TANIA BEAUMONT

Happy New Year.

Ten of us have formed a group/art cooperative, called Fanaan (Artist in arabic) - to try and get round the lack of exhibition opportunities, and exhorbitant fees required by the few galleries that exist in Abu Dhabi.  We are hoping to be able to have an Art Fair somewhere this year, and have been encouraged by the offer of a couple of venues -  even though we will still have to pay a fee to ADNEC, a government institution.  This is not like Dubai - there are very few galleries available. Having said that, 2 new ones have opened in the past six weeks, so things are looking up.

Fanaan's FIRST APPEARANCES show will be at the Ghaf Gallery, Abu Dhabi, 18th-29th Jan 2009.

Next stop  Art-Paris Abu Dhabi ??

Settled in Abu Dhabi for 2 months now - it all went surprisingly easily. Studio up and running, but in desperate need of organisation - what's new !

Carrying on working on mixed media paintings, on ephemera - also altered books.  Exhibition from home May 21st and 22nd, to test the waters.

Hope to exhibit at the Hemisphere Gallery in the autumn.

I have  an article in the Spring 2008 edition of  the  Soc. of Painter/Printmaker's magazine, Printmaking Today.

It relates the exciting saga of a printing commission I had last July,  just before leaving Tangier, to reprint some 350 year old copper plates, by Hollar.

We left Tangier at the end of August, very sad to leave. What a wonderful place :- lovely people, fabulous countryside and inspirational crafts.

We have been squashed into our London apartment since then, even though it's a big place. 75 0f the 110 boxes went into storage nearby. Etching press in a big crate. Nightmare.

I went to Dubai in Novemeber/December to do the usual Christmas Fairs, but only 2 were happenning while I was there. It's difficult booking tickets so far in advance, when you dont know what will be happening and when.  However I did very well at both the Feline friends Bazaar and the Abu Dhabi Mall - reaquainting (is it a word?) with some old friends. Good to see there are still people we know there, as it is now confirmed that we will be returning to Abu Dhab i within the month.

So, roll on the next installment - UAE here I come...again.

Well it's been a long time coming, so I hope it's worthwhile.

I'm in Morocco (Tangier) for the forseeable future and 'art'life gets a bit sterile and lonely, so if you fancy bouncing ideas around, feel free. It's hard working in a vacuum.