Whether leaving it in a public place or passing it on to a friend, BookCrossing is the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then in turn do likewise. This unique method of recycling books draws timely attention to the democracy of reading and the book as object.

On 6 March 2010, as part of BIBLIOLOGY and kindly sponsored by Penguin Books, forty new books will be released into the neighbourhood of Golden Lane Estate. Each book has been registered on the BookCrossing website and contains its own unique tracking number which when entered online allows the movement of the book from person to person to be tracked.

Individuals are welcome to meet at EXHIBIT gallery and bring along a book of their own to be released or swapped with an existing book found on the estate. These will be registered online at EXHIBIT and receive their own tracking number, allowing you and subsequent readers to track the book’s journey from person to person, place to place.

After the BookCrossing you are invited to return to the gallery for refreshments and a chance to meet the artist and hear invited artists, writers and photographers talk about the importance of books in their lives.

26 February - 20 March 2010

In the third exhibition of the SUPER ESTATE PROJECTS, British artist, Kathryn Faulkner, extends her body of work on reading to produce a series of photographs that highlight the role of books in Golden Lane Estate. The estate is comprised of nine residential blocks, each with a dynamic demographic of people. Many have lived there since the estate opened alongside more recent residents, including those who work in the creative industries as designers, architects, artists, writers and academics - all attracted by the unique and varied characteristics of the estate.

During her residency at EXHIBIT, Faulkner has visited numerous residents and observed how they live with books. Drawn to the intimate scale of the living spaces, she has engaged in conversations about individual experiences with books. Faulkner captures moments that represent personal relationships with reading and with the book as object. Whilst the flats are all architecturally similar, the occupants have customized each interior, focusing on their individuality through book collection and display. On one hand, Bibliology at Golden Lane Estate distills the diversity of approaches; and on the other, emphasizes the idiosyncratic ways in which residents furnish their homes.

Concentrating on the book as object, the still lives draw attention to the collecting impulse that is evident in many homes. Whether a stack of favorite books, or books yet to be read, they speak of serious intent and a desire for self-improvement and new experience. The larger views of storage systems – bookcases, staircases – show how often books can furnish a home and reveal the owner’s history, interests and bias. A series of colour pinhole photographs of residents reading in their favorite spot are projected in the enclosed space downstairs and allude to the absorbing nature of reading; the ephemeral presence of the reader in their space, and the inevitable passing of time.

Shot on medium format film and traditionally hand printed full frame, Faulkner consciously chose a methodology in keeping with Modernism’s ‘truth to materials’ ethos. Reading is a democratic and universal activity, be it for knowledge and pleasure or work, and this snapshot of literary life on Golden Lane Estate proves that despite the rise of electronic publishing, the book still holds its place in the affections of the people who live there.

“A concern for a contained image, one in which all the elements are balanced, means that my photographs are not straight documentary reflections.

SPECIAL EVENT: BOOK CROSSING
Saturday 6th March 2010 at 2pm

Book crossing is the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise after they have read the book. The finder identifies the book by registering its unique number at www.bookcrossing.com and so the book can be tracked in its future journeys across the world. Bring along a book of your own to release into the wilds of Golden Lane Estate and help make the whole world a library.

This exhibition is kindly sponsored by Penguin Books and Bayeux Ltd.

Despite the chilling weather in the morning, the tea gathering is warm and brings the participants closer together, sharing little things of life and memories of the past glory. The exhibition received huge success and response from the local community and press that has undoubtly encouraged us to extend the project for the Golden Lane Archive and The Super Estate.

Patricia and we are also very pleased that by demonstrating this work in progress, the project has attracted a further large group of original residents to line up and participate in contributing the archive.

We are so excited and already looking forward to the next Golden collection!

22 Janury - 19 February 2010

Since the 1940’s, government and councils treated housing as a problem that needed to be fixed quickly, rather than viewing it as a chance to create an inspired foundation within a healthy and equal society. In such an era of challenge, the rise of the local authority housing, or council estate, seemed to be the answer to their problems. Over time, however, most were to reveal the consequences of such hurried and ill-conceived planning.

Throughout Britain, council estates are often portrayed as places to be feared, or the very source of social ills - from gang culture, high unemployment, and relentless petty stupidity to anti-social behavior. British painter Anthony McCorry proposes that such stigma should be reassessed; and that with a deeper appreciation of the complexity of life and conditions, living on council estates can be rewarding, rather than miserable.

