The eclectic, artistic community in Walthamstow is to be celebrated with a major art installation due to be unveiled at The Mall shopping centre today (May 7).
Five unique artists from the borough have been commissioned to bring to life their interpretations of what makes the area so unique.
The resulting artworks, which range from photography, textiles and sculpture, will be displayed around the shopping centre acting as an exclusive pop-up gallery for a limited time until May 24.
The aim of the InterpARTation display is to showcase local artistic talent while celebrating Walthamstow’s past, present and future. It will be launched tonight at a special event featuring the artists as special guests, live music from Duo Raphaela and a characterurist.
Marketing manager of The Mall Rebecca Marjoram says: “We are passionate about promoting local talent. As a local resident I took inspiration from the wonderful work of the E17 Arts Trail team as well as the borough’s historic creative heroes and developed an idea to give a platform for some of Walthamstow’s brightest artistic talents to display their work while engaging the local community."
The Mall, Walthamstow, May 7 to 24. Details: themall.co.uk
Photographer Simon Warren became judge and mentor for The Mall’s recent Hidden Gems photographic competition encouraging local residents to capture amazing images of the borough. Selected shots will be displayed alongside some of Simon’s own hidden gems in his I Love Walthamstow series, which includes images of dragons in the village and a ceramic beehive.
Illustrator and founder of the creative company The Climbing Frame Kate Westbrook joined creative forces with Monique Jivram to run a series of printing, painting, collage and drawing workshops at the shopping centre, resulting in a wonderful Walthamstow inspired mural which references the area’s historic buildings.
Sculptor Vanessa Brightwell made a name for herself with her decorated elephant in the window of The Mall last year. Now she has created a similar giant frog sculpture entitled Marsh Lands inspired by the wetlands project currently in development.
Walthamstow-born and bred fashion designer Hollie Tarrier will unveil her latest dress design Harness. The highly-structured, futuristic shirt dress has been made using William Morris-inspired tapestry with embroidery and a floral design to show how the past can be updated and driven forward rather than being fixed.
Textile artist Sba Shaikh has created a design capturing Walthamstow’s past, present and future called Looking Through the Stow. She captured the present by running a workshop at The Mall where residents coloured in prints, which was worked into the final piece, and the unknowable future using transparent and opaque devoré sections.
Artist portraits by Simon Warren and Barry Bliss
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