Islington Exhibits

Posted 5 August.

The first thing I did on the 17th was go to exhibit of the Hargrave Primary school in Archway . This exhibition is called the Eco Art house Project. It is about building new homes using recycled materials. There were 2 local artists who helped the children as well as a couple of local volunteers. What was great about the exhibition was the range of ideas the children had about what a home should look like.

I did participate on the organised walk. That walk took in about 5 artists that were showing work around Finsbury Park area. The artists who work we saw were Leo Asemota, Julie Shrive, Olivier Garbay, Jason Sumray, and Irma Israra.

Leo Asemota focused his exhibit on murder witness appeal signs and how that questioned with identity and public perception of the area the signs were from. Very thought provoking and interesting to see how different reactions were to the signs. His work is on 210 Hornsey Road.

Julie Shrive documented the changes of Kings Cross over the years. Photos of those changes can been seen at the Chaps and Dames hairdressers on Tollington Park rd. It's very good photography and a good display.

Jason Sumray is a painter and held an open studio that weekend. This is useful to see how an artist actually works which is something most people don't see every day if it is not part of their lives. Jason was great in answering questions and telling the group about how he got the space and the history of the building. His work is centred around dark colours and images that bring about the slowness and stillness amongst active people and settings.

The last artist we visited was Irma Israra. She held an open studio as well. Her work was impressive in the production and colours she uses. She stretches cotton paper pulp into long sections. She colours the paper by using home plant dyes in her home. The paper is then cut into sections and layered on to each other to make the geometrical shapes that are the final piece. .

Posted 5 August

The group started off with a visit to Par Cafe to see the works of Elaine Johnson. She showed 7 pieces of work that was mainly ink on tracing paper. It was interesting to hear how her work used hair as a medium. Delicate and feminine and a touch ethereal was how it came across.

The second venue we went to was Craft Central to visit Ulrika Byagge who did a number of prints including the one above. This is one of my favourites with its quirky framing and potential narrative to it.

Next up was the Modern Pantry to see Vanessa Short's photography on local tower blocks. Unfortunately we could not go in as there was a private function taking place.

As we walked along a beautiful day in the summer sun we headed up to Kings Cross to look at Lee Gascoigne's work which is an interesting take on love identity and reusing materials.

We went to the last venue Candid Arts to see Ahmed Farooqui work of geometric sculpture which was part of a group show. His work was quite interesting in that you know that you liked but not 100% certain why.

All in all it was great to see such a diverse range of art in the borough. Art is certainly alive and supported very well in the borough. What was nice to know is that smaller venues like hair dressers and cafes are quite willing to help artists put on shows. Hopefully I will get to show my work at one of these venues next summer.

Posted 5 August.

These are some quotes from public members when asked what did they thought was valuable about Islington Exhibits:

“The variation in styles means you'll always find something you like, something that inspire you…also that they're local & accessible…nice to have something lovely & exciting/inspiring just on your door step!”

“It helps artist to explore themselves freely. And gives opportunity to the youths of today to gain experience.”

“Community feel, finding out about new forms of art, diversity, positive ideas” “Today I saw parts of Islington I had never been to before and I have lived here all my life!”

“It was good to see artwork in an unusual/unexpected setting. Introduced me to artists/art I wouldn't usually see.”

Posted 5 August

An unusual showcase was displayed on the flights of stairs of Leroy House. As I went up the stairs, several pictures revealed themselves around each curve of the staircase in an array of colours and styles, from paintings to prints. Artwork was done by Sinead Geary, Hayley Harrison, Nicola Pomery and Vaia Pazaina.

By Selina Moses Photo by Anna Fons

Posted 5 August

With the appropriate theme of water in mind, several artists displayed their work in the upper level of the museum. Kevin Newark, Myka Baum and Heidi Kayla each created a variety of different and stylised images while Teresa Eng played a video and Nick Smith made use of a wooden plank and plastic boxes to achieve his objective.

