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Art lovers of all ages are invited to immerse in a variety of art experiences through the Culture Vulture's Arthouse Open Studios event which begins with an exhibition of 28 accomplished artists across Bahrain at the Banyan Tree Al Areen, this coming Monday.
The painters, photographers and sculptors are also enhancing the experience by welcoming art lovers of all ages to take a ride to their studios and work spaces.
Deborah Lanyon, one of the five event organisers, said that this year's open studios have been built on the success and positive responses received from the participating public and artists last year.
'We have more to offer this year,' she said, 'including almost double the number of artists, each of whom has the originality to connect with the art loving public in Bahrain on every level.
'The event provides us with an opportunity to showcase local artists and also enables the local public to visit the artists' studios to see where the creative process takes place. You will be able to meet the artists and view not only the finished product, but works in progress and the working method of each individual; what inspires them and the themes behind their work.'
Enabling this conversation is the Culture Vultures caravan of art-lovers, namely a bus that will take pre-registered visitors on designated routes to visit artists across the kingdom.
Encouraging the younger generation to take part in the experience is a variety of children's art workshops and a 'Culture for Kids' Arthouse Passport'. This is available at any of the artists' studios and visiting children can get their passports stamped and signed by the artist. These mementoes can be personalised with a photograph and a piece of art at the back of the memento.
Children's workshops, which require pre-registration and a nominal fee, includes an outdoor painting workshop with Abbas Almosawi at the Bahrain Fort village and farm, an 'art attack' session with Manuella Mavromichalis at her studio in Sehla and a colours and mixed media workshop with Sophie Berger Stephan.
Five to 12-year-olds can take part in a painting workshop and 12-to-19-year-olds can take part in a teen workshop at the L'Atelier Art Lounge. At the Fun workshop at Nadine's Gallery, children can choose to work on colouring, craft, pottery, painting, clay modelling, finger painting, group painting on big canvas or work on small wooden pieces.
At Studio Ceramics there are two workshops - Play with clay: Pandora's Box with artist Manuella Mavromichalis and Painting on Bisque: Sgraffito with Cynthia Ikponmwonba.
The calendar of events, with information on participating artists, open studio days and times, schedule of the caravan, children's workshops and map is available in the Arthouse guidebook available at Banyan Tree Al Areen, L'Atelier Art Lounge, Studio Ceramics, Things-To-Do, Hend Gallery, Nadine Gallery, The Good Life Gallery & CafŽ, The Bookcase, Bahrain Artistic Frames Centre, Bahrain Arts Society and Bahrain Contemporary Art Association.
Tracey Collins, Gabriella Canseco, Lilia Ayari, Myrna Issa and Ms Lanyon are the Culture Vultures who share a love for arts and organise events aimed at enriching, entertaining and educating the cultural scene of Bahrain.
Any profits made from the event will go to the Bahrain Fort Charity Funs that supports children's cultural programmes. For more information on Arthouse Open Studios 2009 visit www.culturevulturesbahrain.net