Anthony McCorry was born in Birmingham in 1963, where he spent his childhood in the Chelmsley Wood area of Birmingham, at the time the largest area of social housing in Europe. After graduating from the University of Sunderland with a BA (Hons.) in Fine Art, and completing an MA Fine Art at Coventry University, McCorry spent many years focusing his work on built environments and exploring the theme of social housing through painting. During excursions made to other British towns in the 1980’s as a football supporter, McCorry confronted a number of unsettling landscapes, which reinforced his unique observations and recurring memories of living in Chelmsley Wood. Since then, he has captured whatever triggers his consciousness and compulsions, using photography, brushes and paint. In his work, shut-down pubs, run-down structures and uncanny vistas, all display a disquieting quality about decay and alienation. McCorry idealizes the actuality, shuns the conspicuous, and subtly turns everything into a world of meditation.

In 2001, McCorry received a Creative Ambition Award from West Midland Arts and the encouragement resulted in his biggest and most ambiguous project yet - “British Estates.” This involved documenting specific areas of social housing in and around major British cities. The project has continued to develop, as has his style and approach. During his 6 months artist-in-residency at EXHIBIT, McCorry has extended his artistic manifesto to challenge long-held preconceptions. Influenced by the unique environment and the supportive community, the dream-like quality of the new series of work will expose the artist’s own emotional response to a reality he once ceased to believe in.

“Things as they ought to be” will display 5 completed paintings and 1 in-progress installation with images captured by the residents and McCorry together. During his residency at EXHIBIT, McCorry has always had an on-going interest in the Golden Lane Community Club, and has constant dialogue with the participating residents. It is his hope that by engaging as many residents as possible to collaborate in his process, their emotional viewpoint about living on the estate will be brought closer to the observer.

They have all worked around the theme of rabbits and hares, expressing themselves through photography, illustration, painting, sculpture, installation and videos.

The theme of the rabbit has been chosen for its playfulness as well as its establishment in mythology, symbolism and the History of Arts. As a symbol of luck, of the ambivalent, of procreation, of lust, of witchcraft and more, rabbits, source of inspiration for the participants of the show, have generated a diverse ensemble of works, from symbolic inspiration to figurative pieces of work.

The event will bring people together with work conceptual but nevertheless entertaining, inviting the audience to participate. The Bunny Show Committee believes that art is for everybody to understand and interact. With a vast and mixed network The Bunny Show will be a multicultural event, thanks to the different nationalities of the artists and the curators. The Bunny Show is already being advertised by street performances events, trailers and a rabbit moped to encourage people to join in.

Less than a decade and a half after the end of the Second World War, the renowned Golden Lane Estate opened its doors to its first excited residents.

It was built in a part of the City of London virtually destroyed by the Blitz, heralded its arrival with colour and angularity, and an array of optimistic and modernist influences previously unseen by the bomb-ravaged capital and its inhabitants. It presented a new concept in modern, urban living - a far cry from the earlier years of rationing and hardship – and would fit in perfectly with the change and forward-thinking that the coming swinging decade was to bring.

The first residents arrived with spouses, with families, and with a multitude of professions. Everything was ahead. Many already worked in the area – often junior doctors or nurses from St Bart’s hospital – others were accountants, geologists, lawyers; there was an heir to a baronet, and also a man who turned out to be a Hollywood film director! Everyone had a part to play in the renaissance of the area. And as the years passed, so families grew and changed, often moving to other flats within the estate more suited to their varying needs; thus creating a harmonious long-term resident base that helped the estate evolve into the successful community it still remains.

These residents unknowingly became pioneers in this new urban utopia, and fifty years on many of them are still living on the estate. This is the story we are telling.

The Golden Oldies exhibition follows 9 of these residents, most of whom have lived on the estate since its advent.

Throughout 2009, resident and photographer Patricia Niven, in conjunction with EXHIBIT, has documented these residents in a series of intimate and affecting images. This body of work will form part of EXHIBIT’s on-going initiative, Golden Lane Archive. Aside from being an important historical record, these images offer the viewer an insight into the sitter’s character – from who they were the day they collected their keys, to who they have become today. Gentle, yet thought-provoking, these portraits aim to depict the unique journeys they each have taken.

Patricia Niven has always had an ongoing interest in the stories and lives of the older generation, and has been documenting Golden Lane community events throughout the year. It is her ability to find beauty in the everyday that offers a wider perspective in the way we look at our neighbourhoods and of course, our neighbours.

Sarah Winman

With special thanks to Daphne Jones

Image credit: 1st residents in Cuthbert Harrowing
(Mr. Cuthbert Harrowing with baby)
Contributed by: Doris McGovern

Want to create your own art works, paint a surprise Christmas present for your loved one or just come along to meet an eclectic mix of people from different organisations and have some FUN? Paint anything you want! Our painting evenings are open to anyone with an artistic license!!

Social Painting Nights with Artist Anthony McCorry at EXHIBIT Gallery. Fundraising and Art-jamming events for the SUPER ESTATE Art Project at the Golden Lane Estate, EC1 London.

