Exhibition Preview: Growing Season Part 2 at Lewisham Arthouse, Curated by Coven
Growing Season Part 2 | 12-6pm Wed-Sun, 21 February – 2 March | Lewisham Arthouse
Forget sterile white cubes and hushed gallery whispers – artist cooperative Coven are bringing art with a pulse to Lewisham Arthouse.
Growing Season is Coven’s debut exhibition – a peek behind the curtain at the glorious mess, sweat, and artistic existential crises that fuel fresh creative work. Part 1 kicked off with an open call, daring UK artists to submit their riskiest ideas – the ones that scared them a bit, the ones that swerved wildly from their usual style, material, or themes. From 60+ brave souls, thirteen were chosen to plant the seeds of their experiments at an intimate backyard show in Lewisham (yes, literally in the garden of Coven co-founders Natalie and Tom).
Now, Part 2 is here – two weeks of fully realized, boundary-pushing works at Lewisham Arthouse in New Cross. Expect a dynamic mix of emerging artists stepping outside their comfort zones and dragging the audience along for the ride.
Coven is a multidisciplinary artist cooperative conjured up by producer Natalie Hall and sculptor Tom Witherick, born out of frustration and a need for change.
“We saw a problem echoed across all the independent artists we knew – a feeling of isolation, confusion on how to build a sustainable working practice, and a total lack of understanding or resources on how to grow and engage audiences. Everyone we knew was frustrated” Hall says.
Witherick continues, “Coven is our answer to this problem. In addition to the work of gathering artists to share resources and support, we wanted to make it – frankly – less boring for audiences to come and experience new art. So this exhibition will be shoppable with accessibly priced artist prints and merch, we’ll have live music and performances, everything is designed around meaningful engagement between audiences and artists”.
Growing Season will be a shoppable, interactive, and immersive experience. There’ll be artist prints and merch at actually affordable prices, DJs, performances, and plenty of opportunities to chat with artists about their work without feeling like an impostor. Plus, a lineup of workshops—from family-friendly creative sessions to ones designed for mates who want to get creative with a drink in hand. And for the artists in the crowd, Natalie Hall will run a free masterclass on applying for Arts Council funding (because let’s be honest, arts funding applications are a nightmare).
It’s art, but without the pretension. Come for the vibes, stay for the inspiration, leave with something weird and wonderful.
Don’t miss these amazing workshops!
‘Paper City’ with Indianna Solnick | 3-4:30pm, 22 February | RSVP
A world-building collage and sculpture workshop aimed at children and adults.
‘How to get Arts Council Funding’ with Natalie Hall | 6:30-8:30pm, 26 February | RSVP
Want to get funding for your project or your creative development in 2025? Learn how and get easy to use templates from a professional grant writer in this free masterclass!
‘Unfolding Nature’ with Brooke Leigh | 2-3:30pm, 1 March | RSVP
Join Brooke for an afternoon of drawing activities inspired by the textures, shapes, movements, and sounds of nature.
‘Lino print stamp making’ with Yasmine Brennan | 4-5:30pm, 1 March | RSVP
Join Yasmine in creating your very own lino print stamps inspired by objects and trinkets from your home or around the exhibition.
‘Camouflage collaging’ with Amy Rose Barnes | 2-3:30pm, 2 March | RSVP
Create a series of abstract artworks via printing and rubbing techniques to explore camouflage through experimentation with layering and collage.
Featured Growing Season artists include: Amy Rose Barnes, Brooke Leigh, Caroline Bugby, Chuting Lee, Ella Yolande, Indianna Solnick, Josh Philpott, Kate Phillips, Laura Reznek, Laurence Green, Liza Kaluzhskaia, Savannah Du Quercy & Yasmine Brennan.
This content is brought to you via a paid partnership between To Do List and Coven.
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like: nice pubs, film marathons, not doing real marathons, bad comedy, plays/musicals with shorter second halves, and the Oxford comma.
