The E17 Art Trail Blog

Films by contemporary artists on the BBC Big Screen Walthamstow

2011-09-18T11:30:00.001+01:00

Those working on the Information Hub during the 2011 E17 Art Trail were in a prime spot to see the selection of films inspired by the E17 environment being shown on the BBC Big Screen Walthamstow. The films are from The Projection Gallery.com collection and feature a personal response to the challenges, struggles and concerns faced by creative people. How do we set our goals, what counts as

The end of this year's Art Trail...

2011-09-15T13:07:00.003+01:00

The Rose and Crown closes in an hour and when the clock strikes midnight tonight the 2011 E17 Art Trail will be over. However, if you would like to send in a review, comment, image or contribution I would be delighted to put it up on this blog so please email it to e17arttrail@gmail.com. There's a search box on the bottom right hand side of the page so do look for exhibitions you've seen and

The final instalment of Abigail's 2011 Art Trail Diary

2011-09-15T12:56:00.001+01:00

It is such a shame that the E17 Art Trail has come to an end, but we saw so much last weekend that my feet probably wouldn’t have been able to walk much further anyway! I can’t list everything that we saw as there was so much! But here are some of my highlights. Reciprocity: This was on at my school and was work by staff and students. I know some of the girls whose work was shown and it was

Man Machine

2011-09-11T21:52:00.002+01:00

In the window of Valerie Grove’s house sits a life-size skeleton with perfect posture, "typing" at a laptop computer. Don’t be alarmed if you catch a glimpse of him: he is one of the stars of her installation, “Man Machine”, which occupies the entire front room of her house. Through paintings, sabotaged posters, text and an interactive wall, this disturbing installation brings to light the

The Rev! Mother, Magical portals, Catboy and E17 Designers

2011-09-11T20:30:00.000+01:00

I'd heard lots of good things about Harriet Hammel's soft sculptures so headed down to St Saviour's to check them out. The Rev! Mother, a full size soft sculpture woman priest, dressed in biker gear, dismounting from the Softuki motorbike, nearly steals the show but Harriet's other sculptures are great too. The cuddly looking laptop jumped out at me because I'd just come from seeing Valerie

Blackhorse Lane Open Studios

2011-09-11T12:49:00.000+01:00

Michelle Reader With 28 artists exhibiting and the Artworks Open show, I saw so much work at Blackhorse Lane Open Studios that I'm not sure where to begin. The studios opened in January 2008 and the spaces are flooded with natural light and very roomy. Here's a few images and a little bit about some of the artist's work. Artists, it'd be great if you could post more info and links to your

The American Midwest - photographs and drawings

2011-09-11T11:27:00.002+01:00

The last Saturday of the Art Trail started with a dose of Americana at Duncan Holmes's exhibition of photographs and drawings made during summer and winter visits to Indiana and Illinois. The images give a sense of everyday life in this vast region, with its charming old clapboard houses, red barns and farmhouses surrounded by wide open space for miles around. Duncan has included an image

Mushrooms, life drawing and architectural delights

2011-09-10T19:08:00.000+01:00

I popped back into Inky Cuttlefish Studios today to meet some friends and saw Teresa Durrant's mushrooms made out of plaster, iron filler, anti rust paint, acrylics and, curiously, tea. She suggests picking one to hold as you look at the art on display. After a quick second look at all the art that I saw yesterday, I went back to the village and to the Nag's Head, Walthamstow life drawing are

The street of blue plaques

2011-09-10T18:30:00.000+01:00

After reading Danny Coope's blog entry I couldn't wait see his Street of Blue Plaques. Taking information from the 19th century censuses, Danny has created a series of blue plaques celebrating some ordinary former residents of Grosvenor Park Road. Walking down the road I was amazed at how many jobs there are, from a pencil works foreman, to fur cutters and the builder of Britain's first

Inky Cuttlefish Studios

2011-09-10T10:35:00.002+01:00

Four women artists were invited to take part in an exhibition called EDGE at Inky Cuttlefish. The brief was to show artwork that was "edgy", confrontational, dark, unsafe and personal. (I haven't been able to find out who invited them to take part or whether they just got together and decided among themselves?) All four artists are exhibiting in other Trail venues and I was very glad to be

Victoria Road Treasure Trove

2011-09-10T09:19:00.000+01:00

We would like to share some images of our adventures in Neverland while making our recycled Peter Pan costumes. Ahoy Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, Peter Pan and Captain Hook! At venue number, 86 Arts and Crusts Cafe, we had a lovely time sharing secrets about fairies and about the ways to recycle old video tapes, carrier bags, plastic bottles and coat hangers. The workshops were held in Arts and