By Selina Moses Photo by Conrad Williams

Posted 5 August

Artist Julie Shrive uses the words of French philosopher Roland Barthes to inspire her artwork: ‘I am rapidly becoming a spectre.’ The ghost-like presence of her Scape Collection, which captures bleak urban spaces, often in monotone, reflects the feeling that humanity might be fading away. Humans are rarely present in her pictures, and when they do make an appearance they are blurred and out of the foreground.
Shrive blends art, identity and the human relationship to the state in her photographs, which are currently on display at Chaps and Dames Unisex Hairdresser and Vintage Shop, 154 Tollington Park. The Scape Collection depicts various areas of London, where Shrive has lived for a number of years. Themes include regeneration and the dream concept, alongside the changing role of the state in people’s lives as they grow older. The impression and abstract feeling offered by the photographs is more important than what they actually capture –often the rooves of houses against the sky, broken glass windows or fence posts. Some of Shrive’s work remains in photographic form, whilst some has been translated onto canvas. It frames the wall opposite the entrance door at Chaps and Dames, ensuring that customers and clients will see it as they walk inside. Paul Federici has been running Chaps and Dames for five and a half years and is happy to be contacted over exhibition of other artworks. For the past three and a half years he has exhibited work from local artists in his shop. Singers and acoustic musicians are also offered a platform for their performance at Chaps and Dames, and an event was held on the evening of Friday 15th July that saw a performance from London musician Glenn Hodge. Interested musicians should contact Federici at Chaps and Dames. Julie Shrive was born in Kingswood, Surrey, in 1946 and after working as a teacher took a BA in Camberwell, graduating in 2001. In 2003 she completed an MA in sculpture at Middlesex University. The ‘Scape Collection’ has been on display in Chaps and Dames for around three weeks and will remain in place for some time. The photographs are available to buy, priced between £25 and £50.

Paul Federici can be contacted at Chaps and Dames, 020 7561 9181.

Photo by Lucy Aplin

Posted 5 August.

The Old Fire Station on Mayton Street saw an eclectic range of performances taking place on the afternoon of Saturday 16th July, the second afternoon of North Islington Exhibits.

The afternoon’s performances began with a political spoof of the past year’s newspaper headlines from performance artists Sh!t Theatre, made up of the ‘half barber shop quartet’ of Rebecca Fuller and Louise Mothersole. ‘Sh!t Theatre Presents Sh!t Bits’ included satirical swipes at the controversial Fox News network and the meat dress worn by Lady Gaga at the MTV Video Music Awards in September last year. A spoof version of Gaga’s hit Bad Romance included the lyrics ‘I want your dress, but I want it meat-free’. High street chain Primark was also on the performers’ hit list, with a mock news bulletin revealing the company’s new ‘ethical’ campaign, in which customers could ‘sponsor the baby who made this t-shirt’ –receiving a picture of the baby who had made the t-shirt imprinted onto the garment. The spate of foxes finding their way into people’s houses and the way the media portrayed them as dangerous was played upon, with the animals becoming a metaphor for everything that right wing news agencies disagree with: ‘They have aids! They want to marry each other!’ was a repeated line of the song, making a clear political point against newspapers that sensationalise these kinds of stories. A song based on the breast milk that was for sale in Covent Garden was also performed, encouraging the audience to buy ‘Mile End’s MILF Milk’, the value for money version, instead of trekking all the way to the overpriced West End.

The second and third performances were from the Marisa Carnesky Cabaret Collective, made up of Dunja Kuhn and Sara Debevec. ‘Hawaiian Blood’ was the first piece, devised by Kuhn, and began with her dancing in a traditional grass skirt before drinking from a coconut and spilling what seemed to be blood all over herself. A nightmare-like vision ensued, with Kuhn smiling as she smeared the blood across her chest. The disturbing visual continued with the emergence of Debevec, dressed in a square, white body costume, and the ensuing close bodily interaction between the performers.

