Jason Butler’s studio was buzzing as friends, artists, and the wider community came together to celebrate ‘Public Voice: Common Ground’ – a project aiming to make Jersey’s public spaces more people-friendly. With Rui Figueredo and Abel Salgado providing strong guitar and vocals, and plenty of drinks, focaccia, and olives to go around, the vibe was warm and full of good energy. Huge thanks went out to Jason for hosting, Art House Jersey for the tech, the musicians for the tunes, and everyone else who turned up to celebrate.
Moments Musicaux presented an evening of beautiful music designed to set the tone for this year’s Valentine’s Day. The performance brought together a distinguished ensemble of musicians including Benjamin Hewat-Craw (Baritone), Susanna MacRae (Soprano), Joseph Buckmaster (Tenor) and Jersey’s own Christine Jasper (Contralto), whose rousing performances raised neck hairs, ampified by the surroundings of St. Marks Church.
There’s something about the timeless significance and unique acoustics of a church that gives a performance of classical music that extra ‘oomph. Guests were invited to enjoy a drink after the performace and the happy smiles are testament to how much attendees enjoyed their evening!
Kairos Arts, a small on-island charity that offers therapeutic arts to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, held an opening event for their exhibition ‘Reconnected’. The art installation was put together during four weeks of art-making by those who had previously attended one of their six-week programmes, embodying their journey of healing and reconnecting back to themselves. The evening was a celebration and reflection of their work, both internal and external, reminding everyone who attended of the strength and resilience within our community.
The Maritime Museum hosted the official unveiling of ‘Connection’, a remarkable new artwork capturing Jersey’s topography through an unexpected medium – approximately 9,000 old phone cards. Envisioned by James Bedding and created in collaboration with artist Jane de la Haye, the intricate piece offers a fresh perspective on the island’s landscape, transforming discarded relics of communication into a striking visual tribute to Jersey.
Guests enjoyed drinks as James and Jane shared insights into the inspiration and meticulous process behind the project. James, a photographer, drone pilot and dedicated collector of Jersey phone cards, spoke about his vision for the piece, whilst Jane’s artistic expertise brought the concept to life with extraordinary detail. The unveiling celebrated both innovation and heritage, inviting viewers to reflect on the island’s past while appreciating its landscape from a new angle.
The Tide Arrives, Robert Allen’s latest exhibition, made its debut at The Colour Rooms, Jersey’s newest art gallery in Beaumont. Marking the gallery’s first solo show, the exhibition showcased a striking new body of work created specifically for the occasion. Guests at the opening night on February 28th enjoyed a drinks reception while immersing themselves in Allen’s evocative depictions of Jersey’s coastline.
With a background in sculpture and drawing, Allen’s work captures the raw energy of the island’s landscapes, from the rugged cliffs of Corbière to the bustling fishing boats of Gorey Harbour. His expressive use of colour and texture brings to life the sensation of standing within these environments – feeling the salt spray, the shifting light, and the contours of rock and sand. Running until March 27th, The Tide Arrives offered visitors a powerful interpretation of Jersey’s ever-changing shoreline through the eyes of a seasoned plein air painter.
The Porter’s Store marked its third birthday in true speakeasy style beneath the Pomme d’Or Hotel, hosting an exclusive evening of music, cocktails, and camaraderie. Invited guests stepped into the intimate, mood-lit underground bar, where they were treated to complimentary drinks and canapés in a setting that exuded vintage charm. The highlight of the night was a performance by multi-award-winning blues harmonica virtuoso Giles Robson, whose soulful melodies set the perfect tone for the celebration. The event brought together industry professionals and island friends, both familiar faces and new connections, all raising a glass to three years of the Porter’s Store’s success. With its signature blend of refinement and revelry, the evening captured the essence of what makes the venue so special – a hidden gem for those who appreciate fine drinks, great music, and a touch of mystery.
The Freeda (free from domestic abuse) Gala Fundraising evening has become an annual event.‘Following our rebrand in 2023 and inaugural Gala Evening in 2024 we decided to continue holding this event annually to provide us with an opportunity to celebrate with our supporters and raise much needed funds to continue to provide our services and 24 hour support to those fleeing domestic abuse’.
The evening was kindly sponsored by SG Kleinwort Hambros and entertainment was provided by the beautiful ballet dancers from Silhouette Studios and the incredible Elsie & the Emeralds and Ruby Rouge.
Thursday 13th February, CCA Galleries International
If you haven’t already gone to CCA to see their current exhibition ‘Word Play’, get yourself through those doors on your next available lunch break. Featuring work by artists such as Peter Blake, Kay Le Seelleur Ara and Lindsay Rutter, the gallery hosts a collection of work by artists who use text as an integral part of their creative process.
With the vast array of styles on display, you’re bound to find something that resonates with you – whether that’s through a collage of old newspaper adverts, a vase that doubles as a to-do list or one of Kay’s signature paintings.
Exhibition open 13th Feb – 28th March
‘Found Art: Fun Factory’, Peter Blake‘Post-its’, Lindsay Rutter
The management and team at Greenhills hosted a wonderful reopening event, unveiling a selection of exquisite new dishes set to feature on the menu this spring.
Guests enjoyed an interactive blind tasting experience in collaboration with Love Wine, followed by a live musical performance by Rich Allo. The evening showcased a variety of new culinary creations alongside signature favourites, all expertly crafted by Head Chef Lukasz Pietrasz and his dedicated team.