Trail Diary from E17 Designers, Part III

2011-09-10T09:05:00.001+01:00

The Beauty of Stone, Tim Smith Late night at the Mill, it was a smiley Gala launch, and good to be there after seeing it transform over the last few weeks, also went on a whistle stop tour to Sitting around (29), sculptures, two good little boys, just waiting… Friday finally made it to Arts and Crusts - most of the Fulbourne area will be busy on Saturday, so try and make it to the Plaza for

MIDWEEK, The Rose and Crown

2011-09-09T13:07:00.004+01:00

Sculpture by Al Johnson Yesterday I finally made it to the Rose and Crown and I'm very glad that I did. There's a great selection of work on show, responding to a range of themes from film to local wildlife. Leaning against a bench opposite the bar is Jim Jack's circular wooden sculpture, with its many layers that people have said make it "look like a giant crinkle cut crisp". Sculpture by

Art Trail Diary, by Abigail

2011-09-09T11:48:00.005+01:00

Hi again from Abigail! You might remember that I made a list of E17 Art Trail exhibits that I wanted to see. Unfortunately, I had to go away last weekend, and went back to school this week (boo!) so I haven’t had a chance to see them all yet – but here are some that I have managed to see so far. Make sure that you sign the artists' guest books! Knit A Year: I loved this – it looked like a long

Last chance to buy Francis Long's latest piece of conceptual art!

2011-09-09T09:47:00.002+01:00

Last chance to join the bidding war for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHATSOEVER NIS NADA ETC... by E17 artist Francis Long (ebay item number 130571320067), auction ending Friday 18:28 pm. Is Nothing Whatsoever worth more than £1.20? Artist Francis Long whose work can be seen at LOT ONE TEN (number 42) has listed his latest conceptual artwork on ebay: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHATSOEVER NIS NADA ETC… This is a

Tears of Blood

2011-09-09T09:42:00.002+01:00

'Tears of Blood' giclee prints are limited to editors of four Reviewed by Elaine from E17 Art House Picture Framers and Gallery. (Number 63 on the E17 Art Trail). Though I had been reassured that it was safe to visit 'Tears Of Blood' on Maynard Road alone - even getting a seal of approval from artist Catboy (very apt), I approached the house with trepidation. I envisaged being greeted by the

Trail Diary, Monday to Thursday, by E17 Designers

2011-09-08T18:41:00.001+01:00

Photo from A Different Perpective, at Harmony Hall Monday was a day off-out of town for a break, phew. Tuesday found us inadvertently in various coffee shops and windows along Hoe Street checking out their Trail offerings - the Poetry Trail in the Estate agents windows (Page 4 of the Trail Guide) Lot One Ten (listing number 42), Le Delice (45), Daisy’s (50), and Wednesday saw us start at The

MIDWEEK, Central Library and Waterstone's

2011-09-08T17:48:00.001+01:00

Jay Hudson's Knit a Year Walthamstow Central Library is a beautiful building both inside and out and there are a lot of different works on show there. In the foyer Waltham Forest Amnesty International Group have made an installation of origami cranes: a traditional Japanese symbol of piece and hope. They stand out against the bright orange wall and you can make your own, although I struggled

Arts and Crusts - an urban eden in an metropolitan jungle

2011-09-08T15:24:00.001+01:00

By Esther Freeman, Creative Director of Ms. Wanda's Wardrobe I love the number 123 bus. I would probably love it a bit more if it hadn't kept me waiting for 15 minutes. But like a good woman, a good bus is worth waiting for. I don't like this bus because of some strange diesel and rubber fixation. I love it for taking me to a special place, a little Urban Eden just off Fulbourne Road. Based on

BOARDED - Lost and Lonely spaces

2011-09-08T09:46:00.002+01:00

Artists Sonya Sabbagh and Jade Myrie have boarded up the front of Jade's house in Coppermill Lane. At 8pm on Saturday 3, a film was projected onto the boarded windows depicting other boarded up buildings around Walthamstow that were found in a day's trip around the borough. The film is contemplative and explores the theme of empty and boarded up houses. Helen, who saw the film said: "What a

Jason Hawkridge

2011-09-08T09:31:00.001+01:00

Jason Hawkridge is exhibiting work from a period spanning 15 years at his retrospective at Inky Cuttlefish Studios. He is also showing recent works at Vestry House. On 9 September he will be doing a drawing demonstration at Vestry House’s late night showing. 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What

A chance to bid for Francis Long's latest conceptural artwork!

2011-09-07T11:23:00.001+01:00

Last chance to join the bidding war for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHATSOEVER NIS NADA ETC... by E17 artist Francis Long (ebay item number 130571320067), auction ending Friday 18:28 pm. Is Nothing

A weekend at the People's History of the EMD/Granada Cinema exhibition

2011-09-07T10:19:00.001+01:00

The EMD Granada cinema has been a big part of the lives of so many people over the last 80 years. This exhibition captures those memories through fascinating video clips, photos, drawings and stories. Here's a report of their first weekend exhibiting on the Trail. Our first weekend was brilliant! Over our two days at the Mill, 198 people came to see the People's History. Very very pleased.

