Art in Romney Marsh

Exhibition with Rod Harman. Newchurch, Romney Marsh. Kent.

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Household

An exhibition at 12 Claremont. We have no other information yet to fill this entry. If you can help then please contact mail@colecorner.co.uk or alternatively post a response within this blog page. Thank you

12 Claremont

Jon and Caroline purchased the studio building 12 Claremont with a view to develop it into a contemporary and community art space for Hastings. At the time of purchase the building was unoccupied apart from their studio and a drama group on the second floor.

The Building

12 Claremont is a five storey Victorian brick and timber warehouse building With 7000 sq. foot in total each floor is approx 1400sq. ft of largely open plan space. In contrast to the eclectic neo-gothic facade of the adjacent library and old observer offices the facade is flat fronted, simple but elegant featuring five arched windows and wooden arches and panelling on each floor. Although in bad condition the facade still contains many of the original features including the large etched glass windows with the YMCA Signs and the remnants of painted gold detail on glass above the windows.

History

Built in the 1890's it seems to have been used for a short time as dormitory and reading rooms for the YMCA then as Auction Rooms, a venue for public meetings, dances and other functions a bookbinders, engraving studio and storage.

In 1973 permission was granted for change of use to a photographic shop on the ground floor with storage and offices on other floors. It seems it was then allowed to fall into serious disrepair. Extensive roof damage and water penetration had affected the condition and use of the upper floors. In 1993 the building was bought, patched up by a local builder and then sold on. Very little had been done since then both inside and out and in 2002 was is in urgent need of restoration. The roof leaked badly, the flank wall was not weather proof and the windows were rotten. As a result there was water penetration throughout the building.

Jon and Caroline's plans were to develop 12 Claremont for mixed use as an artists and community arts space.

increasing the amount of studios available for visual artists by developing the first floor into five individual artists studios with a shared entrance and communal space for meetings, discussions etc.

providing office/workshop space for community arts groups on the first floor front and second floor.

developing the ground floor shop space for use as a shared space for contemporary art exhibitions, community art workshops , film clubs, music events evening classes etc.

developing the basement for use as individual storage/workshop units for community arts groups.

Art Workshops

A series of workshops with Hastings College of Arts and Technology's Supportive Education Sector. The work was shown in the top floor gallery as AKA II at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea

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Art & Video Workshops

Took place at Hollington Youth Centre. The final Videos were shown on the Art Works Image box at Hastings Film Festival in October 2001.

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America Ground

'The America Ground' was designed by Ray Smith
It was painted by Jon, Susan Elliott, Pete Thompsett and Benjamin Gough
Hastings Town centre was once part of the sea, It was the Saxon and Norman harbour of the rich and important Cinque Port Town of Hastings. The storms of the thirteenth century destroyed the harbourbut over a period of five hundred years, it was gradually transformed into land. This lay empty until 1800, when enterprising merchants built warehouses, rope-walks and dwellings on the former waste beach, which they occupied until 1835.

At some time in this period, the Corporation of Hastings tried to take control of the area. The inhabitants rioted and raised the flag of the United States of America as a symbol of their independence. Hence the area became known as 'THE AMERICA GROUND'.

Every year the Hastings bonfire society passes by and a declaration is made by the town crier. The Declaration celebrates the people of the America Ground and their spirit of independence, determination and good will.
 

The project was made possible with support from 'Arts & Business New Partners', Hastings & St.Leonards Town Centre Management, HAS Property Management, South east Arts through the 'Year of the Artist' scheme and Hastings Borough Council

Nan

The Death of Jon's Grandmother (Nan) Doreen Florence Yearley. 

Jon kept a picture of Nan in the kitchen of his studio. High Kicks all round

Approximately three years later Doreen's husband Reginald (Poppa) Yearley passed away. The following picture is a still that Jon took from an early family video and circulated.