SOCO NEWSLETTER: Spring 2008

Good news! We now have a base - an address and telephone number; email address to follow shortly. Soco is now based at: Oak Passage Studios, Top floor, 68 George Street, Hastings TN34 3EE and our phone number is 01424 200812 (to be switched on when our email is established). Our website remains www.soco.org.uk < http://www.soco.org.uk > (separate details sent to you)

To celebrate this event and familiarise members with our new base, we propose to hold an informal Open Day on May 16th ,  between 3pm-7pm, with wine and refreshments, when members can socialise and talk about our planned future events and opportunities with committee members. We depend on  members to support our programme of workshops, talks and exhibitions and to encourage other artists to participate. SoCo is committed to providing members with chances to expand horizons, sell work, explore new ideas, and network. Our membership has more than doubled during the year. We are moving forward with our eyes firmly set on exciting possibilities and will need your “hands on” support more than ever, to keep up this momentum. Your comments/suggestions are always welcome.

Our IN CONVERSATION series started well with the first Photography talk in February, and we are planning to offer new opportunities for members to participate in the future. We have scheduled the following two IN CONVERSATION meetings at Oak Passage:

1)    On May 8th : Penny Precious will discuss the symbolism and versatility of textile art. She will chair the panel and there will be a few other textile artists talking about their work. She will also present the concept of a future Soco exhibition on textile art: “Nets and Webs”
2)   On June 12th , Mary Hooper will discuss artists' collaborations.

These panel talks take place from 6.00-7.30pm, and costs £2.50. Free to students. Refreshments will be available and we hope the audience will actively participate in the discussion. Booking is essential due to limited space ( to: gl@gracelau.plus.com) .

April 25-27th : SoCo members - the Lambie brothers and Judy Dewsbery are showing their recent work at the Beacon; the private view is from 7pm on Friday 25th.

Student Membership:  We need fresh energetic student members, and ask you to please encourage students to approach us. Students subscription is £10 p.a.

Workshop dates for your Diary
Creative workshop days at The Beacon: 10am – 4pm, with light lunch. These workshops are led by artists for artists. Further details and reminders will follow.

Sunday, June 22:               Josephine Ho
Sunday, July 27:               Charlotte Snook
Sunday, August 3:             Oska Lappin
Sunday, Sept. 28:              Angie Braven
Sunday, Oct. 12:                Chris Milton