Ms Wanda's Wanders

2011-09-06T19:44:00.001+01:00

Esther Freeman of Ms. Wanda's Wardrobe fame takes a trip up Blackhorse Road and the surrounding area... Residents around Blackhorse Road tube station have greeted the arrival of the Torsaka Gallery like the Second Coming. Based on Forest Road, usually the preserve of fried chicken shops and car mechanics, the arrival of the gallery is like a little ray of sunshine. And despite there being a

Old and new spaces on the E17 Art Trail

2011-09-06T12:17:00.000+01:00

Painting by Titus Forbes Adam By Duncan Holmes The Ruby Stables secret garden is indeed a Walthamstow secret, a rampant garden grown in containers, mixed in with junk, garden furniture and antiques for sale. It isn't new, but showing art there is. As long as the rain holds off, showing oil paintings among the greenery is very effective, the colours sparkling in the sunshine. Slightly naive

Vestry House

2011-09-06T11:58:00.002+01:00

A visitor reacts to Sba Shaikh's Peacock throne From Socialist Sunday School inspired art to a throne fit for a Mughal Emperor, photos exhibited in a former prison cell to a graphic history of women in the Olympics, Vestry House Museum has quite a range of work on show. With so much under one roof, it's a good place to hide from the rain too. Visitors with bicycles can lock them to Alex

E17 Art House

2011-09-05T22:40:00.003+01:00

Section of London paste-up art that mysteriously appeared outside E17 Art House This is the second E17 Art Trail for the picture framers and gallery, E17 Art House. Opened in July 2010, E17 Art House has quickly established itself not only as a destination for bespoke Conservation framing, but also for quality affordable art by local artists, encouraging talented new artists as well as

Unusual railway bridges

2011-09-05T20:13:00.000+01:00

The rail bridges on Pretoria Avenue have been alternately transformed into an underwater world, invaded by a menagerie of animals and decorated with beautiful patterns. In 2007 children aged 3 to 11 at Stoneydown Park Primary School, led by parent and professional artist Linda Hughes, painted eight huge Network Rail bridge panels. Their art brightens up the streets.

Paintings, collages and Colonel Gaddafi at Jane Elliott's house

2011-09-05T18:22:00.001+01:00

Paulette and the screen, by Jane Elliott Life paintings from the early 1980s, work that relate to more recent news events and collages by 99 year-old (!) Walter Krauss are all on display at Jane Elliott's house. Jane did these large oil paintings in the early 1980s, shortly after completing her degree in fine art at Leeds University and higher diploma in painting at the Slade. The life

Pictorem gallery and an exciting event on Sunday 11

2011-09-05T17:19:00.001+01:00

Here's some good news and a date for your diary: although the Trail Guide says that the Pictorem gallery is closed on Sunday 11 September it is in fact OPEN, for an exciting event from noon until 4pm. Rupinder Bahra, a Mendhi artist will be painting henna designs on hands for just £2 a go and her younger sister will be selling cupcakes, all in aid of a cancer research charity. It will also be

Vintage Inspirations

2011-09-05T16:31:00.000+01:00

I am Lindsay of L&P Vintage Inspirations. P is Paul, my husband. I am a hobby dressmaker with a love of the style and design of vintage fabrics and clothes, plus the 'Make do and Mend' attitude of people following the austerity of the war years. I love to take an old piece of fabric, old coffee cup, or buttons and turn them into something useful rather than throw them away. At the Art Trail

Rachel I'Anson

2011-09-05T11:58:00.001+01:00

From Without a lens, Darkly 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. This year I am participating in EDGE at Inky Cuttlefish, where I have my darkroom; the group show at The Mill and showing a 3D piece in Lot One Ten on Hoe Street. I have also illustrated a poem by Angelena Demaria for the Poetry Trail and will be flowering prints for Art Grows on

E17 Designers Trail diary

2011-09-05T10:53:00.003+01:00

We are trailed out already by three days on the trail –Thursday night saw us at 11: Ms Wandas Pop Up Shop and Tokarska, E17 Art House, Mitre Studios, Paekakariki Press (Launch of the Poetry Trail-Poetry is the new rock and roll?) then Ye Old Rose and Crown...over 50 previews and we only made 6 (in under 2 hours with kids in towthough...) We cheated on Friday by cycling all round town with our

DAY THREE, St Mary's Church

2011-09-05T09:55:00.001+01:00

Inside St Mary's Church a big screen shows photos of well-tended graves, shaded by pomegranate trees, with bright blue skies overhead. This peaceful place is in the Gaza Strip and the photos are by Walthamstow resident Aser El Saqqa. Ever since Aser was a boy he has been curious about the cemeteries in the Gaza Strip known locally as the "English Cemeteries" because thousands of British and

DAY THREE, E17 Picture House, the Deli, Kitty Brown, Penny Fielding & Avalon

2011-09-04T22:18:00.000+01:00

A lifesize stone rabbit, who bears a striking resemblance to the star of the Trail Guide cover, sits outside the E17 Art House, whose show London you're a lady is a real treat. The gherkin is the most represented building, with a print of it on nearly every wall, but many different areas of London are shown and it's fun to spot familiar buildings. I loved Richard Roberts's Dalson Wallpaper.

