I went to the Towner to see this exhibition yesterday so am writing this quickly as the David Nash exhibition ends on 2 February. If you live within striking distance and like art/sculpture then it’s well worth a visit. It is closed on Mondays.
Having driven for 2 hrs 15 mins from our home to Eastbourne we were somewhat annoyed that we didn’t see a single sign directing us to the Towner so it took us quite a bit longer to actually find it. We’d assumed, wrongly, that there would be signs once we were on the seafront but I had to ask some locals for directions, which would have been ok if the road along the seafront hadn’t still been closed following the devasting fire at the Cavendish Hotel. Anyway, we eventually found it, with my husband on the verge of a nervous breakdown having driven round and round the back streets of Eastbourne – but luckily we also found a parking space in the nearby car park (a snip at £2.60 for up to 4 hours). We climbed the stairs to the top floor cafe but it is quite small and there were no free tables so we walked to a neighbouring cafe instead. I should say that there are lifts in the Towner for those who need them. Eventually we started our tour of the exhibition, splitting up to do this as I never want to spend as long looking at exhibits as my husband does (short attention span maybe!). I have to say though that I really enjoyed it. The exhibition was large, filling several gallery spaces throughout the building and featured years of work by David Nash – beautiful pieces of sculpture, big and small, hunks of trees, some turned to charcoal like finishes, others chipped away, beautiful shapes and textures. He’s lived and worked in Blaenau Ffestiniog for years and also has connections with Lewes in East Sussex. As well as the sculptures there were films showing how they were made. I can’t say much more as time is short, however, it was well worth the more than 5 hours we spent getting there and home again.
The Towner itself is a modern building; there is the cafe/restaurant on the 2nd floor and a coffee bar on the ground floor, a gift shop and obviously toilets on the 1st floor. There was also an art exhibition in one gallery curated by Caroline Lucas. Admission is free but donations welcome.
Come on Eastbourne Council, have a bit more signage!