Matt Seymour, Managing Director, took the opportunity to introduce the Seymour Hotels’ Charity of the Year for 2025, Dementia Jersey. CEO Claudine Snape provided an overview of the charity’s invaluable work, offering essential support, expert guidance, and raising awareness of dementia within the community.
Following the reopening on Thursday, 13th February, the Greenhills team looks forward to welcoming both locals and visitors to indulge in lunch, dinner, or afternoon tea – or even escape for a luxurious countryside staycation.
When you think of ‘red’, you think of ‘hot’, and when you put both of these things together, you get ‘firefighter’. 2025 marks the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service’s 75th anniversary, and it only seems right to do something to celebrate this incredible milestone. In a previous issue of Gallery, we ran a feature with the firemen, asking them to rank an assortment of local curries. It follows that if we were to give them a call again, it needed to be for something equally as fiery.
In a collab that embodies ‘sweating under pressure’, we brought firefighters and Hotpod Yoga instructors together for a steamy session that put their stamina to the test. Focus, flexibility and strength was assessed as our local firefighters tried their hand at warrior poses and perfecting their downwards dog. Muscles softened, tensions melted, and Paul found parts of his body he didn’t know existed.
To return the favour, the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service opened their doors to the Hotpod Team, offering them a chance to train as a firefighter for the day. Whilst breath work and focus are second nature to them in the pod, a different environment brought all sorts of challenges. There was plenty of head butting and wiggling through small spaces, during exercises that required mental focus “even the most experiences of Yogis could struggle with”. From ladder lifts, to casualty evacuations, to carrying equipment, to navigating a breathing chamber blindfolded, the physical assessments to become an on-call firefighter are nothing short of demanding. The service are always looking for on-call firefighters who can assist full time firefighters when the need arises. You don’t need previous experience as they provide a comprehensive training programme. What is important is that you are enthusiastic and have a range of personal skills such as understanding, reliability, flexibility, and the ability to work within a team.
Overleaf are each team’s reflections after stepping into the other’s boots (or pod) for the day. The reviews will have you asking whether yogis and firefighters share more in common than you’d initially thought.
Firemen on yoga…
Evan Laframboise
On-call Firefighter / Associate Director at Altum Group
“A warm and friendly welcome from Megan quickly turned into a flow of movements we didn’t know we were capable of. It was a rare chance to switch off the brain from the hectic daily schedule and just focus on our breath, movement, and not falling flat on our faces.”
Favourite pose: Cactus, or if I’m being honest, the super relaxing stretching at the end!
Phil Falle
Watch Commander in the Fire Safety Department
“I hadn’t done yoga for years, so when the opportunity came up to try Hotpod Yoga, I jumped at it. Sadly, I only managed the first ten minutes as my pager went off. Those ten minutes however reminded me how good stretching out an old body in warm conditions makes you feel physically and mentally.”
Favourite pose: Camel
Chris Smith
Watch Commander in the Fire Safety Department
“As the session began, the heat wrapped around me, making each stretch feel deeper and more intense. I could feel my muscles soften, and the tension melt away. The combination of the exercises, movement, sweat, and stillness left me both challenged and grounded. By the end, I felt lighter, calmer, and more connected to my body.”
Favourite pose: Warrior I
Bryn Coleman
Deputy Chief Fire Officer
“I used to be a competitive swimmer, and still keep fit. I expected Hotpod Yoga to involve a little bit of stretching in a warm environment – I was wrong. I had to control my core body strength and try to breathe in a controlled way, which was very difficult. My body ached for days.”
Favourite pose: Warrior I
Paul McGrath
Station Commander in Service Improvement
“It is a physical challenge, and it is great to take the time to concentrate on parts of the body I didn’t know existed! It was a small group, which made it easier for us newbies to pick up the instructions. All of the moves were physically demonstrated to ensure we understood what to try to attempt.”
Favourite pose: Warrior II
See the newly launched jerseyfire.je to learn more about becoming an on-demand firefighter.
Yogis on firefighting…
Megan Whittaker
Owner & Lead Teacher, Hotpod Yoga Jersey
“I found the whole experience pretty challenging to say the least. It was interesting that managing the heat, your breath and staying calm and focused are all essentials and ‘second nature’ for us in the pod, but in a different environment, it was difficult to remember to breath and stay calm. I was most nervous about the task where we had to find our way in and out of some kind of maize / labyrinth / chamber whilst blindfolded and wearing all the masks and gear. This was a real mental challenge to trust that you will get out eventually, and to not panic. The idea was that you use one hand to follow your way around safely, but I spent most of this task head butting my way around, making quite a racket. Eventually I got out within 8 minutes, which was a good effort, but an expected fail nonetheless. I most enjoyed any aspects that involved climbing and where being nimble was an advantage, but it’s all a lot harder in a fire suit. I don’t think I’ll be getting called up anytime soon to help, which is quite alright by me! Fair play to them!”
Laura Bechelet
Yoga Teacher
“Wow, I can really appreciate the diversity of skills required to be a firefighter, such as assembling random tools under pressure, lifting and shifting heavy objects, navigating in complete darkness with full gear on, all whilst under high stress. I can see how a hot yoga practice would be advantageous for a firefighter in training, especially for wiggling your way through the small spaces and using your breath to remain calm and find your focus. All of the tasks require a level of mental strength and mindfulness that even the most experienced of Yogis could struggle with. I’m glad we got to give it a go, it was a fun and challenging afternoon!”
See hotpodyoga.com/studios/jersey/ to book a session in the pod.
