© Robin Pritchard

Art Market is on the right Wavelength

The paint installation Wavelength by local artists ZEROH (Daniel Hardiker and Neil Hetherington) has returned to Bottle Alley in Hastings this summer, and to celebrate its return and to draw attention to the wider artistic community in Hastings and St Leonards ZEROH are coordinating an end of summer Art Market in Bottle Alley on Saturday 26 August from 10am–6pm. Erica Smith looks forward to another exciting use of this unique linear space.

ZEROH in association with Stella Dore gallery are launching BAAM (Bottle Alley Art Market) an idea that has never been tried out in this unique space. Bottle Alley will be transformed into an undercover beachside art market with over 60 artists exhibiting exciting new work in a variety of formats against the glass bottle wall. The space will be transformed into a vibrant community event that reflects the diverse artistic community of Hastings and St. Leonards.

At this free event visitors will be able to meet and buy work directly from artists, who will come together to create a pop-up gallery in Bottle Alley. Artists will be selected via an open call, there will also be some very exciting guest artists curated by Stella Dore gallery.

Dan and Neil tell me that Bottle Alley was constructed in the 1930s and decorated with glass bottles, which mostly came from one of Hastings town’s legendary knees-ups. They also assure me that BAAM promises to be another legendary knees-up with DJs booked in for the whole event, including:
James Endeacott (Soho radio)
Konnekted Kollektive
Alisa Lysenko 10-12 pm
Japhy & Si Cole 12-3 pm
Aircooled (DJ set) 3-6 pm

Much like the sea it sits beside, Bottle Alley changes in waves. One such wave was created by BAAM founders and artists Daniel Hardiker and Neil Hetherington, aka ZEROH.

Originally conceived as a temporary installation and commissioned by Hastings arts festival Coastal Currents in 2017, the Wavelength installation received an overwhelmingly positive public response and became an accidental long-term fixture. Unfortunately, despite the best intentions and efforts of the artists, Hastings Borough Council and the Foreshore Trust, it became impossible to continually restore the paint work, so the boldly coloured columns were sadly whitewashed.

However, restoration is now complete, giving the perfect opportunity to hold a celebratory day this coming Saturday! The market will not only mark the restoration of Wavelength but also the eclectic mix of artists and creatives here in Hastings and St Leonards.

BAAM is being run and organised by ZEROH and Steph Warren from Stella Dore Gallery and Gina Hewitt (Operations Manager at The Other Art Fair). This is the first event in what we hope will be an annual art carnival. An opportunity to showcase the diverse, eclectic and talented artists and creatives that reside and have links with the town. We want the day to be an opportunity for artists to meet each other and make connections whilst also generating some sales and exposure. We look forward to a joyful day of sharing and collaboration and making Bottle Alley Art Market a real reflection of the very best that our great town has to offer.

For more information please visit bottlealley.org/baam
Or contact baam@bottlealley.org
Check out the BAAM Instagram feed.

Also in: Arts News