DAY THREE, Justin Sidney's "Beautiful Decay" paintings

2011-09-04T21:53:00.000+01:00

Protoza, which is Latin for small organisms Following E17 photographer Simon Warren's recommendation and glowing reviews on twitter, I went to see Justin Sidney's "Beautiful Decay" paintings. Although these large squares of greens and blues may look abstract, they are borne out of keen observation. When Justin was 14 years old he got a racer bike and had a lot of flat tyres, which meant

DAY THREE, Wendy MacMillan, gold cars & soldiers

2011-09-04T21:47:00.004+01:00

The picture next to the Trail guide listing for Wendy MacMillan's innovative multimedia show is a bulldog but there are no dogs in this exhibition, you'll have to go down to Northcote road to see Fabien Ho's WOOF! for that. What drew me to this show was sound. I followed the sound of the song "if I were a rich man" to find that it plays from her family car, which she has covered in pennies

DAY THREE, Into Abstraction

2011-09-04T21:12:00.000+01:00

Peculiar shapes tessellate and colours both complement and clash in self-taught artist Richard Franzmann's expressive paintings. All the lines in the four "we are the mods" paintings line up, although Richard has hung them so that there is space between them. He uses a wonderful range of colours and his joyful experimentation with different combinations and shapes has paid off. He tells me

DAY THREE, "Don't be an artschool arsehole"

2011-09-04T20:48:00.000+01:00

I have always associated cross stitch with pricked fingers and a feeling of frustration from knotted thread that won't go through the eye of the needle. However, Kate Rolison's exhibit Literary Stitchery made me forget these memories and my prejudiced view that an embroidery exhibition would be annoyingly twee. Kate, who hails from the 'Stow and is a student at University College Falmouth, has

Art in unexpected places

2011-09-04T09:24:00.001+01:00

What happens when an artist can't find a large venue to accommodate their ambitious project? They use their family car as a venue! I really want to visit Buxton Road near venue no. 20 to see Wendy MacMillan's jazzed up car covered in coins. Inside her flat, she has works centred around a sound piece, supported by other works of a similar conceptual theme. Henry Jones, Dairyman lived here

DAY TWO, Taking Part by Image 17

2011-09-04T08:48:00.005+01:00

Photograph by Jo Sealy At Image 17's brilliant show I was amazed to see how much sport goes on in Walthamstow. Image 17 is a collective of 14 local professional photographers with a diverse range of specialisms. They have been commissioned by Waltham Forest Council to photograph a whopping 48 sporting groups within the borough, ranging from badminton in the local church hall, to fencing

A day at SABEL Saddlery & Leather Design pop-up shop

2011-09-03T22:55:00.001+01:00

By Mia Sabel What a wonderful day! Day one of my pop-up shop at Penny Fielding Beautiful Interiors in the Village and I was delighted to see so many people passing through (over 200? Hard to tell as I lost count after people were flooding in). The weather was very kind as I was on the terrace, and the other pop-up shops made for a lovely atmosphere. I had a 75 year old visitor from Wood Street

DAY TWO, cycling, the Hornbeam Centre and Helen Alveranga

2011-09-03T21:49:00.000+01:00

By Devyani Parmar I'm slightly ashamed to admit I only lasted for two hours on Mat Schmidt's great cycling tour of the Art Trail (maybe I was too ambitious and should have just done one of his bite sized tours, which are on every evening next week). However, they were a very enjoyable two hours that allowed me to rest my weary feet and see some interesting art. Pictures and more reports from

DAY TWO, St Barnabas Church

2011-09-03T20:37:00.000+01:00

I had a relaxing start to the day, with a cup of tea and a chat with Paul Tucker at the tranquil St Barnabas Church, where there is a huge range of great work on show. Paul Tucker's exhibition, "From Waterlooville to Walthamstow via Walberswick" presents images that begin at his family home and crossover to Walthamstow, where he lives now, taking in various other places from Dubai to

Inside Penny Fielding's Beautiful Interiors

2011-09-03T19:37:00.001+01:00

Here are some photographs from Penny Fielding's Beautiful Interiors, home of great art and many fantastic purchases, the Espy booklet and Arsenal sign (pictured below) to name but two! Photo courtesy of Big Chief E-Spy The bus driver on the preview tour last Thursday night drew my attention to this sign. He said he's always happy to see Walthamstow stadium.

