YARN BOMBING..

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

...I know I'd never heard of it either. It involves wrapping crocheted pieces of wool around objects in this case trees. 

It's all part of the wonderful Wanstead Art Trail and this particular yarn bombing event was the brainchild of Syd from the pet shop in the High Street. Click on this link to see how she wrapped a bicycle it's brilliant...whatever next though..

FIRST DAY WANSTEAD...

...Fringe and Art Trail or Art Trail and Fringe whichever way round you prefer. Despite a little dampness in the morning it was a great day, I only wish I'd had time to get round everything. 

Below our Gallery at 84 Nightingale Lane, as you can see the pictures that had previously been turned to the wall for secrecy have now been revealed. On the left wall is a selection of black and white portraits of sports personalities from my magazine work. On the right wall are six black and white pictures by Helen that she took recently in New York and they are fab. We also on that wall have 3 multimedia pieces by Agnes B and two fantastic lino cuts by Alison Ball who was exhibitied at this years Royal Academy summer show, in itself no mean feat..

Our craft workshops were a big success, they ended up running nearly all day, they were a lot of fun and Lyn and Danielle demonstrated some very clever techniques. Don't forget we have lots more this month, you can find them all at Craft Boutique 84..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved 

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

There was also the Wanstead Fringe Jumble Trail and there were bargains to be had, the rain stopped just in time thankfully. The picture below shows a stall in front of a house in Cowley Road, my friend Mark and his wife even provided  homemade cup cakes and lemonade on their Stall in Grosvenor Road...as I'm always saying dont'ya just love Wanstead..

   World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

and finally and probably the piece de resistance.....Syd from the pet shop in the High Street crocheted around an entire bicycle, that really deserves a round of applause. And that  is just the first day...

   World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

IT'S ALMOST THAT TIME OF YEAR...

....in just a few weeks as we slip into September there will be the amazing Wanstead Fringe and the equally amazing Wanstead Art Trail they both begin on September the 5th. There will be Kinema, see the picture below, readings, art in shops and offices in fact a whole extravaganza.... And of course at 'eightyfour' we will not be left out of the fun, there will be craft workshops and demo's, photography walks, a photography exhibition...phew, were do I get all the energy...

   World © Geoff Wilkinson -All rights reserved

...and again this year - Homefront - check out the details below, it's a splendid chance for everyone to get involved...

Make your home
a work of art

Wanstead residents are invited to make their front gardens, or front windows, into works of art this summer. For the second year running, Bairstow Eves Lettings is sponsoring the HomeFront element of Art Trail Wanstead, and is offering a first prize worth £100 and two runner-up prizes worth £25.
This year's guide theme, We Are the Environment, lends itself to a green theme.  But most importantly,  individuals, couples, families, or even children on their own, should just enjoy making art over this summer, to embellish their home - and make our streets more interesting.
Work should remain on show at least from 5th-20th September.

There is no fee, and you will be able to post us photos of your entry.  To get involved go to www.artgroupwanstead.com

Extra info:

 Last year, bendy characters - made by Leading Our Lives children - popped up all over Wanstead, while the Over The Top sandbag installation, recalling WWI,  stopped Redbridge Lane West passersby in their tracks. But whether you enjoy birdhouse building or pebble mosaic, or are happy to show some of your own artwork in your windows, do take part.

ON DISPLAY..

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

The Wanstead Art Trail is long over, this piece of work however is still on display on the fence of Wanstead Church School on the High Street. It was done by pupils attending the after school Art-works class, do look out for it as you pass by. 

HANDBAGS...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

I love these handbags. We have them on show at the Gallery as part of The Wanstead Art Trail, they are the work of local artist Jola Spytkowska. The amazing thing is all these wonderful bags with such great faces are ceramic, they really are worth seeing. I prefer the picture above with the 'floating' shadows on the wall however, you can  see a more conventional view below. At the bottom of the page you can see Jola's biography.

                        World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Jola's bio:

I first studied for a Diploma in Ceramics at Braintree College which then led me to Goldsmiths College London where I gained a Post Graduate degree.

I currently work in 3 areas: my studio work, teaching and public and private commissions

I design and handbuild figures and beasts by slab building.  These are one offs and some limited editions and I sell my work through galleries, exhibitions and craft fairs.

