ART AT THE ALEX: Showing art, sharing stories, sing shanties!
Art at the Alex (Alexandra Arts), 72-73 James Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2SL
Art at the Alex is a small, quirky, independent arts centre in Rugby town centre and a hub for local artists and makers. Its September exhibition shows work by local artists and explains key influences on their work.
During Heritage Open Days (Fri & Sat, 1000-1600) practicing experts experts show and discuss items that they made and also items, places and people they were influenced by. Sharing some of their artistic histories by exploring 'routes, connections and networks' with the past, distant lands, personal journeys. They include: Batik (Heather Koumi); Ceramics (Judy Haslam-Jones); Crochet (Vikki Skinner); Indian folk art (Aish Mahesh); Printmaking (Steve Davies). We also have traditional story telling by canal dweller Pete Boyce (who is collecting local stories and histories for new tales). In our final session talented and original musicians the B Road (duo Keith and Kate), will teach us to sing and appreciate sea shanties.
The pop up cafe will be run throughout by artist Sue Phan, who will provide Vietnamese 'street food'-inspired snacks, drawing from her heritage.
Altogether a mix of artistic journeys, through history, art and geography, with stories of how these connections make and enrich our current day.
Further information on the programme is available on the https://artatthealex website.
No need to book but note that most artists/performers only have one session during the programme.
Timings & Tours
- Friday 06 September:
- Exhibition 1000-1600. Morning only: German Expressionism and printmaking (Steve Davies), Afternoon only: Traditional story telling and collecting local tales (Pete Boyce)
- Saturday 07 September:
- Exhibition 1000-1600. Morning only: Indian influences and my ceramics (Judy Haslam-Jones), Afternoon only: Java, its impact on my Batik art (Heather Koumi).
- Friday 13 September:
- Exhibition 1000-1600. Morning only: Indian folk art (Aish Mahesh), Afternoon only: Family history and my crochet journey (Vikki Skinner).
- Saturday 14 September:
- Exhibition 1000-1600. Morning only: Indian influences and my ceramics (Judy Haslam-Jones), Afternoon only: Sea shanties with The B Road (duo Keith & Kate).
Location & directions
Art at the Alex (Alexandra Arts), 72-73 James Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2SL
- Directions:
- Based in a pair of Victorian terraced houses, formerly a pub (The Alexandra Arms), Art at the Alex is in Rugby Town Centre, next door to the lower level of the John Barford Car Park (multistory, £1 for 3 hours) and on the edge of the town's Independent Quarter, leave time to explore Rugby. Bus stops nearby. Mainline rail station 10 mins walk. Rugby is a small and very walkable town, with an Art Gallery and Museum, two theatres and a well known public school and cement works. Fridays and Saturdays are market days.
- Contact on day:
- Chris Pegler
- Telephone number:
- +441788438553
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
The porch at the front door has a sharp turn, but can be accessed by most wheelchairs with assistance to hold doors open – we can provide help. The site is level with access to the garden via a slope. Particularly large wheelchairs can access via the garden if arranged in advance - we can unlock the rear (service) gate in Charles Warren Close - please phone. You can store non-folding prams etc under cover in the garden - verandah or pavilion. There is limited space to store folding prams/pushchairs not in use within the Alex.
Additional information
The exhibition is open Fri-Sat (10-4) throughout September, but the speakers, singers and story telling programme is for Heritage Open Days only. The pop up cafe serving Vietnamese food is a special event for Heritage Open Days, run by Sue Phan, local artist. You can find out more detail on each session and the timings of these from the website https://artatthealex.com
