to were intrigued by the muscularity of Edith’s work in particular. Sadly, Edith has recently died, but there is an eloquence in the ferocity of her drawing that articulates her frustration and exasperation. The result is a vivid, vibrant shout of colour that leaps out of the exhibition space, making the viewer stop and reflect.

Similarly forceful are the works of Judith, Vera and Graham which again command our attention and invite us to ask questions. Compositionally, Vera and Judith are similar, with an intense concentration of colour and shape in one corner relieved by a significant amount of white space. It’s tempting to perceive this as an allegory for the part of the brain that is still functioning in a sea of unfathomable whiteness, but it’s equally tempting to see two fine portraits that have depth and meaning and communicate powerfully with their audience.

I have seen the production of some of these pieces during Judy Parkinson’s Drawing Life classes and observed participants overcoming their initial uncertainty to find unexpected pleasure and focus in rediscovering the joys of drawing. Without exception, there is always an incredible mood of concentration and calm during the classes, which is a key benefit of the Drawing Life concept. For some people making art has been a lifelong interest, but others haven’t drawn since primary school. 

Hastings Contemporary has played a blinder in exhibiting these drawings alongside recognised artists – they remind us all that art is for everybody and that it fulfils us in many and varied ways, whether as viewer or artist, professional practitioner or talented amateur – we all have something vital to say, but some of us are more eloquent with a crayon than words.