The final performance of the afternoon, entitled ‘Dali’s Eye’, saw Sara Debevec dressed as a literal ‘eye’ –lamenting the notion that it could only ever belong to someone else and thus never be recognised for itself. Dali, the eye made clear as it became angrier, raging at the sleeping artist on the floor (Kuhn, hidden underneath a blanket), would be nothing without his eye. The existentialist piece came to a close with a self destructive vision of the eye wishing cancer upon itself, in order to destroy the artist that it had no other way to escape from.

Photo by Anna Fons

Posted 4 August

Elaine Johnson - at Par Cafe (ends 19 August)

Familiar Strangers - around Highbury & Islington Station (ends 15 August)

Into You Collective - at Into You (ends 6 August)

Irma Irsara - at N4 Library (ends 6 August)

Myka Baum - at Freightliners Farm (ends 10 August)

Valery Koroshilov - at the Centre for Strategy and Communication (by appointment - ends 3 October)

Photo: Valery Koroshilov's picture

Posted 3 August. Witness appeal signs by the Metropolitan Police might not immediately spring to mind when most people consider subjects for photographic exhibition. Artist Leo Asemota, however, highlighted them in his project entitled ‘Map of a City’ ten years ago –and they are now on display in Islington.

For the whole of 2001 Asemota captured photographs of the signs, which are put in place by the Metropolitan Police in the hope of finding witnesses to criminal acts. By the end of the year he had around 3000 photographs.

The project also includes video, newspaper clippings and projected photography. This is the first time it has been exhibited in its entirety. Photographed signs include appeals after a suspicious death at Regents Canal, a petrol bombing on an Islamic centre in Maida Vale, and a rape in Ealing. Captured in the background of the photographs, Londoners pass the signs without a glance.

Leo Asemota ‘From the photographic essay Map of a City’ at Contemporary Rooms, Ground Floor, 210 Hornsey Road, London N7 7LL

For more information visit or email admin@eotla.com

Photo by Lucy Aplin

Posted 18 July. This fantastic Haiku was left behind at the Old Fire Station after the Haiku Kamishibai Workshop on Saturday 16 July.

Wind blowing my hair
Raindrops dancing down my face
Like bees on flowers

If you know who it belongs to, please get in touch at ie@therowanartsproject.com

Posted 18 July.This week we will be helping several Islington Exhibits artists celebrate the opening of their exhibitions. Please come and join us, details below.

Exhibition: Making Inroads, a project by Rowan Arts / exhibition of work by Chris Avis / exhibition of work by Paul Clifford

Venue: Voluntary Action Islington, 200a Pentonville Road, London N1 9JP

Preview date and times: Tuesday 19 July, 17:00 - 19:00 (RSVP to duncan.mclaggan@vai.org.uk). All welcome.

Exhibition: On Water - a group show by Myka Baum, Teresa Eng, Heidi Kayla, Olivia Milani, Kevin Newark and Nick Smith

Venue: London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT

Preview date and times: Thursday 21 July, 18:00 - 20:00. All welcome.

Posted 13 August Islington Exhibits Artist Monica Naranjo and Curator Rodrigo Orrantia have just finished installing Monica's works on the walls around Highbury and Islington and C4RD - The Centre for Recent Drawing.

They've already received very positive feedback from local residents, the staff at Highbury and Islington Station, and commuters entering and exiting the premises.

Please click here for more information about the exhibition.

Exhibition Preview and Live Performance

Olivier Garbay

NOW SHOW ME YOURS (By then I will have shown you mine)

OH I SEE IT AS IT IS BUT IF I LOOK AT IT ONLY THIS WAY I DIE This extreme, bold, but still hairy declaration holds in essence the core of all my work.

Sculptures, drawings, books, DVDs and poetry reading.

