THE RIVER MAGAZINE | Spring 2019 17 Julio Marques has returned to the the London Bridge Hotel having spent five years at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Prior to that he had been Food & Beverage Manager of London Bridge Hotel launching their main restaurant Londinium and one of his first innovations since his return is to launch an Arts initiative“Open Call”in collaboration with Team London Bridge to support Southwark based artists. Marques said, ‘When I first approached Team London Bridge with the idea for the art exhibition, I had no idea how popular it would be. I am overwhelmed with the wealth of local talent!’ Following an open call to artists in October last year, over one hundred artists submitted their work for consideration, with fourteen being asked to participate in the first phase of London Bridge Hotel“OPEN”, running until June. Entrants came from a huge range of disciplines including ceramics, painting, metal sculpture, printmaking. Artists currently on show are: Albeiro Rojas Tomedes, Shirley Hunter, Gail Seres-Woolfson, Henrietta MacPhee, Joanna Brinton, Joanna McCormick, Lloyd Durling, Pablo Rodriguez Blanco, Ray Bridge, Richard Starbuck, Russel Herneman, Stephen Dunn, Steve Chapman and Ying Chang.Ripe Berries in a Forest, by Stephen Dunn. LONDON BRIDGE HOTEL 8-18 London Bridge Street Shard Quarter SE1 9SG t: 020 7855 2200 w: londonbridgehotel.com With the arrival of a new General Manager at the London Bridge Hotel an exciting opportunity opens up for local artists @LBH ART 1. Yin Chang with some of her paper light sculptures, inspired by iconic architectural forms at the London Bridge Hotel. 2. Dancing City, by Gail Seres-Woolfson. 3. The work of Russel Herneman is also displayed at the hotel until the summer. 4. Painting by Joanna McCormick. 5 Ripe Berries in a Forest, by Stephen Dunn 1 4 5 2 3 | C U L T U R E |