The Festival tradition of artists gathering in small groups and opening up their own houses to exhibit their work for all to see is as vibrant and engaging as ever.
Bean Is . . . Not: Has Bean by the Brighton Electronic Art Network at 13 Wellington Road, is part of the Hanover Art Trail and displays imagery created with computer technology.
This house features work by Julia Clay, whose bright, panoramic photographs of Brighton have been transferred onto handmade paper with acrylic. Penny Hart-Davies uses both traditional and computer techniques to create what might be called computer collages - her imagery is based on people in their urban environment.
Sue Gollifer uses 19th-Century photographic techniques in her prints of scanned fabric and, like all these artists, points out the final image is more important than the technical methods used to achieve it.
Stefan Bajic has trawled his own archives and reworked a fashion photograph with the aid of a computer to transform it. Angela Sacha's mysterious and intriguing collection of dramatic prints infer a host of issues relating to war and family life. Sophie Joyce's illustrations offer vivid, playful animal characters inspired by children's books. Finally, as a diversion from Electronic art, the shapes of Ember Vincent's stunning smoke-fired ceramics are inspired by shapes found in nature.
Next door, at 15 Wellington Road, the Why Dangle? group show photographs by Bill Brandt - the cousin of the great photographer of the same name. These are close-ups which give new life to objects - for example, a twisted parsnip becomes a pair of legs.
The work of Pete Arciero includes Squircles, a cut-open mirror ball which has been filled with mirrors inside, giving a fragmented reflection of the viewer.
As part of the Fiveways Artists Group, 32 Stanford Avenue shows water colours of flowers, fruit and vegetables by Kate Osborne. Gabriella Casemore's elegant stoneware eliminates any superfluous detail. The work of Foxklox, a family business specialising in designing and making unique clocks. Laura Woodward and Andrea Nicholls have made gorgeous cushions out of sari fabric from Brick Lane, velvet, diamante and raw silk.
Emma Wilcocks has crafted silver jewellery inspired by the shapes and shadows of railings and chains. Sarah Bidwell's checked and striped bags and cushions in heavy linen adopt economic forms with great impact. The ceramics by Jane Abbott consist of vases and jewellery with abstract designs.
Jon Mills' elaborate metal structures have to be seen to be believed. A steel sea of waves with boats on springs bursts into movement when shaken. The mosaic window boxes and mirrors of Anna Tilson incorporate Indian textiles and the Brighton Pavilion. The incredibly-original jewellery of Clara Vichi stems from a fascination for calligraphy, Vichi's smoky-grey jewellery is based on the line of a letter, word or phrase.
A full listing of Open Houses can be found in the Brighton Festival guide.
Various Venues, Brighton, until May 27
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