Equinoks
The Culture Trust, Luton lead museums, arts and heritage in three cultural hot spots in Luton. Our focus this year for Heritage Open Days is to open up unseen spaces in the Hat District. With support from Luton Rising, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Luton Borough Council we present;
See Hat House basement transformed by artists and curators as ‘Equinoks’ returns to Luton – come experience an exciting collective of Luton’s creative talent, artforms and cultural heritage. Visual artworks by artists Faye Munroe, Anna Fairchild, Susan Coussens and Jakub Rokita, accompanied by an musical performances by Luton’s own Paul Jolly, Anak and others.
Equinoks brings international, UK and local artists of multiple disciplines for a series of workshops, exhibitions and performances. Originating from collaborative engagement between 2018 and 2022 under the AVXLuton banner, Equinoks started as a biannual arts festival in 2023 which saw artists and performers from Japan, Germany, US and UK deliver a multidisciplinary programme at St. Mary’s church in Luton Town Centre, followed by release of geo-located sound compositions in spring of 2024. Equinoks returns to Luton for the Heritage Open Days, starting an extended programme of engagement with Deep Listening, improvised instruments workshops and diverse selection of visual artists and musical performances planned for Autumn/Winter 2024.
Photography: Shaun Armstrong
Artist Bios
Faye Munroe
Faye Munroe is a Ceramic Artist, who was drawn to clay while studying on a Visual and Creative Studies course and was seduced by the possibilities of clay to express her love of form and texture. She went on to study on a Foundation Degree in Three-Dimensional Design to continue her exploration with clay, before completing a Contemporary Applied Arts degree specialising in ceramics in 2013. Faye became a fellow at Digswell Arts that same year until 2019 and is now currently on the Board of Trustees.
Her work is filled with understated symbolism and poignant meaning drawing on her heritage and past. Faye's ceramic structures can be seen as three-dimensional thoughts or words, constructed from multiple narratives. Her ceramic objects are both unique and contemporary, but also faintly familiar.
In 2023 Faye co-founded and became Co-director of LUGUS CERAMICS C.I.C. Headed by local creatives who are passionate about the therapeutic and social benefits of clay, their mission is to provide accessible, inclusive spaces where the people and community of Luton can come together to experiment and play with clay. Learning about ceramic processes through accessing the skills and knowledge of local artists and trained experts.
Dr Anna Fairchild
Dr Anna Fairchild is a Hertfordshire artist, researcher and lecturer. Her sculpture and darkroom photography is led by materials and process, most often using urban architectural fragments, rock forms and organic elements as starting points.
The series of stitched panels shown at Hat House, comprising 16 darkroom photograms, was inspired by Luton Brutalist and 20th Century architecture from her Brutal-Lab project at Departure Lounge Gallery in January 2022. Fairchild’s photogram, Excavators, is currently showing at Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset until September 10th. Her research paper Brutal (Light) Foraging has been selected for Drawing Conversations#4 at the Huddersfield University in September.
Instagram: @anna_fairchild
Susan Coussens
Currently working out of the Hat Factory in Luton I am also an Alumni of Digswell Arts a long standing Charity helping emerging artists by providing affordable studio space for up to 5 years.
I am a figurative artist with the philosophy of “the more I paint the more I learn”.
I believe that as artists we hold a unique position in society that through art we can reflect on current issues and take a view of what is happening around us.
My work often comments on how black people are portrayed in art and can art change attitudes. One of my works callled SKIN consists of 40 portraits which ask do we even need skin colour to show our ethnicity. I created this work to hopefully stimulate a conversation about this topic.
Anak
Anak is an interdisciplinary artist and designer based in Luton. Their musical practice spans from songwriting and experimental production to improvised vocals, folding in eclectic influences and sonic palettes.
Paul Jolly
Paul Jolly was born in 1946. After meeting the pianist and composer Mel Davis, a teacher at his school in 1962, Paul seriously began to explore jazz and improvised music. In 1969 he joined the People Band, an improvising group formed by Davis and the percussionist Terry Day. This association still lasts and it has impacted on all of his approach to creativity.
Paul has performed in a wide variety of music projects – including two years as Musical Director for the Intriplicate Mime Company, a member of the People Band and People Show, major European tours with the People Band, Big Chico, Mummy and Loverly – an improvising group featuring the singer Maggie Nicols. He also worked with many progressive rock groups including the cult 70’s band Sweet Slag, that opened for groups such as Black Sabbath and toured the UK as a support band for Eddie Grant and the Equals as well as appearing at iconic venues like the 100 Club and the Marquee.
Jakub Rokita
Jakub Rokita is a local artist and arts activist working with the audio, the visual and the participatory and exhibits video and sound installations internationally.
