The Freedom Exhibition was the Hive’s opening event. A two week festival of artwork, music, poetry, talks screenings and workshops inspired by the concept of Freedom.

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Conceived by Lisa Furness, and curated by Lisa, Azja and Shoshanna this exhibition was a rejection of the usual binary affair which divides the world into artist and audience. It was inspired by this idea that all of us have a unique and interesting perspective, and that amazing things can happen when we are allowed to freely inspire one another.

We started the show on Saturday May 30th with a group exhibition of about 15 international artists, and over a fortnight of workshops, talks and performances we invited anyone who came to the show to bring their own freedom inspired artwork, or to make something on site to go into the exhibition.

Our offer was “if you bring it, we’ll find a space for it” and the result was a constantly evolving display that grew and changed as more artwork was brought in, or created on site.

As well as contributions from an international collection of London based artists, Freedom also featured artwork loaned to the Hive by the Prople’s Republic of Stokes Croft in Bristol. This included a 20ft pannel of stencils displaying the message ‘Be The Change You Want to See’ as well as a wooden bear representing the ongoing struggle to keep the Bearpit in Bristol in public hands.

The Freedom Exhibition ran from Saturday May 30th to Saturday June 13th.

The line-up was as follows:

May

  • Sat 30th, 1-3pm: Meditation and Drawing workshop with Kathleen Dulton
  • Sat 30th, 7-10pm Open Mic and Cabaret
  • Sun 31st, 3-5pm: Liberation Project with Shoshanna Stern

June

  • Tues 2nd, 5-7pm: Drawing workshop with Janice Duke
  • Tues 2nd, 4-5pm: Singing and Dancing workshop with Sophia Zoe Efthimou
  • Mon 1st, 5-7pm: Beginners Photography with Michael Laing
  • Thurs 4th, 7-10pm: Open mic
  • Thurs 4th, 4-6pm: Play2Learn – after school club for parents and children
  • Thurs 4th, 1-4pm: Organic gardening workshop with Ian
  • Fri 5th, 6-7pm: Brufut education project in Gambia talk with Rob Brufut
  • Fri 5th, 4.30-6pm: Capoeira workshop
  • Fri 5th, 4-6pm: Clubs4Kids Play2Learn – after school club for parents and children

  • Sat 6th, 11am-5pm: Play2Learn activity club for parents and children
  • Sat 6th 1-3pm: Garden Building Session
  • Sat 6th, 3-5pm: Community mosaic workshop with Jane Clendon
  • Sat 6th, 7-10pm: Open mic
  • Sun 7th 3-5pm: Garden building session
  • Sun 7th 5-7pm: Screening and talk – from documentary film maker David Cortez telling stories of resistance from aound Europe.
  • Mon 8th, 4-6pm: Play2Learn – after school club for parents and children
  • Tues 9th, 4-5pm: Collage making workshop with Sara Maria Klos (all ages welcome)
  • Tues 9th, 5.30-7pm: Shamanic meditation voice circle with Fouzia Javaid and Ashearon Hobson
  • Tues 9th, 7-8pm: Hive open meeting

  • Weds 10th, 7-8pm – Talk from Eric Turner on Occupy and the emergence of social movements.
  • Weds 10th, 8-9.30pm: International documentary screening and presentation with Lisa Furness and Adriana Monagas
  • Thurs 11th, 12-2.30pm: Elatt fundraising cafe: nail salon, henna painting, massage and craft workshops
  • Thurs 11th, 6-7pm: talk on charities with Rob Brufut
  • Thurs 11th, 7-9pm: Open mic
  • Thurs 11th, 7-9.30pm: Yoga sound healing session with Fouzia Javaid and Ashearon Hobson
  • Thurs 11th, 9pm: Performance by Natalie Wearden

  • Fri 12th, 12.30 – 2: Meditation and drawing workshop with Kathleen Dutton
  • Fri 12th, 2-4pm: Creative writing workshop from poet BRS
  • Fri 12th, 4.30-6pm: Capoeira workshop
  • Fri 12th, 6-8pm: Drawing workshop with Janice Duke
  • Sat 13th, 11-3pm: Liberation Project with Shoshana Stern
  • Sat 13th, 3-5pm: Garden building session
  • Sat 13th, 3-5pm: Drawing for under-fours with Melissa Bridgeford
  • Sat 13th, 3pm Artists Talk From Janice Duke
  • Sat 13th, 6-7pm: English Disco Lovers talk with Chris Alton
  • Sat 13th, 7-10pm: Open mic
  • Sat 13th, 8-10pm: Live painting Sara Maria Klos
Janice Duke gives a talk on The Artist's Task