#arthostel

The Art Hostel helped set up by East Street Arts, are a Hostel with a bit of a difference, each of its rooms have been created by artists and all have a different meaning behind them. First there is “The Fred Dibnah Suit” which holds up to 5 people with 2 custom designed and built bunkbeds, this room was designed by illustrator and graphic designer Drew Millward and installed by ‘Awesome Mechandise’, an independent retailer who make custom in house merchandise. The room is covered with Drew's sketches which include factory chimneys, clouds of smoke and engine wheels which "are influenced by the industrial revolution and the creation of a northern powerhouse". Next we have the "Room for Curio-sea-ty" is a private twin room with single bunk beds. This room was created by Lorna Barrowclough and Hondartza Fraga. Lorna predominantly works with sculpture, collage and photography and similarly to me her works are very experimental. Her pieces are meaningful and full of history. In various of her installation pieces using shells and molasses she explores the precious jewels within nature that the sea discards. Hondartza's practice involves drawing, photography, animation and video where model ships, maps, earth globes feature. Another room available is the "Stranger in Pink" room which is a private twin with wheelchair access. Created by the Precious art collective made up of Leeds College of Art graduates, Alexander Gilmore, Rosie Vohra, Rufus Newell, Alex Millhoise-Smith and Zoe Spowage. This room is covered head to toe in pink which shows a sexy, cheeky and playful side but also quite humurous. "This (room) is about us responding to the space when we're in it. Instead of imposing on the space we want to work with it when we're in here. Our idea isn't as concrete as others, it's fluid." As well as offering rooms to anyone from around the world, they also offer their basement space to artists where they can put on exhibitions, shows and events and in this blog I have spoke about a couple of things that have happened here. It is a simplistic space, very versatile and easy to work with, the only restrictions are that it’s quite a small space and holds 30 people at the most plus you do need to walk down some stairs to get to it so it's not great for accessibility but I really liked this space it has a lot of potential and is very suitable for my end of year show. So after speaking to a lady called Rhian who helps run things at the Art Hostel, me and Katie Moore will be exhibiting our final works here between the 18th - 22nd May, to finish off our 3rd and final year of our Art Enterprise Degree course.

The pink room - “Stranger in Pink”

The nautical inspired room - “Room for Curio-Sea-Ty” 

Arctic Bazaar at the Art Hostel, Leeds