The Secret Garden

2011-09-03T09:41:00.000+01:00

The slightly mysterious listing for The Ruby Stables, "enter the Secret Garden to discover works by various artists - and more!" meant I didn't know what to expect when I walked up Ruby Road. But I was delighted with what I found. Walking through the garden centre, with its impressive aubergine and chilli plants leads to a shop where all manner of things are piled up precariously, from chairs,

DAY ONE, Part I - Elizabeth Bainbridge, Alex Bell and Jude Stedham

2011-09-03T09:02:00.000+01:00

Recent work, by Elizabeth Bainbridge At Brad's Coffee Bar on St Mary Road there is a striking contrast between the work on display. Until you look closely, Elizabeth Bainbridge's amazing moody ink paintings of the sky look just like photographs. It would have been nice to see more of her work, only four paintings are on display. Instead, there are some very cheery, dazzlingly bright

Paris at the Arubar on Thursday night, by Big Chief E-Spy

2011-09-02T23:56:00.001+01:00

Here's a blogpost from Big Chief E-Spy about E-Spy's latest exploits. I'm slightly confused...Paris opened her private show at Arubar last night (Thursday 2) and was honoured by the presence of the Duchess of Wanstead Flats and her faithful retainer. In addition to a poetry reading, and the unveiling of Paris’s large artwork, cunningly hung on the ceiling of the bar, the occasion was to mark

Sustainable style

2011-09-02T13:24:00.000+01:00

"Victoria Beckham" Doors open today at Ms. Wanda's Wardrobe where you can check out the Sustainable Celebrity Style collection. As Esther Freeman, Creative Director at Ms Wanda's Wardrobe, says: “Now everyone can enjoy celebrity style and feel comfortable in the fact it's 100 per cent ethical and sustainable.” The gorgeous collection is available to view here on Flickr. Ms Wanda's Wardrobe

The Walthamstow Poetry Trail

2011-09-02T11:58:00.000+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "Verdana-Bold"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } At the Paekakiriki Press “Little did I know how many poets and

Preview night

2011-09-02T11:40:00.001+01:00

Mind the Gap, Alke Schmidt Last night I went on a wonderful preview tour of the Trail, taking in art in gardens, on the street and at the Quaker meeting house. First stop was Mitre Studios, where painting, printmaking, sculpture and installation is on display. Using alluring colours and decorative patterns, Alke Schmidt’s often provocative work comments on contemporary themes from local

Ceramic works by Amanda Doidge

2011-09-01T12:26:00.003+01:00

With the Art Trail about to begin (!), I am delighted to present our first guest review, by Leo Krushelnycky. I am lucky enough to live next to a ceramicist exhibiting in this year’s E17 Art Trail – venue 103. Lucky in that I have watched, over the garden fence, over the years, new work emerging from the kiln and I hope that E17 Art Trailers will also go behind the fence and enjoy her latest

There's a lot going on at Batten House

2011-09-01T12:07:00.001+01:00

Urban Dunes, a site-specific installation by Toby Poolman This Saturday Batten House is having a mini open afternoon on the lawns and we would like to invite everyone to come and maybe bring a picnic. We have sculptures, an 'Espy' hunt, huge canvases displayed outdoors, a poetry installation and poster and pizza making with The Drawing Shed. At the centre of all the events is a group of

A people's history of the EMD/ Granada Cinema

2011-09-01T11:25:00.000+01:00

Memories and hopes about our cinema jewel.As London prepares to welcome back the Olympics in this age of constant access to breaking news on the internet or TV, it’s worth remembering how the people of Walthamstow watched the last London Olympics in 1948, before having a television at home was something we took for granted.Newsreels were an important part of a trip to the pictures. Amongst

Make your mark with the E17 neighbourhood quilt

2011-09-01T11:06:00.000+01:00

Designer-maker Catherine West will be offering a series of 'plot your spot' workshops throughout the 2011 E17 Art Trail in order to complete the 'The E17 Quilt' with you the public. The completed quilt is to be the centerpiece of Art Trail listing 84 A patchwork neighborhood, next weekend. Between now and then, you are encouraged to come along to one of several of events where you can make a

Who lived in a house like this? By Danny Coope

2011-09-01T09:38:00.001+01:00

Danny Coope's work in progress We might know a little about the last family to live in our house before we moved in, but who lived there over 100 years ago? What did they do? Where were they from? I remembered that online census data would help me find out and I decided to expand my fascination with my own house to include my whole street (Grosvenor Park Road) and hit upon an Art Trail

Simon Warren, I love Walthamstow

2011-08-31T23:16:00.000+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. I will be showing a new piece of work specially shot for this year’s Trail. Following on from my 2008 piece, 'Images of Walthamstow', I have produced a new piece called 'I love Walthamstow'. I will also be showing another specially commissioned piece shot in 2005, 'Four Eyes', which was shot for my retrospective

