A COMMUNITY BASED ART STEWDIO

WHERE GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS CONTRIBUTE TO A 

CONSTANTLY EVOLVING KINETIC CANVAS

THAT HAS NO END

We are a COLLABORATIVE & COMMUNITY based art project inspired by the most intensely flavoursome soup known as a PERPETUAL STEW in Bangkok which has been stewing constantly since 1975.

It has never been off the heat. They have NEVER STOPPED STIRRING, with generations of contributing flavour becoming more and more interesting and in depth every day.

Here at Perpetual Stew, we have designed a NEVER ENDING SUSTAINABLE CANVAS WITH NEVER ENDING CONTENT & USES.

Collaborating with a wide range of contributing artists and creatives, we will be documenting the entire process. We have designed a bespoke camera rig so that we can create non stop content for both marketing and longer form, whilst exhibiting and selling the work, creating installations and using every original piece to create a piece of clothing, furniture or sculpture to be eventually auctioned, with a 10% of all profits to go to mental health charities. 

NIL WASTE

INFINITE INTUITION

FOR THOSE THAT LOSE THEIR FOCUS…

WHO STIRS THE STEW?

Hi! My name is Georgia and I am the very easily distracted brains behind Perpetual Stew.

I grew up in my Nana’s Weavers cottage in Stroud, Gloucestershire, a place of textile heritage. Before the Industrial Revolution, spinners and weavers would work in the cottages, supplied with wool or yarn by the clothier to whom the woven cloth would be returned for dyeing and finishing.

I am a self-confessed struggling creative human, I have owned businesses almost all of my adult life and in my mid 30’s decided to start from scratch and break into the film industry as a Production Designer and Art Director. 

When it comes to my own art practice away from the day job, I struggle. I know that I’m not alone when I say that creative humans can often find it hard to focus on a definitive style or medium unless we have a specific reason.

When I have a brief, a collaborator, a deadline, a reason - I am at my absolute best. Ironically, this project is precisely about not having a deadline, it’s very much about not having an end at all. Us creatives don’t like to make things easy for ourselves.

But most of all, this project is A Reason. For all of us to come together, be it an established artist or an enthusiast willing to get out of their comfort zone for a good cause.

Call it ADHD, call it simply a creative mind. Let’s make use of it.

We work with writers to inspire a theme.

Collaborating with Universities and schools by running a competition to inspire a culturally significant piece of writing that inspires our artists. It could be a poem, a short story or a short essay.

Each piece of writing will inspire the next, culminating in a story based piece of art that progresses over time.

Our artists will have time to process and prep for their piece and will send over examples for approval before we schedule them in. We encourage artists to challenge the piece of writing should you not agree with it and are not necessarily looking for cohesive art.

Artists of all styles and cultures from both locally and afar are invited to create art at our stewdio in Stroud, Gloucestershire. From abstract to realism and typography to pattern, we encourage spontaneity and expression. Sometimes they may be working alone, sometimes we will have multiple artists in at one time.

All art materials will be provided, though you are welcome to bring your own and we have an art technician on site at all times. A huge roll of canvas is wound down and stretched to an industrial table or upright rigging system, prepped and ready for the artists arrival.

We wish to work with every kind of artist, big or small, new or established, confident or shy. What’s special about this project is that you may well be contributing to the same piece of art as a world renowned artist. Who knows? Perhaps they’re the artist before you. (We know).

It is particularly important to us to work with local students and community groups of all ages. Workshops, courses, educational talks and live grassroots music and art events will take place alongside the day to day stewdio hours.

Artists visit the stewdio

We document everything

Rigged around the machinery will be a bespoke camera setup to capture at least three angles at all times. We will be producing non stop content, archiving our footage and creating a documentary style film as we go.

This is how we get noticed. 

The cameras will always be on, taking regular photographs to create stop motion animations and capturing the entire process on video, which we will release / live stream on our own YouTube channel and across social media.

All of this will be used for a documentary style film and books we are working on behind the scenes.

Wind Up, Dry, Collate & Archive

Once a section of the canvas is complete, we wind it upwards using old mill machinery where it begins to air dry. A new section is wound down and the process begins again. At this point we may cut off some sections to enable a speedier drying time and efficient catalogue process.

