Stuart Crewes

Culturally rich trip to #Plymouth to catch a brief show #InsideUfo @karstgallery of @karst_studio_artists Artwork by @annabolandartist (pic 1), @laurarobertsonart (2 & 4), @tompether (3) and @laurahopes (5 & 6) - we had a walk and very rich talk with @borthwickben , sharing our appreciation and observations about the work. It was a privilege to be in such company with such nourishing conversation in and around accomplished works that really held the spaces they occupy. A great initiative - using the brief lacuna between shows to foster hyper local artists. Takeaways were the joy, majesty and intrigue that pieces exuded, a shared wonder of the places our minds were encouraged to delve and just how ACE #Scrapstores are @plymouthscrapstore in particular! Truly the resource-spaces of our time. Obvs I had to catch Beryl @theboxplymouth while I was in town. #gallerydog Followed by a chat and couple of beers @wilfulbeermutley - this @burntmillbrewery Helles was delicious - complex and dried-fruity up front with a delicate bitterness on the back end.

#CasualCollage brought the vibes @cuckootaproom on Thursday evening. I do love that people just jump in and have a go alongside the regulars - it’s inviting! I got congratulated on holding a space where men were talking, joking and getting on with creative activity together - I had to say that credit also goes to the bar for attracting such lovely people, too. Last Thursday of month. #TheySellDrinks #scissorsandglue

Whistle-stop trip to the Bay for some Art. Unexpected art was encountered in a great initiative by @torreabbey - durable street sign technology meets the Old Masters… it was a bit of an Old White Men greatest hits, but good effort @heritagefunduk I was in town to see What Matters Most - the University Centre South Devon FdA degree show and my takeaways were: this joyous textile work called UR SO GAY by Mason Johnstone, an intriguing couple of works - Piper Omega and Crowds both by Sam Bailey-Merritt and a mixed media piece Tidal Wave 2 by Eve Butler (most developed of the trilogy). It was the last year/show as this course is ending, which is crap for people looking for a mature student pathway into the arts. Had a quick peek at the studios downstairs at @artizangallery and some great lino prints by @alexandrarobbart Chips with a view. Pint with a view from @tqbeerworks - I went for a GF beer from @hambletonbrewery - a no nonsense Ale, none of those fancy funky hops! Followed by another northern beer - Doubtless by @redwillowbrewery - much more my kind of stank! Tasting notes nod to orange and mango on the nose it’s quite light in the mouth with a bit of pith on the tail end . Great view too!

A great start to the weekend - whistle-stop tour to sunny #Redruth for a collage workshop with @makeitbettercic I grabbed some Korean Fried Chicken loaded fries from @eat_silco in the @thebuttermarketredruth - super crunchy and a great balance of salty/ sweet. Caught a pop-up exhibition on the high street. Spent a couple of hours chatting about the town and making ‘Postcards from the Future’ - a selection here - main takeaway for me was the need for some new and novel way of transporting people up/down the main street… Lovely bench outside @theladder_rr Caught the @naomifrearswork show at @auctionhouseart - personable and charming, shame none of the clothes on the rail would fit me… Thennnn despite a cancelled train followed by a late one, I made it down to @exeter_cavern for @jimjonesallstars - blinding gig, really vital and dirty rock’n’roll, perfect! Lovely to catch up with the band too. Saturday took me to #Paignton for more collage - where might the Bay be in 50-100 years? #collageworkshop #communityimagination

Don't miss this marvellous Collage Workshop on Friday 24th April at The Ladder as part of our Active Looking Project Join collage artist Stuart Crewes to consider where we live, work and play - what is amazing and inspiring and what could change for a better tomorrow? Postcards from the Future - collage workshop Friday 24th April 13:30 - 15:30 The Ladder, Redruth | The Ladder Using high-end lifestyle magazines, local print media and historical books and photographs, we will scope out our plans for change and bring these things together in collage, each making a postcard-sized image (or series) that describes a possible reimagining of where we live. BOOK NOW: /e/198527918849

Slapping them down and letting them fly! Spinning some discs at @12barmusicandsocial for @recordstoreday #funk #soul

Time revision! Doors at 7 First act (me) 7.15 All wrapped up 11pm… #ExeterNoise #MusicIsMurder

A week off the sauce, I pop in and this absolute beut is on tap! #CowgirlSupernova from @bristolbeerfactory is an absolute gem! A full mouth experience, yolky, full of peach-fuzz. Apparently the keg is nearly empty, so I must drink my fill while it lasts… There’s nothing like a slow Sunday with friends… @cuckootaproom #CraftAle #GermanBeer #LocalBarForLocalPeople

Last chance to catch #ThingsFall @exeterphoenixgallery This was the stand-out for me - Unstable Attendants (2025) by David Kefford @davidkefford The work has a real charm, the two joined figures like Beckett characters, each leading/ leaning on the other in such a way that their relationship is unclear and yet clearly synergetic, you can almost hear them bickering! There are many more things, falling and not-falling and certainly worth catching (ahem) in the exhibition. You can also attend the curator’s talk on Saturday at noon, also the last day of the exhibition. @kate_e_mcleod @mattburrows3 #EphemeralSculpture #Precarity

many thanks to chums @cuckootaproom for the recent tasting of my #scrumpy My notes from the conversation were: 1: smells like hobby glue - airfix poly cement aniseed on the tongue weighty grape must, a bit tenty zippy crab apple vibes ‘as a non cider drinker, I liked it’ I’m getting more pear and grape than apple 2: smells bad but tastes good medium dry 3: under ripe raspberry/ strawberry the favourite wine-adjacent strawberry lemonade Consensus was 3 stood out as a potential summer stunner. 1 could have been a contender, definitely something they’d stock in the bar… Unfortunately there’s only about 8 bottles of each, so it won’t be appearing back in any bar soon… Who am I kidding? See you at the bar, triples all round! #HomeBrew #Scrumpy #BoozeHounds

Brand new Active Looking Project Workshop in April at The Ladder in Redruth Postcards from the Future - collage workshop Friday 24th April 13:30 - 15:30 The Ladder, Redruth A collage workshop exploring possible and positive futures for Redruth. Join collage artist Stuart Crewes to consider the town where we live, work and play - what is amazing and inspiring and what could change for a better tomorrow? BOOK NOW: /e/1985279188495 We’ll discuss our thoughts and dreams, we’ll share about remarkable past and present moments and people and we’ll hear about things that have happened in other similar places around the world. Together we'll talk about how these ideas might manifest, what steps will need to be taken along the way - who is in this vision of the future, and what are they doing? Using high-end lifestyle magazines, local print media and historical books and photographs, we will scope out our plans for change and bring these things together in collage, each making a postcard-sized image (or series) that describes a possible Redruth of tomorrow. Once the making part has concluded, we'll have a mini exhibition, and look at each other's work. We'll reflect on each piece and also talk about who we could send our postcards to, from this future? Maybe it's a local politician or government department, an organisation or school? Maybe it's to ourselves? You are invited to bring along any images, books or other printed material that can be cut up (photocopies if they are of something precious!) to include in the workshop. No experience needed, we'll be working at a pace that includes everyone with help and support at the level you need. BOOK NOW: /e/1985279188495 About Stuart Crewes Stuart Crewes is a collage artist - from traditional scissors and glue to sound work (including DJing) and 3D assemblage. He is the Creative Director at Art Work Exeter an artist-led organisation placing community-led creativity, partnership working and artist support at the core of its ethos.