Valerie Grove

2011-08-31T11:29:00.003+01:00

For this year's Art Trail, Valerie Grove, who created this blog in 2009, is showing her installation, Man Machine, at 26 Tennyson Road, on both weekends of the Trail, listing number 73. 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? My show is

Last minute preparations, Duncan Holmes

2011-08-30T16:54:00.001+01:00

Duncan Holmes is blogging for the E17 Art Trail in the lead-up to the Trail and his exhibition of photographs and drawings of the American Midwest, which will be on at 3 Clifton Avenue, 10-11 September. Less than a week to go, although I have another week before my show opens. Over the bank holiday I've worked on one large drawing to complement the collection of small notebook drawings, whilst

Celebrity styles to get ethical fashion make-over

2011-08-28T18:19:00.000+01:00

Celebrity styles are about to become all the more chic, with an ethical fashion make-over from sustainable fashion company, Ms. Wanda’s Wardrobe. “The rise of the fast fashion industry over recent years has had a devastating effect on the environment, as well as human rights”, says Esther Freeman, Creative Director at Ms. Wanda's Wardrobe. “While the ethical fashion movement is growing, and

Photography exhibitions

2011-08-27T18:40:00.001+01:00

No. 17, by Kitty Brown Here are a few photography exhibitions that caught my eye while leafing through the Trail guide (now available online, in shops and even as a mobile app, more info here). Click on each link to find out more about the exhibition. If I've left something out that you're particularly looking forward to, let me know by emailing E17arttrail@gmail.com. Recent photographs

Harriet Hammel, soft sculptures

2011-08-26T18:03:00.001+01:00

The Rev! Mother and soft bike, in Harriet's garage 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? This year I've made a site-specific installation for St Saviours Church porch. It's a full size soft sculpture woman priest, dressed in biker gear,

Our new young(er) blogger and what she wants to see on the Trail

2011-08-25T10:24:00.003+01:00

For the first time this year, there is a special mini-commission here on the blog for younger audiences on 'the BIG little art trail' (guide available here). I am delighted to introduce Abigail, who will be blogging with her thoughts on the Trail. Without further ado, over to her: Abigail Hi, my name is Abigail. I turned 12 last week and I go to Walthamstow School for Girls. This will be the

Field Studies in Progress

2011-08-24T17:58:00.001+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? Last and quite possibly least in the Art Trail guide is Field Study’s Man in E17, aka Julian Beere, of Lost and Found in E17 obscurity. Julian is in the process of preparing a series of actions or ‘field

E17 Designers Market

2011-08-23T12:28:00.006+01:00

Owl plate, Nadia Sparham For those with friends or relatives whose birthdays are coming up, the E17 Designers Market at the Art Trail is the perfect place to find a present. With a range of lovely bespoke items and prices ranging from starting at just one pound, you may even be tempted to buy yourself something too. For the first time this year, the Market will feature a Book-ish section of

Duncan Holmes on the Olympic Park

2011-08-22T12:12:00.000+01:00

Building blocks at Folly for a Flyover Duncan Holmes is at no. 9 in the Trail guide, exhibiting photographs and drawings of the American Midwest. He is blogging for E17 Art Trail in the lead-up to his exhibition. See his previous entries here and here. This week, he discusses how the Olympic Park is changing E17. I have absolutely no interest in sport so from that point of view the

Dr. Knit and the Knitting Laboratory

2011-08-21T18:09:00.003+01:00

Dean and Martin For the third year, Dr. Knit invites you to his extraordinary Knitting Laboratory to meet the wonderful, expressive creatures he has created with just wool and knitting needles. Accomplished high jumpers, the Wobblies 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you

Stevey Scullion

2011-08-20T10:52:00.000+01:00

11/11/11, Sketch, Stevey Scullion 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17?It was stimulated by the visual poetry of 11/11/11, for me, it was reminiscent of three sets of railway tracks, so I began working on how best

Big Chief E-Spy

2011-08-18T09:13:00.001+01:00

The E-Spy Art Trail booklet, soon available at a shop near you. 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail? We are doing a number of exciting things, some of which we’re keeping secret for now…Our main focus is our E-Spy booklet - a guide to the mysteries of E17 that people can take with them on the Trail to spot unusual things and earn points - which we

Aspects of Impression, Tayyaba Gondal

2011-08-18T08:59:00.002+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17?I enjoy different medias, watercolour, pencil sketching and drawing, my sketch book is filled with these medias but my main interest is in oil painting. I shall exhibit different moods of nature and

Significant Seams

2011-08-16T08:24:00.002+01:00

Photo courtesy of: www.madelinespokes.co.uk Wrap your kids in duct tape at Woodside Children's Centre and Catherine West’s Making Mamas Mannequin Menagerie workshop during the trail (ENTRY 91). This summer, Catherine and the Children's Centre have been holding holiday sewing workshops with vulnerable families from across E17 teaching sewing and doing sewing related activities with

