Preparations have now begun for the 2012 Arts Trail, and we have a few new twists and turns to make the great Arts Trails that you have experienced in the past 4 years even greater!!.  We want to make this year’s trail more accessible than ever – we are appealing to artists from all backgrounds and are providing support to those of you who have never exhibited before, whilst encouraging and promoting those who are seasoned regulars and experienced in exhibiting their art.  A new feature on the 2012 trail will be a series of Art Hubs, each of which will be managed by an arts trail member who will guide you through exhibiting your work.  We will help select the most appropriate venue for your work, making sure that complimentary work is shown together and that you and the visiting public get the full benefit of your creative energy.

The new hubs will not replace art in shops and businesses throughout Leytonstone – it is an essential part of the trail that we integrate art with Local shops and businesses and as we have always seen this done in such an inventive way we are looking for even more ingenious suggestions this year.

You may also have noticed a new Gallery appear in Leytonstone between the last trail and this year’s.  The Stone Space will  be a vital epicentre for this year’s trail, acting as both a huge map and an information centre to all our visitors and artists – you will be able to pick up information – research and buy artists work and also drop into our artists workshops on Thursday the 23rd Feb, Thursday 22nd March and Thursday 19th April from 6-8pm

Please bookmark this website to get information about this year’s trail, we’ll be back soon with some more about the 2012 trail

Hidden within a huge warehouse which used to serve as a supplier to the MoD you will now find over 30 studios and a rabbit warren of corridors displaying the artwork of over 15 artists from a variety of discliplines.  The studios will be open to all 2am-6pm daily, late night till 9pm on Thursdays and early opening at weekends from 10am-8pm. Come along, enjoy the art and explore the creative studios of those working there.

Featuring Artwork in the corridors from;

Dorothea Schilling, Tanya Bulychova, Gillian Swan, Mary Ann Day, Anton Dolders, Willie Nash, Cos Ahmet, Dino Palmisano, Studio 18 featuring Michelle Sweetman, Neil Benjamin and Carne Griffiths, Paul Cummings and Emma Woodcock. Plus Open Studios at Norlington road include the following artist’s work in progress..

At Studio A6 modelmakers Jonathan and Jeremy invite you to explore their workshops, Painter Paul cummings has several large paintings on display from within the studio, studio 18 is open to explore the work being made by Carne Griffiths, Neil Benjamin and Michelle Sweetman  and Gillian Swan’s exhibition continues with a display of her intricately crafted terrace houses.

In short – there is lot’s to see and do in Norlington Road – it’s a little off the beaten track but when you arrive there you’ll want to spend some time exploring and enjoying the artworks. There’ll be light refreshments to make the journey worthwhile too!

Here’s a little slice of what’s on offer…

We have been featured in the local press: Yellow Advertiser, 1July and Waltham Forest Guardian, 17 June for starters!

If you’re an artist, do you want to tell the world about your show? Email flash@leytonstoneartstrail.org with information and a photo or two. Or if you’re a visitor please let us know what you thought – email a review! More info will come throughout the next fortnight. And if you live in Leytonstone please remember to put some artwork in your window to Fill Leytonstone With Art!

Or simply grab a map and start exploring the wealth of shows in the area.

Don’t forget to try the quiz – pick up a sheet from the Library or Norlington Studios – we have some amazing art work on offer to the winner!

We look forward to seeing you at an exhibition soon!

Starting at midday, you can enjoy… the rolling giant Leyton-Stone… fill in a square for “100 square foot”… fun at the piano… Map Man!… and from 3pm, a children’s drawing activity along the High Road.

We would welcome volunteers to hand out maps, just contact arts@gorge.org or turn up to the piano in Church Lane at 12pm. If you can play piano, that’s even better!

Come along and join the fun!

Leytonstone, London, 15 April 2011 – Leytonstone Arts Trail is appealing for artists to come forward and take part in this year’s event. Running from 1-17 July, the Arts Trail enables artists to exhibit in venues throughout Leytonstone – from shops to halls, from cafes to estate agents – and provides local residents with accessible art on their doorstep. Co-ordinator Frances Bowman says: “I can’t wait to see which new ways the artists will find to use Leytonstone as their canvas”. Already confirmed for 2011 are a photographic display “Giant Postcards”, an installation up and down Leytonstone High Road entitled “See? It’s all good” and one artist is even papering the inside of a house.

Registration for the Arts Trail is via the website http://www.leytonstoneartstrail.org/ although if you need help finding a suitable venue or with any other aspects, you should contact info@leytonstoneartstrail.org or call Frances on 020 8558 3595. The deadline for registration is 9 May.

New this year will be a series of guided walks led by artists and other local people. Bowman says “they will make the work on show easier to navigate and bring people together to find out what’s behind the art they are seeing”.

Other features of this year’s Trail will be an exhibition of “Leyton-Stones” – pebbles decorated by several local artists, to be auctioned at the end of the trail, and a return of the popular “Let’s Fill Leytonstone With Art” – where residents are encouraged to show home-made art in their front windows over summer.

Leytonstone Arts Trail is a grassroots, artist-led voluntary organisation chaired by Chris Davies and co-ordinated by local artist Frances Bowman. The Trail provides local artists with a platform to exhibit their work, and provides the people of Leytonstone with art exhibitions and events. For more information see www.leytonstoneartstrail.org.

Contact:
Publicity Officer, Flash Bristow
- 07939 579090 – flash@leytonstoneartstrail.org
Co-Ordinator, Frances Bowman
- 020 8558 3595 – frances@leytonstoneartstrail.org

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Artists from across Leytonstone turned out to paint, draw, collage and glitter on stones, in a variety of styles from little animals through psychedelic abstract designs; with skulls, eyes and ears also making an appearance. Other notable artists have been approached to contribute pebbles to the cause.

Talking about last year’s event, artist Elizabeth Davies said: “Everyone seems to want a ‘Leytonstone stone’. Last year my painted stones, securely glued to walls and street signs, were purposefully chiselled off .. and for all I know sold on the internet.”

The auction will be “secret”, in that the artist who created each stone will not be revealed until after they have been sold. In this way people can bid for the item they like most – without being biased by whether the artist is well known, or up and coming.

Have you been making work you want to share with people in Leytonstone?

Looking for an opportunity to to try out a new idea for an event or public installation/intervention?

We are on the hunt for artists, makers and event organisers to put on shows in Leytonstone as part of the Leytonstone Arts Trail this July.

For your step-by-step guide to taking part this year click here

Deadline for submissions is 9th May.