PIPE DREAMS by JO PEEL

Check out Jo Peels incredible new animation 'PIPE DREAMS'. We have two rooms designed by her at our Brighton and Cornwall hotels and after seeing this animation wish we had more! Keep up the good work JO PEEL can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next!

How I really like the Artist Residence and why

By Peter Crisp, Ghostwriter In The Sky

My favourite hotel in the West of Cornwall, quite possibly the West of Anywhere, is the Artist Residence on Chapel Street in Penzance. It’s the friendliest, most fun place to stay, the breakfasts are to get up for and here’s another reason I like it so much…

Each room is a work of art, designed by a different artist. My room is the Ben Gray room aka the ‘sky room’. It is quirky, cozy and commands beautiful views over the bay.

Another reason I like to stay in the Artist Residence is because it’s just down the road from the best recording studio in the West: the VIP Lounge. Run by musical wunderkind and artful producer, Dare Mason, it’s a wonderful place to record your songs. On this occasion, I am working as my alter-ego: Mr Bo Jingles. Two hastily written sketches for clients in Australia are slowly but surely transformed into first class productions.

A perfect day indeed. So perfect, I decide to stay for two more. All I can tell you, if you like a town that’s full of character and characters, surrounded by ocean views, brimming with food and drink choices, offering a plethora of funny little shops selling all manner of things, then head for Penzance.

While you’re there, do yourself a favour and check into the Artist Residence. Tell them the Ghostwriter In the Sky sent you.

Golowan - A festival not to be missed...

Golowan Festival has been up and running for 23 years, delighting locals and tourists with its fun, eventful and utterly magical celebrations.  The festival, held between 22nd - 30th June is essentially a celebration of Mid summer and lets face it, after the weather we've had lately, we deserve to celebrate don't we?!

Golowan died out in the 1890s as with all the bonfires, flaming tar barrels and burning torches, insurance premiums bcame simply too high.  Amazingly, in 1991 the tradition was brought back to life and each year festival go-ers enjoy an election of a mock mayor, mesmerising fireworks and eclectic displays of music and art.

Mazey day, the epicentre of Golowan is launched each year on 29th June by the mayor of Penzance.  The streets are literally packed out with people, performers, food and fun and there is absolutely something for everyone.

Come and join this amazing party, learn about Cornish culture, get involved with history and just generally have a crackin' old time!

If your not already staying with us at The Artist Residence and wish to, book fast as we're filling up already...

Pop in to our gallery for all manner of delights from coffee and cake to a cheeky beer or wine, as we're right in the heart of the action on the beautiful historic Chapel Street.

Hope to see you there!

BBC OLIVE MAGAZINE FEATURE

BBC's Olive Magazine last month featured as one of the top 4 hotels for breakfast in the UK. You can check out the article below. Thanks again Guys!!!!

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/magazine/olive/ 

Walking in and around PZ!

Lamorna Cove

Anyone who enjoys walking will LOVE the beautiful, interesting and enthralling costal path from Lamorna Cove to Mousehole!

I recently sported my walking boots and waterproof and took to the trail on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon and I was not disappointed, despite the weather. 

 My journey started from Penzance on a cute little bus headed for Lands end.  I hopped off at Lamorna turn and started the short and pleasant walk down to the cove.  The road was decorated with adorable little cottages, waterfalls, and trees so big you struggle to see the tops!

I was taken almost by surprise as the cove came into to view, let me tell you, it stopped me dead in my tracks...

 

Lamorna Cove is nothing short of picturesque, framed beautifully by rocky cliff tops, the sea rushes and dances along the beach playfully inviting you in, even in the freezing cold of March!

From this haven started my ascent up the coastal path and along to Mousehole.  Don't be fooled however, this walk is not for the faint hearted but more the adventure seeker.  Winds gust and blow as you walk, only adding to the excitement, and there are plenty of streams and rocks to scramble over 

...I have never been so muddy in my life it was amazing!

If you enjoy a bit of a challenge and don't mind a spot of mud, then this a an absolute MUST when your visiting Penzance or anywhere near.

Just please take my advice, wear wellies!

ART IN PENZANCE

Gallery Galore!

Penzance is a truly wonderful place for art lovers, art admirers, even just people who like looking a pretty things!

The town caters for every variant of art appreciation, from commercial paintings and sculptures, to delicately beautiful coastal canvases, to down right spectacularly abstract exhibitions.

Being relatively new to the area myself, I thought I'd start with Penzance's biggest and arguably most well known gallery (also a mere two minute walk from AR Penzance) - The Exchange.

The Exchange is settled on Princes Street and dominates the area brilliantly with its towering, glow by night glass architecture.  The gallery itself is predominantly used for exhibitions, and the focus that I viewed today was nothing short of fascinating!

On show was a group exhibition by ten international artists, called "The Future's Not What It Used To Be"

The Artists use painting, sculptures, print and photograph to delve into the ever changing perspectives of past present and Future.

I was kindly allowed to wander through the Gallery by Blair Todd, the Exchange director.  I even got the chance to take a few cheeky snapshots!

The artists who worked on this collective are Patricia Picinini, Vernon Ah Kee, Tony Albert, Matt Bryans, Tony Albert and Jeremy Millar.

Each artist in their own unique way strives to emphasise the multiple perspectives of past, present and future from all over the world...

The exhibit is running until 13th April 2013, so if it sounds like your cup of tea, get a riggle on!

