Flaming Hot at Phoenix Park - mural workshop
It was a balmy evening at Phoenix Park on Abbey Road, this week, when, @itaewon_artist (Jake Attewell) and youngsters from the local area completed the mural displaying the name of the new pocket park, in bright colours. The design was based on a brief provided by the Gascoigne residents who co-designed the park – the bold illustrations represent the role of the park, to provide a place to: play, grow (plants, such as fragrant flowers and edible vegetables) exercise, meditate, and socialise of course… Jake really enjoyed sharing his knowledge with ‘fledgling’ artists,
“I had an amazing couple of days painting with the residents of Gascoigne estate. The youngsters were so passionate about the project and were very eager to put their own creative flare on the design which is indicative of the talent and ingenuity running through the Gascoigne community. It was also fantastic to meet some of the budding creatives from the area who will be entering the industry soon, I have high hopes for them.”
Up and coming young artist, Emmanuel, aka @oreyeni_arts from nearby Riverside, was keen to help and says he has been admiring Jake’s work and following him on Instagram. "When I heard about the mural at Phoenix Park, I knew that I had to go, it’s very rare that you meet another artist who is a pro, in the area I want to work…it was a pleasure to meet him. I love working with the community on projects like murals as they give people an emotional connection between them…” He’s up for adding his own bespoke art to any available hoarding and has already worked with Be First on ‘artworks made by the community for the community’. Emmanuel will be starting a university degree in Art in September, having an unconditional offer – based on his portfolio and the numerous local projects he has previously been involved in. If you are interested in what he has been up to visit: oreyeniarts.com and for any requests please contact: oreyeniarts@gmail.com
Another young student, Sophie, who lives very close to the new park, is awaiting her GCSE results, including art – she showed her artistic flare as she involved herself in the painting of the mural. Sophie is been planning to start a beauty course in September and certainly has a good eye for colour and became very skilful, over two evenings, creating different effects with the paints! Several younger children also got involved and painted a whole boarder of flowers along the hoarding too. Together Jake and the budding artists have created a very cheerful and engaging entrance to the new park – which has its formal opening on Saturday 31st July.
Beside Jake’s contribution – celebrating the role of the park in the local community, the Barking Heritage Project (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and managed by Be First), will be at the opening event, encouraging local people to share their own stories about work and play in the local area, for a new digital heritage/story trail, to be created by Street Tag and Pen to Print.
Two of the project’s heritage volunteers, Alex and Sue have been researching Gascoigne’s past and pounding the streets of the Gascoigne Estate in recent weeks to create an engaging route for their guided ‘Gascoigne Heritage Tour’, which will take place at 1.30 pm on Saturday 31st July (meeting at the Phoenix Park) – please email simone.panayi@befirst.london to book your place in advance. There will also be opportunities to sign up for the tour, at the Gascoigne Heritage stand, in the park, on the day… Residents will also be invited to share their ideas for a Gascoigne Heritage mosaic and nominate a location for it. So come along to the Phoenix Park opening event to find out more about Gascoigne’s heritage, to share stories from your family’s past and celebrate Gascoigne’s future heritage too!
Jake will be back in Barking again this summer creating the Barking Heritage mural in Short Blue Place on the wall of McDonald’s – look out for more information and events connected with this, in coming weeks…
