After two full years without posting, we are back! And the big news that’s brought us out of our shell is the opening of the annual Art Marketplace at the vastly expanded Baan Sillapin Art Center (known also as Hua Hin Artist Village) just up the hill from midtown Hua Hin. If you’ve not visited this wonderful public center, or if you haven’t been there in a while, you owe it to yourself to go. The place has changed immensely and is positively humming with life and fun for everyone.
As it has been for many years, the Baan Sillapin Art Center is a leafy oasis on the outskirts of booming Hua Hin where everyone can get away from the hustle and bustle, enjoy cool mountain air and relax with great art and wonderful people. Not to mention the best coffee around.
For many years, the Artist Village has been known as a sleepy, semi-private reserve that didn’t go out of its way in attracting visitors. A relatively small number of seasonal and full-time residents have always known it as the premier place for training in art and crafts under the wonderful Kru Nang Kesa-Ngam. All of that has changed, and the Baan Sillapin Art Center is ready to take its place among the area’s must-see attractions.
Nangs ArtYard: Art for Everyone!
To start with, Kru Nang’s original small classroom has expanded hugely with new staff and a full art supply shop to serve children and adults of all ages. You can visit it on Facebook as Nangs ArtYard, and you and your family can spend many happy hours when you go there. Even if you’ve never dreamed of it before, you can be making your own original art from the first hour. There’s no schedule, and the costs are beyond reasonable.
Nang and her staff have developed the gift of working with each student exactly where that person is ready to be. Just come, sit down, and before you know it you’ll be happily on your way! Also, children absolutely love it! You can leave your little ones at the ArtYard in confidence that they are safely occupiedunder adult supervision and having the time of their lives. In other words, fun for children of all ages!
Galleries and Artist Studios
Of course, an Art Center is all about art and artists and Baan Sillapin has a huge variety of art galleries and working studios.
The main hall at Baan Sillapin exhibits world-class art from members of the Hua Hin Artist Group and other artists from all over the world. A rustic building houses the magnificent collection antiques inherited from Khun Chumpon, the original founder and benefactor of the Artist Village.
Besides these principal galleries, Baan Sillaping hosts more than 20 working studios of individual artists. In these facilities, you can meet the artist, often see them at work and of course view and purchase their work.
Shopping
Besides art of every kind, the Baan Sillapin Art Center now has a number of individual shops selling clothing, jewlery, and souvenir items. During the month-long Art Market, the offerings are expanded further with various ‘gypsy’ vendors putting into the Baan Sillapin port-of-call.
Eating, Drinking, and More!
The opportunities for food and drink at the Artist Village have expanded greatly. The centerpiece is the Cup By Cup coffee shop in the middle of the ‘main plaza’ . With lots of seating around that area (and elsewhere in the complex), it’s a great way to while away the hours.
Between Nangs ArtYard and the famous Clay Houses, you will find Jiab’s Kitchen serving well-known Thai dishes lovingly prepared and served. During the Art Market, additional vendors are offering traditional snacks as well as beer and wine. No one needs to go hungry or thirsty!
As if that’s not enough, you can also get a fine massage in an air-conditioned shop. Highly recommended is the 30-minute ‘relaxer’ foot massage at just 100 baht!
Getting to Baan Sillapin
The Baan Sillapin Artist Village is located just 4km from the center of Hua Hin on the main road that leads West from the city. (This road continues on to Wat Huay Mongkol with it’s giant monk statue, Hua Hin Vinyards, Pala U waterfall and other attractions. So you can make a great day of it.)
The Hua Hin Arts Guide 