Contributor Jillian Wallace

A Scot living in Penzance

JESSICA DANCE

When most people think of a meeting room, they probably envisage a white stuffy room, with a large table and a projector at one end!  Well think again, Recently the folk over at the Assembly Rooms wanted their space to more than your average meeting room and commissioned London based prop designer and art director Jessica Dance to just do that. Jessica created a series called Knit heads in which she created these beautifully tactile knitted animal heads. Each head is carefully crafted and engineered out of lambswool and is oozing with so much character and charm. I really want to get my hands on some of these for our meeting room!

THE WEST CORNWALL SPRING SHOW

Next Friday marks the start of the 89th annual West Cornwall Spring Show and will bring together the very best in West Cornwall's Hoticulture enthuasists and professionals. The show is open to all and brings together growers and gardens of all types from historic gardens all the way through to domestic growers. The show is a great chance to see what plants are growing well this year especially after all the rain of last and also to get new ideas for the coming season.

The show is being held this year in St John's Hall, Penzance and opens on:

 Friday 11.00am - 6.00pm
Opening Ceremony 12.00am Friday

Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm
Presentation of prizes 3.00pm

http://www.wchs.co.uk/ 

Amongst Heroes: the artist in working Cornwall

For those of you in London, you must check out the 'Amongst Heroes: the artist in working Cornwall' exhibition, it is currently showing at the Two Temple Place Gallery.
This is def a must see!

The exhibition is a collection of many different Cornish artists representations of the Cornish figure at work during the 1880 and 1920.
The realistic and rural art portrays the working landscapes and the characteristic industrial activity taking place along the cornish coastlines.

      Tucking a school of pilchards - The Tuck Boat painted by Percy Robert Craft in 1897. 

     A Fish Sale by Stanhope Forbes 1884-5

As indicated in the paintings above, each artists captures the buzzing environment of the famous cornish fishing industry. They really plays with your senses, it almost feels as though you can hear the fisherman's shouting at each other, smell the sea, feel the sea breeze and taste the saltiness of the sea.
After going to this exhibition, I bet you would all want to get on the next train down to Cornwall and check out the beautiful coastlines captured by these amazing cornish artists.

Lavender Salisbury.

BARBARA HEPWORTH MUSUEM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN

It's finally starting to feel like Spring and there's no better day out than the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture park in St I'ves. as of 1st March it is they extend there opening time from 10.00am - 5.20pm, ready for the summer season. We suggest going in the next few months as when summer finally hits it gets pretty busy over there. 

For more details head over to their website 

http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives/barbara-hepworth-museum 

Andrew Beasley- The Battles of Ben Kingdom

The best part of working at Artist Residence Penzance is chatting to the lovely guest that we have staying with us. 

The most recent fantastically interesting person to visit us is Andrew Beasley, author of  The Battles of Ben Kingdom. Andrew Basely is currently on a book tour and his work sounds truly brilliant! In fact I am just about to pop up the street to buy a copy of his book now... 

Go check it out! 

Lots of Love...

We hope you are all having a mushy sweetly romantic Valentines Day... that sends single people into hiding with a bottle of wine and a tub of Ben and Jerry's. 

Why not keep the love going and book a room for 2 at Artist Residence.... Penzance is the new Paris don't you know...  

xoxo

Happy New Year from AR

Panto Season!

I am sure that some people out there will disagree with me :-) but one of the best things about this festive time of year is Panto! (ohh no it isn't!) 

Silly costumes, bad jokes, songs, goodies, baddies, Christmas magic all performed on stage in front of your eyes! What is not to LOVE! 

This year Hall for Cornwall are performing Aladdin... I feel a staff Christmas outing coming on!

For more information and tickets click here  

Winter Warming Drinks

 

Shack Up Christmas Party!

We are counting down the days till the gallery gets transformed into a a dance space for the Shack Up Winter Lounge Sessions.. Dancing is defiantly the best way to keep warm on a cold winter night... well that an mulled wine and we might just have some of that as well! 

Patrick Wolf comes to Penzance...

OK... so it may be time for some personal indulgence... Patrick Wolf is a firm favourite among us here at Artist Residence Penzance and imagine out pure joy when he announced that he will be playing the Ritz in Penzance on Sunday 9th December! 

His tour is celebrating his 10 year career and 5 spectacular albums. As Mr Wolf personally tailors each set list to where he is performing you can be certain that it will be an amazing set as Cornwall heavily inspired his second album Wind in the Wires- Penzance even had its own song on The Libertine EP.

We all have our tickets... Make sure you do to... See you in the front row! 

More Crafty Christmas Ideas

We love the idea of making Doilies trendy again and this is just the way to do it!

All you need is;

Doilies

Wallpaper Paste

 A Ballon

String 

Patients

We love this one!

Happy Crafting!

Happy Thanksgiving

To All our friends across the pond...

Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens

Crafty Christmas Decorations

If you, like most of us are saving for some special well thought  Christmas presents for everyone this year but  really want some new decorations to get you in the Christmassy mood then we've found a fab way of making some simple fairy lights (we all most likely own some somewhere) into this years trendy Christmas Lanterns!

We thought of using this idea but using some funky Christmas wrapping paper instead .

We know what we'll be doing on these cold winter evenings now :)

Come in to Artist Residence soon and see our final outcome.

Artist Residence

20 Chapel Street

Penzance 

TR18 4AW

www.arthotelcornwall.com

SHACKUP - The Night!

What a stormer Saturday night was here at Artist Residence!

Shackup was brilliant and we had a great crowd in.

Setting up for the evening

Making up some Cocktails

Now the night had begun

The next shack up is 22nd December so make space in your busy Christmas diary!!