Between 5 - 26 Nov 2009, established painter Anthony McCorry will transform EXHIBIT Gallery into his studio in order to capture the amazing vista of the Golden Lane Estate. At the same time Tony will host four social painting nights, inviting residents and estate-admirers alike to muse on our architectural heritage, talk, drink and of course paint. ‘British Social Housing’ is the core theme of McCorry’s paintings and his work featured in the 2007 publication, ESTATE, by Lynsey Hanley. This vivid and poignant book examines social housing design and the real lives of its inhabitants.

Dates:
5th, 12th, 19th and 26th Nov. 7pm-10pm

Fee: £25. Children FREE. Includes canvas and materials. Wine and nibbles.
To book, please email to info@exhibit-goldenlane.com

Guests are welcome to take their paintings home or leave them for auction: all fee and fundraising goes towards Tony’s current community arts project on the Golden Lane Estate.

The exhibition starts from 27 Oct to 9 Nov 2009. Other exhibitors include SOHO China with Zaha Hadid and AUDI.

About the Exhibition

In the wave of global economic integration, Modern Design is playing an increasingly important role in facilitating the development of the economy. It is in this context that Design Innovating Economy becomes a theme of the Icograda World Design Congress 2009 Beijing the 1st Beijing Design Week, which explores the strategy of Modern Design fostering the economic transformation of China, in contribution to the construction of an innovative country.

As part of this spectacular event, the Central Academy of Fine Arts took the lead in organising at the National Art Museum of China the 2nd National Art Design Exhibition – Design as Productive Force, a Special Exhibition of Icograda World Design Congress 2009 Beijing. The exhibition seeks to convey the ideas of Design as the Second Engine and Design as Productive Force in an artistic manner, thereby leading a wave of design innovating the economy.

16-21 October 2009

Another lighting challenge given by 2 British artists, Sarah Douglas and Marenka Gabeler, was an exhibition in a 18th century Huguenot house lived in by renowned architectural historian, author and TV presenter, Dan Cruickshank, in Spitalfields.

Made up of paintings, drawings and objects, the installation explores how the personal and emotional significance we ascribe to certain inanimate objects or images allows them to transcend their ordinary physical make-up, becoming sacred, or other.

In order to incorporate light and accentuate the art works with a very tight budget, and given no surface of this highly regarded 18th century domestic living room can be touch with additional nails or screws, all lighting equipment are required to be very discreet and carefully placed with minimal physical & visual impact and distraction to the art work and the space. On one hand, light as a tool to help the viewers exploring and identifying the paintings merged with the existing domestic objects. On the other hand it creates another layer that harmoniously coexist with the existing surrealistic settings, which is the Cruickshank deco filled with candles, to enhance the unusual vivid atmosphere as the stage for this psychedelic installation.

Inhabitants forms one stop along a route of shows and events taking place in Spitalfields to coincide with Zoo Art Fair, which is this year located in the liberty of Norton Folgate, between Spitalfieds and Shoreditch. Visitors to the fair will be able to continue their art viewing as well as explore other hidden gems from the local area by following the purpose designed map, ‘A Spitalfields Walk’. Made in association with Zoo and other participating spaces, the map details all related events and will be available at the fair.

Marenka Gabeler and Sarah Douglas are both recent graduates from the painting MA at the Royal College of Art. Their work has been widely exhibited and collected. Inhabitants is their first collaborative project.

The private view will take place on Wednesday 15 October from 7-10pm, and exhibition will run from 16–21 October 2009. It will be open daily from 12pm – 8pm, or by appointment.

For further information, please contact marenkagabeler@yahoo.co.uk or sarah.douglas@network.rca.ac.uk

8 October - 8 November 2009

We are commissioned by British artist, Conrad Shawcross, as lighting consultant to collaborate in his project, Chord, to create a lighting idea that can meet the challenge of the venue for his giant, site specific, mechanical installation in the Kingsway Tram Subway, Holborn in October 2009.

This vast underground tunnel is a remarkable and fascinating survivor of London’s tramway heritage which has been closed for public use since 1952.

Chord is Conrad Shawcross most ambitious and complex work to date. Conceived specifically for the long subway, the artist has built two identical rope machines that will weave a thick hawser from 324 spools of coloured string.

The machines will begin back to back in the centre of the space and then gradually move away from each other slowly down the subway following the old tram tracks. Like two huge spiders, they will slowly weave their rope behind them as they slowly travel through the space over the course of the exhibition.

With the magnificent depth and darkness of the tunnel casting a gloom over the exhibit, the Chord under the play of light subtly reveals the weaving dynamic of the palatte ropes. With theatrically illumination from the ceiling upon the work with high contrast and modelling, the viewer is drawn into the textural movement of time and follow the flow of the machines into the deep end of the void.