Young people are coming together with international artists to peacefully protest violence this weekend with an exhibition.

We Are the Leaders You Have Been Waiting For opens at the community arts centre Gnome House in Walthamstow on Saturday, between 6pm and 9pm. It is specifically in reaction to violence against young people. Such as the murder of Leroy James in Enfield by Mustafa Gurpinar, both 14.  Below his father, of the same name, holds his photo. 

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

“Our community has come together with overwhelming creativity and positive energy in the aftermath of the terrible acts of violence recently committed in London,” explains Gnome House director, Mark Burton.

“Many London based artists are taking part, as well as established artists from the USA, Germany and Australia -but the stars of the show are the young people from Waltham Forest who are either exhibiting work or performing on the opening night.”

The opening night will feature performances from many artists and organisations including grime artist Lemzi, Grow your own Theatre, who have been making shows and working with young people in Walthamstow since 2011.

It will also include a short film by acclaimed film-maker Carlos Javier Ortiz from Chicago called We All We Got (which documents a communities resilience in the face of gun violence), a collection of images by photographer Antonio Olmos (who documented every murder scene in London during 2011 and 2012), and an iconoclastic and historic series of portraits by American photographer, Adler Garfield, who has photographed the student protesters from Parkland, Florida, advocating stricter gun controls in the USA.

The exhibition will feature both international artists and those from Waltham Forest, all will be exhibiting alongside schools, community groups and activists.

Featured artists include Carlos Javier Ortiz, Adler Garfield, Antonio Olmos, Man & Wah, Emma Scutt, Anna Alcock, Martin Adams, James Hunter, Charlotte Colenutt, Alison Stirling, Michael D. Bowles, John Lucas, Richard Selby & Graham Clifford.

The featured schools are Rushcroft Foundation School, Federick Bremer School, Willowbrook Primary School, Willowfield School, Kelmscott School, Big Creative Education.

Following the opening night an artist talk will take place on Sunday between 2pm and 4pm. It will feature exhibition participants and will discuss creative responses to violence.

Gnome House is a community arts centre located at 7 Blackhorse Lane, E17 6DS. For more information visit gnomehouse.org.uk