Soma Gallery - 20 Years has launched!
Our 20 year anniversary edition project has now launched. We announced it with a bang with a stand at the brilliant BABE (Bristol Artists Book Event) at UWE Bower Ashton, and with a fantastic pop-up at Frankenstein Press in Bedminster, Bristol. (Main image: Frankenstein Press pop-up.)
It was really wonderful how many of our artists, customers and friends came to visit us at both BABE and Frankenstein Press. Myself and all of the artists involved in the project are really grateful for the support.
As previously mentioned on the blog, this website and through our social media, we launched an edition of 20 handmade original prints by 20 artists to celebrate our 20th anniversary in June 2024. You can read more about it here.
We launched the edition on our website on 27th June, followed by BABE on 29th and 30th June and the pop up at Frankenstein Press from 5th to 7th July.
The response to the wonderful prints has far exceeded expectations, with a couple close to selling out already! We plan to exhibit this collection further over the next few months so keep an eye on our social media to see where it will be or sign up to our mailing list for updates.
First of all I want to discuss BABE. I’m usually a visitor rather than exhibitor, having visited a number of times over the last few years. The last event, two years ago, was the first time they were at Bower Ashton, a slightly odd time while we were coming out of the covid pandemic, but a wonderful event and a bonus for me was taking part in Stephen Fowler’s spooky rubber stamp workshop. This year the biennial event was again at Bower Ashton, the campus I recently studied my MA at, so I am fond of this location.
Soma had a half table shared with Spike Print Studio. Soma and SPS have long had close links, with a number of Soma artists having printed at SPS at some point over the years, while myself and Anna Marrow are member-trustees and tutors.
There’s a limit to how much you can fit on half a table so I took the edition of 20 prints, some artists books, greeting cards and other small items, plus a small print browser.
The two days were a lot of fun and I would like to thank everyone who bought something and came to say hello!
Next came the pop-up at Frankenstein Press, a very fitting place to have a pop up at! Not only was there links with BABE, an exhibition of artist’s books curated by Sarah Bodman and Frankenstein Press in their first floor gallery space, but Anna Ruiz, one of the owners, also created a print for the collection which you can see here.
A three day pop-up was a lovely showcase for the artwork, and the display shelves in the ground floor space, fit the framed prints perfectly, almost as if we planned it that way!
Frankenstein Press is a new workshop, event space and gallery in Bedminster, South Bristol. On the up-and-coming end of North Street, arguably the more interesting end, this space stands out with the wonderful late 1800s French etching press in the window, with many modifications made over the years, this ‘Frankenstein’ press gave the business its name. Partners in life Anna Ruiz and Cristian Zuzunaga are the business owners, having met at LCC in 2005, and celebrated the first anniversary of Frankenstein Press this summer. They run a number of printmaking workshops for both children and adults including linocut, wood engraving, wood cut and letterpress. Have a look at their website here.
We took some other popular items in addition to the anniversary editions including greeting cards from Mortlake Papers and Lisa Jones Studio, zines and artists books from Daisy Hirst and Andy Smith (available online soon), wood engraving prints from Fiona Hamilton, lino cuts from Melanie Wickham and screen prints from Anna Marrow.
Again, this was a lot of fun. Quite a few customers from Soma’s days in Clifton Village live in Southville and Bedminster so it was great to reconnect with people. We had a private view/drinks reception on the Friday evening and, although it rained pretty heavily, it was a fun occasion and lots of artists, friends and customers came along. Huge thanks to Anna and Cristian for trusting me with their lovely space!
The weekend also brought in lots of visitors and was busy. It was fun to be a shopkeeper again for a few days, but I will continue to just do occasional pop ups and fairs rather than have a full time permanent space – certainly for the time being, anyway!
The South Bristol creative community is a friendly and great place to be a part of. The East Street end of North Street is quickly becoming home to more creative independents like Frankenstein Press, Spike Island is just over the water, and South Bristol Arts Trail is later this year in September. Pre-covid I used to occasionally trade at The Tobacco Factory Sunday Market, and is something I hope to revisit in the future.
Once again, thanks to all the artists who have created a print for the edition, all the customers who have bought the prints, everyone who visited us at BABE and Frankenstein Press, the organisers of BABE, Cristian and Anna at Frankenstein Press, Mark Jesset at GF Smith, and of course anyone else who has helped out I have missed off (probably loads of you!).
The Twenty Year collection of limited edition original prints is available to view and buy here.
Read more about Soma Gallery – 20 Years here