Painting with a BMX bike

2011-08-15T18:41:00.002+01:00

Talented BMX riders create a giant painting by jumping, spinning and doing other impressive tricks at the Art Trail Launch. Photo by Marco D'Uva. If you have any photos from the launch that you'd like to see on the blog send them to E17arttrail@gmail.com

Michael Stanger

2011-08-14T19:20:00.003+01:00

As usual I have been painting at Cuttlefish Studios, producing a mixture of self-portraiture and colour-driven abstractions and landscapes. I use photographs or imagination to break the white surface of the canvas, but then decisions follow one from the other as the painting moves back and forth to, hopefully, a resolved painting. However, lately, my work–rate has slowed considerably and the

On your marks! The warm-up

2011-08-14T12:17:00.000+01:00

Head down to Walthamstow Town Square today to join local artists and get ready for this year’s trail. There is a full programme running from 11am - 3pm. Kit up, get your trail guide and an "espionage

With three weeks to go, Duncan Holmes prepares for the Trail

2011-08-14T12:09:00.001+01:00

In the lead-up to the Trail, Duncan Holmes is blogging about preparing for his exhibition of photographs and drawings of the American Midwest. Here's the second installment. Three weeks to go before the Art Trail opens, four until my own show opens (it's number nine on the list), but I've been hugely distracted by the riots, glued to the news whenever I was awake and not working, a bit like

Esther Neslen

2011-08-10T22:03:00.007+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? My work is called Sitting Around and it's a lifesize sculpture of two boys from my street sitting on my wall. I wanted to explore the dynamic of our street, who uses it, who observes it and who does it belong

Draw the garden

2011-08-09T13:29:00.002+01:00

Start the E17 Art Trail off creatively - be a part of it! On the first Saturday of the Art Trail, 3 September, from 11am to 3pm the Waltham Forest Arts Club is hosting an afternoon of drawing in the Vestry House Museum Gardens. Bring your or sketchbook or iPad or use the pencils and paper provided (kindly donated by Jackson's Art Supplies), find yourself a spot in the garden and draw! Come meet

Julie Caves

2011-08-07T19:28:00.002+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17?I will be participating in the Blackhorse Lane Open Studios and Silent Auction on the second weekend. I am still in the process of finishing some of the paintings I will be showing. By that weekend I should

WOOF! By Fabien Ho

2011-08-07T10:59:00.000+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17?My show this year is entitled WOOF! It is a photographic exhibition celebrating Walthamstow dogs and their owners. I came up with the idea last winter whilst walking my dog on the marshes one frosty morning

Sba Shaikh, The Personas of Mehraj, Part 2

2011-08-07T10:44:00.008+01:00

This year, one of Mehraj's personas, Bollywood actress and socialite Malekha Mehraj will be showcasing her work with an installation based on the peacock feather. 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17?“Hi guys, Malekha Mehraj here, this is my

Amanda Parker, Mosaic Artist

2011-08-04T21:37:00.002+01:00

Trout, by Amanda Parker 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. I will be exhibiting a new collection of mosaic panels at Images in Frames, one of the E17 Art Trail Sponsors.Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? I adopted the theme of "Gold, Silver and Bronze" within my collection. Surely a winning formula!What impact do you think the

Matilda Bevan

2011-08-03T22:18:00.001+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? This is the beginning of a painting on seven boards which is about a particular valley and village in Southern Spain called Al Monaster, nothing to do with the Olympics I am afraid! The finished

The challenges of preparing for a Trail Exhibition, by Duncan Holmes

2011-08-03T10:14:00.000+01:00

Just four weeks to go, and I have done precisely nothing. According to the Trail Guide, which cannot now be changed, I'm exhibiting photographs and drawings of the American Midwest. I do have plenty of photos to draw upon, taken over a number of years of regular visits, but no logical framework, not what you'd call a story to pin them to. What I've been trying to capture in photographs is

The duck that got stuck, Yanire Sylva Delgado

2011-07-31T18:16:00.002+01:00

This is illustrator and engraver Yanire Sylva Delgado’s first E17 Art Trail. Delgado will be reading from her new foldable children’s book, “The duck that got stuck”, which is written in rhyme. There are two versions of the book, one in English and one in Spanish. 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail? Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”

Walthamstow Unofficial Tourist Board, by Warpdog

2011-07-29T15:18:00.001+01:00

Mattresses of Walthamstow, Warpdog's latest work, with music by This Sporting Life 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? I will be showing a collection of photos taken of Walthamstow over the past year. I don’t think the Olympics will

Gerald O'Connell, Flux Aeterna

2011-07-28T14:40:00.001+01:00

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? Flux Aeterna is an ongoing artwork that currently comprises 98 abstract acrylic ink drawings each 20 inches by 16 inches. That's 217 square feet and growing. I started work on it in 1990, and I'm still

The Forest Painters

2011-07-28T14:28:00.000+01:00

Ancient House from St Mary's Graveyard, Alison Brown The Forest Painters, Shirley Watson, Linda Smith and Alison Brown, enjoy painting Walthamstow's varied local landscapes in Lisa Ivory’s art classes. Over the past two summers they have spent every Wednesday morning painting with Lisa in different beautiful sites in and around Walthamstow. In the winter , Lisa's classes are held weekly

ArtWorks Open, deadline for submissions 30 July!