My work is figurative.  I look for human and animal personalities in the everyday objects around me.  Through drawing I explore the images I have collected in my memory or with a camera or the objects I have found in a scrapyard, a kitchen or a tool shed.  I find that there is many a creature waiting to emerge from some of these objects  Looking at an old tape measure I might suddenly see a friendly dog looking back at me.  A round metal jug can have the potential for a bird- like creature.

Lately I have realised that handbags have personalities too!

From an early age portraits in pencil led to drawings of heads combined with mechanical elements 'Heath Robinson' fashion and were early hints of my later fascination with the ' mechanics' of objects.  A passion for scrap yards followed with photography focusing on the beauty of discarded materials with rich powers of association.  Collecting junk trained my eye to perceiving the potential human and /or animal element within the objects and drawing became the key to releasing them.

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED..

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I have to admit to doing a double take at the weekend. It's not every day you see a giant dove travelling along the High Street, I did wonder if I have had to many espressos before lunch. It was of course artist Anna Bisset delivering her willow 'Peace Dove' to the art installation at Wanstead Station. I posted a story about it yesterday, it is part of The Wanstead Art Trail. The second surprise was to find this totem pole made of tyres in the garage in Wellington Road. As this years Art Trail's theme is 'Make Art not War' it seemed appropriate the figure painted on the tyres was a World War 1 soldier. Well done all round.

                             World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

DAY ONE, IT'S ALL HAPPENING...

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

Well day one is over and the Wanstead Fringe and The Wanstead Art Trail is well under way. It's been fantastic, at our Gallery, 'eightyfour', we have had a great day of craft workshops plus a photography walk. I took the picture above at an open air screening of the Lego movie, part The Fringe programme, in the grounds of Christ Church, it was a full house with 200 tickets sold. In the afternoon I went along to Wanstead tube station where members of the Art Trail were hard at work. There was a fantastic peace dove made from willow, the work of artist Anna Bisset having the final touches in the form of feathers added to it. There is lots going on at the station art wise so do take a look on your way to work this the week.

    World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

     World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

2) ANOTHER DAY CLOSER...

                 World © Geoff Wilkinson - All rights reserved

..to the Saturday 6th September,  the start of The Wanstead Fringe and of course The Wanstead Art Trail. We have lots going on during both so please check our Art Trail and Fringe pages at the top of this page for all the information.

On Sunday the 7th starting at 11am we have Sarie Miel with us for the day.  You may have seen Sarie's beautiful jewellery on display in our gallery, 'eightyfour'. Sarie will be bringing her workbench and tools to demonstrate how she produces her jewellery. We will also of course be having our own craft work shops all day, so plenty to see and something of interest for every one. Plus,  don't forget today we are having our river Roding photo walk, bring a camera or a camera phone and enjoy the walk.

1) COUNTDOWN TO THE FRINGE AND WANSTEAD ART TRAIL..

If you have ever harboured a desire to be able to draw, or perhaps you are have just started and want to advance your skills then read on. On Sunday 12th September Wanstead artist Wendy D’Souza Daniels will be conducting a two hour drawing workshop at ‘eightyfour’ in Nightingale Lane as part of The Wanstead Art Trail. 

The aim of this drawing workshop is to provide an opportunity to develop mark making and drawing skills. There will be a short demonstration, with participants being given personal guidance with approaches and techniques. Wendy’s expertise is to encourage a love and appreciation of art and particularly helping people discover and grow their skills.

This is an opportunity for beginners or those with some experience.

Pencils and materials provided. Bring your own sketchbook if you wish. 8 people max.

This workshop will be held at ‘eightyfour’, 84 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, London E11 0208 530 1244. Sunday 12th September 1pm till 3pm the cost is £8:00

A little about Wendy:

Wendy is a London-based practicing artist with over 25 years experience, having worked in child and adult education until 2012.

She studied Medway College of Art and Design, as well as Christ Church College and Sir John Cass School of Art. A qualified designer, enameller, silversmith as well as working in acrylics and watercolours. Her work has been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Goldsmith's Hall. She undertakes private commissions having sold work internationally. She has a large mural still on display, that was produced for Arts Olympiad in 2012. 

The diversity in the work stems from her early days as an illustrator. However there is a continued sense of life and change in the artwork. Ideas for the work are based on nature and the environment around her; colour line and fluid forms are integral to the work especially painting and working in precious metal. 

Wendy has been working on a variety of her own personal projects and private commissions.

*Check out The Fringe page at the top for a list of my photo walks during The Fringe, any camera will do, just come along and enjoy!