When 1st July 2011

Where The Front Room Café 158 Tollington Park N4 3AD

Opening 1st July from 6pm to 9pm Performance 8pm

Splitting Study for a wood carving from Vincent Van Gogh’s painting of a plaster statuette of a muscular model. Four colours ball pen on A4 May 2011.

Call for Entries
Exhibition: 8th July – 29th July 2011

Islington Arts Factory invites recent arts graduates, emerging talent and local Islington artists to exhibit at the 2011 Summer Salon. This is a great opportunity to showcase new 2D work and to establish networks with like-minded fellow artists. In keeping with IAF's founding principles, the Summer Salon welcomes a diverse range of contributions and will create a launch pad for up and coming artists from a variety of backgrounds. Curation of the exhibition is inspired by the 17th Century French Salons, with floor to ceiling hanging. This creates a busy atmosphere that promotes formal and informal discussions around contemporary art themes. This year Summer Salon is part of Islington Exhibits, a borough wide arts festival and open studios event.
To apply, please email:
FAO Eleanor Pearce summersalon@googlemail.com
- A jpeg image of the work that you would like to submit. The maximum resolution should be 150 dpi
- Details of your work: title, date, dimensions and materials.
- A short artist’s statement of no more than 40 words that will be included in the accompanying information for the show.
Deadline for entries is 5.00pm, 10 June 2011.

Due to space restrictions there will be a selection process. You will be notified if your submission has been successful.
Please note there is an administration fee of £10 for each work exhibited.
For more information please visit:

Thank you to all who made it down to The Floirin pub on Friday 20 May to celebrate the launch of Islington Exhibits 2011. We had a great turn out, and there was a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the air, as artists and local businesses came together to brainstorm ideas and discuss the importance of finding a place for the arts in our community. It was also a great opportunity for all of those who were introduced online, to put a friendly face to a name.

"As an artist, I was pleasantly surprised to find an art event linking venues and artists from the borough. An excellent idea ... to meet one another and celebrate identity." Olivier Garbay (artist)

"...using unconventional venues that might not usually display artwork will be a real buzz for both artists and the wider community. A truly positive experience." Benedict Plowman (artist)

"It has been a great experience to meet different artists, and see what they have to offer...It has given me lots of ideas that I would like to put forward in the near future. Thank you so much Islington Exhibits!!!" Diane Keita (artist)

Artist Nela Milic has been appointed as artist-in-residence for Holloway Neighbourhood Group at The Old Fire Station.

Nela is a multi-disciplinary artist who often works in site specific and community environments. She will be working with digital technology available at the centre to utilise its virtual map and create physical connections between numerous groups that use this space.

Click here for more information.

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Competition Winner

Rowan Arts is pleased to announce that the winner of the competition for the Islington Exhibits 2011 poster is Irma Irsara. Congratulations Irma!

OVER 100 people crowded into the Estorick Collection, Canonbury on Thursday 13 April for a networking event that brought together artists, organisations and businesses, all eager to learn more about Islington Exhibits 2011.

Following brief introductory talks from partner organisations Creative Islington, Islington Chamber of Commerce and Cubitt; artists Giulia Ricci and Nigel Goldie described their experiences from Islington Exhibits 2010.

Last year, Nigel created large installations in Waitrose, Holloway Road, and advised creative persons, “Don’t be afraid of going to ask people if you can use their space, it’s definitely worth taking the risk!”

An informal networking session sparked new connections, inspired collaborations and saw business cards fly.

Some great images from the evening are now up on Flickr.

Islington Exhibits 2011 has confirmed that artist Tomas Mitchell has been appointed as the artist-in-residence for Rowan Arts.

Thomas is an artist living and working in London. His practice spans sculpture, painting, collage, print and digital illustration. His work is a series of ongoing structural collages.  New visual systems and Patternation emerge from the destruction and rearrangement of digital and printed images, materials and ideas. Visit the Residencies page for more information.