DAY 2 - CASA ITZATNA Open Studio 2022 // Birmingham Open Studios

In true ‘Open Studio’ style, Itzatna Arts invited a selection of local artists via open call, to dwell, test, and roost inside our house and home to co-create with our resident collective artists to shape a shared, welcoming, artist-led space of experimentation. collaboration, and exploration.

The FREE Indoor Art Exhibition will occupy the front room of CASA ITZATNA, featuring the work of local visual artists working in the medium of abstract expressionism and geometric abstractionism.

Out the back, in GARDEN ITZATNA, we will have facilitated painting workshops in the daytime and an open mic, live performances, and a donation bar in the late afternoon and evening. We will also have a pop-up cafe serving hot food, drinks, and snacks throughout the day.

OPEN STUDIO TIMETABLE:

11:00 - 17:00 // FREE Indoor Art Exhibition

11:00 - 12:30 // £15 Children’s Painting Workshop

13:30 - 15:30 // £20 Adult’s Painting Workshop

16:30 - 18:00 // Open Mic, Live Performances, and Donation Bar - Pay What You Can / Suggested Donation £6+

TICKETS:

Pre-booking for all exhibitions and events is advised, but Walk-Ups and Pay On The Door are permitted.

Cash & Contactless Card payments and donations will be accepted.

ACCESSIBILITY:

We regret to announce that both Casa Itzatna and Garden Itzatna are not easily accessible for those with wheelchairs, pushchairs, or mobility disabilites, due to period architectural features. Access to Casa Itzatna is only accessible via 1 large front doorstep and a narrow entrance into the house corridor and living room. Access to Garden Itzatna is only accessible via multiple steps down from street level.

Email us contact[at]itzatna.org for any queries or questions about access and event info.

QUESTIONS?

For more info and any queries, questions, or comments, please contact us via email contact[at]itzatna.org

EXHIBITING ARTISTS:

ALFREDO HAU

Alfredo Hau Paredes (b. 1958) is a Mexican visual artist and professional chef based in Birmingham (UK). His practice and medium is predominantly in abstract paintings, community murals, poetry and spoken word, but he has more recently branched out into performance art, sculpture, video, and installation. Alfredo’s practice is deeply rooted in and draws inspiration from my Mexican heritage. Mexican people never outgrow their delight in the colourful and the fantastic. As a Mexican, he believes in the fascination of the circumstances but also in the magic rituals of my Mayan ancestors. Alfredo is artistic director of ITZATNA Arts. For Casa Itzatna Open Studio 2022, Alfredo will be exhibiting a variety of his Abstract Expressionist and Geometric Abstractionist paintings, as well as performing his poetry and spoken word.

Website: https://alfredo-hau.weebly.com/

Social Media: www.bit.ly/itzatna

SARAH DYBLE:

Art comes from life - the experiences Sarah hasand stories she hears inform her work. Often the discovery of an artist or images inspire discussion and stories, which become fused with whichever emotions are inside of her at that time, and this shows itself in the colours and textures she find’s appearing in her work. Much of her work burst out of her when she experiences repression and injustice - creative practice became a way to speak. Sarah works as a facilitator but tries to continue her own artistic practice in music and arts alongside because the best teachers are always learning. She uses whichever materials are available at the time when she’s creating - often this is printing or pastels, charcoals, and inks where you can create depth, layers, and multiple meanings. For Casa Itzatna Open Studio 2022, Sarah will be exhibiting several work-in-progress prints and drawings inspired by her conversations and support with refugees and asylum seekers.

Website: https://thecreativetortoise.weebly.com/

SONAL GAJBE:

Sonal is an artist based in Birmingham(UK). Her main inspiration for her paintings is her Indian culture and traditions. Last year she has showcased her work at The British Contemporary Art Gallery and currently showcasing at The Velvet Music Room and Gunmakers Arm. She also conducts kids as well as adults art workshops. For Casa Itzatna Open Studio 2022, Sonal will be displaying a selection of her abstract paintings, as well as facilitating two painting workshops for adults and children.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonalgajbe/

RACHEL SAMSBROOK: ‘Wonderful tales’ - 4 star review from LondonTheatre1

Rachel Sambrooks has been a multi-disciplinary artist since the 90s with work for BBC Radio, Royal Marsden Charity, and across libraries in London. As a writer/performer she's worked as a stand up comedian, performance poet and storyteller, touring solos shows including 'Stand By Your Nan' with an accompanying poetry collection and podcast series funded by Arts Council England which was top 10 pick for Birmingham Comedy Festival 2018. She was a finalist in the Sitcom Trials 2016, One to Watch Funny Women 2019 and Semi Finalist for Nearly New comedian 2017 and 18. In 2020 she had her first collection flash fiction and poetry ‘Harpy’ published by Palewell Press. She’s currently an Associate Artist with Drama and Some CIC and mental health champion for Sandwell.

Website: https://standbyyournan.podbean.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelsambrooks

Twitter: @rachsambrooks

Work in Progress:

Rachel will be presenting work in progress of her new show working title ‘Sham Manic’ where she is delving into a journey of rising from adversity, rituals, and ways to stay present and mentally well in a changing world. She will be sharing comedy anecdotes, poetry and experimenting with different ideas. Searching through notebooks collected in the past 10 years for topics and connections to inform the work, she will be exploring ways of creative process with words and beyond.

ABOUT ITZATNA ARTS:

ITZATNA Arts are an emerging artist collective that create intercultural collaborations between artists and diaspora communities between Mexico, Latin America, and the UK. Established by the father-son artist duo Alfredo Hau (Visual Artist & Professional Chef) and Sebastian H-W (Live Artist & Theatre-Maker), ITZATNA Arts Collective cultivate radical, decolonial, and cross-disciplinary approaches to creating cutting-edge intercultural projects that combine theatre, performance and live art, alongside socially engaged outreach arts workshops, dinners, and residencies.

Website: www.itzatna.org

Social Media: www.bit.ly/itzatna

Email: contact[at]itzatna.org

ABOUT BIRMINGHAM OPEN STUDIOS:

Casa Itzata Open Studio 2022 is part of Birmingham Open Studios 2022. Now in its 6th year, Birmingham Open Studios allows artists of all standards to display their craft from their own homes or working studios. 80 artists exhibited across 45 homes, studios and venues during Birmingham Open Studios in 2021. The public can view all of the artists’ work – for free – in the artist’s creative environment, giving them an insight into the artist’s lives and creative processes. Public visits, purchases, praise, and commissions give artists a reason to keep creating, and Open Studios means they do not have to pay high commission rates to galleries on sales, instead keeping the earnings themselves. Our ethos is to promote creativity in the area, with a focus on community cohesion.

Webiste: https://birminghamopenstudios.co.uk/

Host or Publisher Itzatna Arts Collective