Over 40 artists in the Paphos region are throwing their doors open this month for the public to see first hand how they work
Open studios is one of the largest community art projects staged in Paphos. Every weekend in September over 40 artists from around the region open their studios and workshops. The public then has the opportunity to meet and talk to each of the artists and view their work.
Last week I went to a sneak preview. For the most part, the artists participating seem to be an extraordinary happy bunch and, despite a huge cross section of backgrounds and cultures, all seem to be pulling together to make Open Studios a success, and hopefully an annual event.
One of the organisers, David Lester, first took me to Lemba Pottery, where George and Soteroulla Georgiades will show visitors their lovely hand-thrown pieces.
Next, we went to visit the Blue Dolphin studio where John Sabry has worked as a painter in oils, pastels, and gouache for the past 75 years, recording a quite marvellous visual record of the changing countryside of Cyprus. Now 92, John still works every day in his eclectic studio.
Just outside the village of Tala, you can visit Aristotelis Demetriou. He works from a large airy studio attached to his home painting glorious and highly collectable abstract landscapes, great slabs of beautifully composed colours that seem to vibrate on the canvas.
Judith Gibbs has a small workshop beneath her house in Chlorakas – pull back a purple curtain and you enter into a wonderful Aladdin’s cave of colour, textures and aromas that will positively overwhelm you. Judith works only with natural fibres, she weaves, using hand dyes from flowers and plants. She also grows her own cotton in the back garden. It is amazing what a clever, creative person can do using totally natural materials all locally sourced.
Moving to Kallepia and the Village gallery you can view the work of Philip Duerdoth, a man fascinated by light and shade reflected on local old buildings. He photographs looming arches and crumbling ancient doorways, recording creatively some of past architectural glories that are now fast disappearing. His wife Jenny will also exhibit her watercolours and delicate porcelain painting.
Mary Lynne Stadler, from her home in Kallepia, is first and foremost a printmaker working on stone then printing the image off to create limited prints. Recently she has immersed herself in painting with a series of bold, flowing, figure work that captures the huge energy she once used when drawing directly onto stone.
Nic Costa, the man behind Tekni Art School, and a good selection of the artists will also exhibit during Open Studios. Nic, an accomplished artist in his own right, also teaches at Tekni where he has helped nurture some of the very interesting talent that will be on display.
The highly representational work of Michael Gorman can be enjoyed by visiting the artist’s studio in Peyia. Michael has, over the years, built up a strong reputation for excellence, featuring nude figures set against land and seascapes. Yet another interesting artist to visit and view his range of works to date.
David Lester, my guide for the day, is also opening his studio doors in Peyia to show his abstract and semi-representational paintings that have a haunting quality about them.
Collecting art is a bit like collecting friends or people, there’s an actual relationship to a work of art, an aliveness – even dialogue – that makes the Open Studios project a much more intimate way of viewing art.
Open Studios every Saturday and Sunday in September. 43 artists are taking part, throughout the Paphos region although they are not all open on every weekend. 10am- 6pm. Brochures giving info on all artists and opening times are widely available throughout the Paphos area. Tel: David Lester 26 621130, Nic Costa 26 933356, 99 143293, www.openstudioscy.com