2011-07-28T14:02:00.001+01:00

This year’s ArtWorks Open has been scheduled to run throughout the E17 Art Trail. The show, now in it’s third year, is growing in reputation as a showcase for painters, printmakers and photographers. The exhibition is selected by artists who have proven track records both as practicing artists, in the field of education and as cultural innovators. This year’s panel is Graham Crowley, former

Sandie M Sutton

2011-07-27T17:36:00.001+01:00

Eagle, Sandie M Sutton 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. Did you respond to this year’s theme “On Your Marks”? What impact do you think the Olympics will have on E17? The work I'm showing this year is part of my Art For Wildlife series. I've made a number of sculptures using reclaimed materials, picked up locally, creating art pieces that

Really Amazing Women (RAW)

2011-07-27T10:13:00.000+01:00

A painting by Shirley, one of the Really Amazing Women exhibiting at the Rio Cafe Really Amazing Women (RAW) are a group of committed amateur artists, who meet once a week to paint, explore and support each other. Six very different people, united by art, RAW artists paint together. Whilst being very experienced, the name RAW evokes ideas of instinctiveness and responding to emotion and the

Tam Joseph

2011-07-26T15:35:00.002+01:00

"Mr. Frog has the last laugh", Oil paint on gesso and MDF, Tam Joseph, 2011. Photographer: Hal Satterthwaite 1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2011 E17 Art Trail. I will be showing my painting "Mr. Frog has the last laugh". It is a painting in oils inspired by Lucas Cranach and call girls' cards. 2. What challenges (if any) did you face in realising this work?

Welcome to the E17 Art Trail 2011 blog!

2011-07-21T17:39:00.005+01:00

Hello, my name is Susannah and I am delighted to welcome you to the official blog of the E17 Art Trail 2011. 2011 marks the 7th anniversary of the Trail and this year there will be a grand total of 300 free exhibitions and events in 160 venues all across Walthamstow. This blog hopes to document the art trail and guide you through it. Here you will find previews, interviews, artist diaries

Calling all artists participating in the E17 Art Trail

2011-07-21T10:08:00.008+01:00

This blog would like to give a taster of what to expect from the trail with previews and interviews that create a sense of the preparation of artwork, projects and events before they are presented in their final form in September. In order to do this it would be great if artists participating in this year’s Trail could answer the short questionnaire below and send in a few images of work in

Thank you

2011-07-05T11:35:00.013+01:00

Thank you to everyone who applied to take over the blog this year. There were some great ideas in your applications and several we very much hope will take off as new E17 projects in their own right. As soon as any of you are up and running let us know at E17ArtTrail@gmail.com and we will link you to the blog. We would also LOVE IT if you could write guest posts about your projects for the blog

WANTED - Blogger for the E17 Art Trail 2011

2011-06-07T09:39:00.000+01:00

For this year's trail we need a dedicated someone to take over the blog. In 2009 an Arts Council Grant awarded to Valerie Grove meant that the blog could be created. In that first year the focus was on previews, artist interviews and daily reviews that covered a whopping 70% of the whole event. In 2010 there was no budget so the blog was reliant on artists submitting their own previews and

The view from two wheels...

2010-09-16T15:26:00.000+01:00

CYCLING THE TRAIL Hi once and future trail blazers, greetings from Waltham Forest Cyclists. And a big thanks! We’ve run a few rides at this year’s Art Trail and much as we aimed to accommodate the Art Trail, it looks like the Art Trail accommodated us more. You know how it is. You cycle around and all you see is potholes and rubbish and arrogant drivers. Walthamstow. Just get me to the Marshes,

End of the Trail 2010 ...

2010-09-14T10:33:00.002+01:00

The 2010 E17 Art Trail ended on Sunday 12th and I actually managed to get out for the last day!! I really missed it this year especially after the total and very enjoyable immersion I managed for the blog last year. I missed being so immersed in that sense of community as well. It is so strong when you get out there and start walking around the Trail. Although I only had two days on the Trail

LAST DAY V

2010-09-13T10:18:00.000+01:00

Elizabeth Willis GRAFFITI GROTTO .... ARTIST(S) BLOG - http://blogtopus.tumblr.com/

LAST DAY IV

2010-09-13T10:11:00.003+01:00

St Barnabas Church

Last Day III

2010-09-13T10:07:00.000+01:00

DAVID SULLIVAN AT THE VICTORIA