This is a particularly good time to start exhibiting, our community space becoming an art exhibition in itself.

Create Sculptures, Design Art Installations & Curate Exhibitions

Taking our work further afield, we will use the finished rolls of canvas to exhibit around the world by creating fabric based sculptures and installations, giving the artists international recognition. Every name will be featured alongside their work.

We will sell high quality prints and gift items of artists work at these exhibitions, as well as printed teasers of future furniture and clothing.

As well as creating paper prints for sale, we will also create digitalised prints that can be used for clothing, furniture and homeware.

This will become the Perpetual Stew Collection.

All printing will be pigment and digitally based using very little water, printed in the UK and printed onto a sustainable linen mix.

Create digitalised prints

Restoration and regeneration is at the core of what we do. Once we have exhibited the works in one form, it is time to send the fabric on its final journey.

We will approach this in two ways;

  • Printed patterns based on artwork that has been created and photographed professionally in house.

  • One of a kind pieces using the original artwork.

Re-upholster furniture & make clothing

Sell products and hold auctions

The prints that we create will be made into fabric for upholstery and clothing as well high quality framed prints.

We will make our own clothing range and furniture that will be available to purchase as well as the original art pieces that will be sold by public auction.

10% of profits will be given to a mental health charity and 10% of profits will go directly to the artist that contributed to the sale. All artists have the option to donate their sales to charity. All profits we make go back in to the stew to support future artists. 

The core values we base ourselves on are…

  • Environmental Impact

    We only use sustainable fabrics, paints and dyes. Absolutely nil waste. Anti over-consumerism and unneccesary waste. Pro restoration and regeneration.

  • Boosting The Economy

    By inspiring and giving a voice to people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in art forms and enable them to make money from their craft.

  • Education Within The Arts

    Those all important school years mean a lot to us and we are committed to provide training, workshops and classes to local schools and universities.

  • Community Involvement

    We start local. And ensure that communities close to us are heard and that the space becomes an all important part of the community for all ages and backgrounds.

  • Artistic Freedom and Creativity

    Freedom of expression is at our core and we welcome artists and writers to challenge themselves and others for a diverse and relevant yet ever evolving piece of art.

  • Cultural Diversity

    This is essential to ensure the art we are producing is representative of all cultures. It is one art piece created by endless cultural backgrounds and this is what we are most proud of.

  • International Involvement

    We believe in local communities and celebrating where we are from, but we also believe that we need to take this as far as we possibly can and create a community that takes us to unexpected places.

  • Celebrating Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions

    How many creative people do you know that suffer on a daily basis? Undiagnosed or not, we see you and support you. This project was inspired by your greatness.

NEWS

We have secured a space!

Based in central Stroud, Gloucestershire. If you are looking for an art studio space, we would love to share it with you. Please email perpetualstew@gmail.com.

Now we begin to take our research to the next level. It really is a blank canvas and we are incredibly excited to get things cooking.

Perpetual Stewdio

It is going to take us a bit of time to get set up, so in the meantime if you are looking for any bespoke prop, installation and construction makes that require a Production Designer and/or Art Director, we have a lot space to create in. We also have the space for workshops and exhibitions. 

Please email Georgia at perpetualstewdio@gmail.com.

See Georgia’s freelance website here: www.georgiawestwood.com

We are looking for partners!

We are in the process of applying for funding, and are looking for partners and investors who want to stir the stew with us. We are interested in speaking to:

  • Established artists who could provide a vital platform.

  • Art and antique collectors of industrial machinery.

  • Investors who have extensive experience in running art galleries and auctions.

  • Producer Directors, editors and animators.

  • Traders of environmentally friendly fabrics, paints and pigments.

  • Furniture makers and upholsterers.

How else can you be involved?

We are currently fundraising to get this stew stewing.

If you have any questions or would like to be involved in some way we would love to hear from you.

Please do get in touch by sending us an email and follow along our journey below via:

EMAIL: perpetualstewdio@gmail.com

INSTAGRAM: @perpetualstewdio

SUBSTACK: @perpetualstewperpetualstew

Artists

We are also currently conducting market research to ensure we create the perfect canvas that works for all whilst being as environmentally friendly as possible. It would mean the world to us if you could fill out the questionnaire below: