CULTURE VULTURE IS BACK

Flaming June: summer in the city. By Emma Beatty

Manifestations of a Cube is a new geometric wall drawing by local artist Jeannie Driver. You can see it in the window of Jack House Gallery as you walk by until 19 June, an intriguing mix of the twoand three-dimensional. Bits of recycled paper, charcoalcoated wool, graphite, steel and blue paint interplay like a drawing that’s come to life and started to distance itself from the wall behind. Alongside it are some of Driver’s recent drawings partly inspired by the dazzle ships of WWII, made for her contribution to the Isle of Wight’s Quay Arts exhibition ‘Dazzle & Disrupt’.

Driver is an Art Space artist, and it’s the 40th anniversary of this warren of 31 art studios in a deconsecrated Methodist chapel at 25 Brougham Road in the city centre. A group of artists from Portsmouth College founded it in the ‘70s. Look round this intriguing building on its Open Studios on the first week of July to see the range of work—from painting, sculpture, prints, photography, ceramics and textiles, including pieces by this magazine’s editor and artist, Kevin Dean. Art Space Open Studios 3-4 July, 11am-5pm. Art Space is the forerunner of Aspex Gallery, which become independent from Art Space in 2006 and moved to Gunwharf Quays. Aspex also celebrates its 40th birthday - in typically exploratory style, with a brainexpanding video collage that is part science documentary about how cancer cells work, and part evocative art, inspired by a fascination with natural systems made using scientific modelling techniques. These extraordinary images all hang on the cold-hard hook of devising therapeutic approaches to cancer. It’s the culmination of a long-term relationship, between local artists Vicky Isley and Paul Smith over almost two decades. In Search of Chemozoa, Aspex Gallery, until 18 July. Far more down-to-earth, items of stone and metal, are on show at Portsmouth City Museum, celebrating different jewellery techniques in a selling exhibition from Contemporary Jewellery Wessex Group 8-20 June. See unique designs by 13 local makers, from silversmithing to copper work, to stained glass, acrylic and enamel. Ports Fest arts festival has brought a host of cultural goings on to the city for 20 years. This year, it’s been hard to plan but it aims to bring lots of amusements to the first weekend in 2-4 July. As we went to press, things were being finalised. Check here to find the latest: www.portsfest.co.uk A series of events at The D-Day Museum commemorate its 6 June anniversary — a good opportunity to go aboard its latest exhibit, the Landing Craft Tank 7074 — which is marvellously shiny and restored after languishing in Liverpool for years as a floating disco. There’s a British Sign Language tour of this amazing vessel 18 June, a children’s treasure hunt 6 June, and a display of vehicles 26 June. And finally, have a look at this online exhibition to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy https://www.crispandsharp.co.uk/collection/reflections/ Chris Howard worked as a director of photography for many major films and tv shows, from Doc Martin to Minder, and knows how photos work. He met Andy Barwell, from Portsmouth, who has had the muscle-wasting condition Muscular Dystrophy since he was 21, and worked together on this online show. Visit to see unique reversible images of the British landscape, and order high-quality prints mounted on Foamex 3mm board to help raise funds.

Jeannie Driver’s Manifestationsof a Cube #7

The Arts Society Portsea Island looks forward to resuming our normal lecture programme, at our usual venue, as soon as possible. In the meantime a programme of Zoom meetings can be accessed by members on our website: www.pidfas.org.uk

MARKET DATES

FOR YOUR DIARY • LOVE SOUTHSEA MARKET

Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 June Saturday 19 June Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 July Saturday 17 July 10am-4pm Palmerston Road precinct www.lovesouthseamarkets.co.uk

• HAMPSHIRE FARMERS MARKET

Sunday 20 June Sunday 18 July 10am-2pm Palmerston Road precinct www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk