If it’s August it must be Art Fest!

Yes, the Island’s Creative Network is staging the IOM Art Festival over three weekends this month and once again local artists are out in force, opening their own studios, grouping together to stage exhibitions and with a mini-trail of fabulous fish to find in Silverdale Glen to excite children of all ages. But don’t forget to look up, they aren’t all in obvious fish-friendly places.

First, the practicalities. The first weekend is on 5 and 6 August when all arty activity will focus on the South of the Island, mainly based in Castletown, Ballasalla, Grenaby and of course the Silverburn Art Trail (which loosely follows the Bayr ny Skeddan between Castletown and Ballasalla). The temporary Silverdale Herring Hunt will be installed ready for families to go fish finding in Silverdale Glen but if you fancy a longer walk, follow the new ceramic herring way markers by Jo Lewy, which are dotted along the Bayr ny Skeddon (Herring Way) between Castletown and Ballasalla. These are permanent ceramic sculptures which will mark the entire route of the Silverburn Art Trail, which continues to be populated with both permanent and temporary artworks thanks to support from the Isle of

Man Lottery Community Fund and a grant towards an education programme from The IOM Arts Council. The 2023 Herring Hunt, fabulous, fantastic plywood herring shapes decorated by a variety of Creative Network artists, will be displayed all summer – much like Steve Chell’s beetles, which drew hundreds of families to the Glen last year. And like the beetles there will be a dedicated Facebook page www.facebook.com/ SilverdaleHerringHunt with a downloadable pdf with images of the fish to find.

Also down South, Ballasalla Church Hall is a new venue for the Festival. The names of artists exhibiting there are a closely guarded secret, but a little bird tells me the ‘Talking Textiles’ group, which includes renowned textile artist Maureen Kennaugh might be involved.

And you can’t visit the South of the Island without popping into Grenaby Studios. Permanent artists’ studios and workshops there include Jo Lewy Ceramics – creator of the herring way markers in Silverdale Glen - Isle Be Creative (Debra Tracey-Carney), Grenabee (Rosie Glassey), Artforms from Nature (Graham Hall), Rosie Wood, Graham Rider and new member of the artist group, Ali Foster.

The following weekend (12, 13 August) the Art Festival moves to the centre of the Island – which includes Peel. The House of Manannan foyer will host a mixed exhibition, and Myra Gilbert’s studio on East Quay, Peel will be open throughout the weekend – I can highly recommend a close look at her amazing handmade, hand-painted dresses. She also hopes to have some prints of previously unseen work by her late husband, Eric Glithero. She describes these images as ‘vibrant, multicolour, and bold’.

Other open studios in the East/Central region include a first look at Helen Fox’s studio in Kirk Michael and, as she says, “I am very lucky to be in a position to have a lovely studio space adjacent to my home. It’s full of past work and work produced by my parents both of whom are now sadly deceased. An artist’s studio is the heart of the artist,” Helen continues, “full of interesting sources of inspiration, collections of things, objects, curiosities, works from the past and materials for future work. I have been a lecturer in further and higher education since graduating from the Slade, helping others find their own creative vocation - my studio space is magical and I am looking forward to making time here to concentrate on my own work. It’s a privilege to share it with others as an ‘open studio’ for the Creative Network Art festival.”

Elsewhere Laura Espinosa and Ellie Baker are exhibiting their work at Momma Moon’s Art Studio, Peel and five other local artists are showing their work at Pinewood Studios, near Bishopscourt on the Ramsey side of Kirk Michael.

On 19th and 20th August the Art Festival moves north, to Ramsey and surrounds. Quayle’s Hall on Waterloo Road, Ramsey (conveniently next to the tram station) hosts a joint exhibition, and a bit further afield artist Rebecca Odessa is opening her new studio for the first time:

“This summer I am working in a beautiful studio by the sea, near the Point of Ayre,” says Rebecca, “and I wanted to open it for this year’s Art Festival so other people can experience the specialness of this location. I am currently doing my Masters in Fine Art through Central Saint Martins, so it will be a great opportunity for people to learn what is involved in higher art education, as well view the work I am producing for my course.” But we mustn’t forget Laxey. The Hodgson Loom Gallery is hosting the Art Fest exhibition from 5 August right though until 16 September and you can be sure curator Julia Ashby Smith will be including an eclectic mix of art from paintings, drawings and mixed media work right though to wood carving and sculpture. An exhibition, like the whole Creative Network Art Festival, definitely not to be missed.

All venues will display festival signage outside and there will be a printed Festival guide available from all Festival venues. But for the most up to date information, a full list of venues, artists and events visit the Creative Network website www. creativenetwork.im/art-festival-2023 You can also find more details about the Art Festival, The Creative Network and participating artists on www.facebook.com/ creativenetworkiom