Video Blog Update from the Homes for Britain Rally

My second Video Blog is set in the context of The Homes for Britain Rally.  

The artist Mark Latimer who is very kindly shooting/creating the films for me went along to the rally and chatted to a few people to find out what they think about what's happening.

A few years ago when I started making paintings about the Housing Crisis, the term 'Housing Crisis' wasn't even being used.  People were talking about high rents and the impact it was having on their lives in London, but there didn't seem to be organised groups making a stand for change.  

But there are now so many people campaigning at a grassroots level for better housing, and it's brilliant.  Doing things collectively is GOOD.  For example the families of the New Era Estate, and the Focus E15 mums

Diffierent to these grassroots protests, The Homes for Britain campaign is big and organised, it: "Brings together all those who believe everyone has a right to a decent affordable home to call their own."

So my second video blog is set within this context and looks at how Homes for Britain are campaigning for affordable homes. 

As this blog develops I would like to talk to lots of different people from all sorts of groups, anyone who is affected by and concerned about the Housing Crisis.  I used to feel quite isolated making paintings about it in my studio, and I wasn't sure if that was really doing anything!  But now, the more I find out, the more I discover that there are so many people campaigning for change in their own ways, and it's great to finally feel part of something, a movement who's voice is getting stronger and stronger.

 

I need your Stories!

Do you have a story regarding an issue to do with the private rental market in London?

If you have read my blog before, you will know that I am currently working on a series of paintings that explore the issues surrounding the current housing crisis in London.  The series is a visual and artistic campaign for affordable homes in London, and for change.  

London house prices and the current housing situation is a subject regularly discussed, and as my painting project has developed I've started to incorporate people’s stories into the artwork. The genuine experiences and anecdotes that I’ve heard in casual conversation are fascinating and sometimes shocking.  It feels important to start representing these stories in the art work to show that the Housing Crisis is something we are experiencing collectively, and to give these very real situations a voice.

If you have a story to share I would love to hear it! if I use your story in one of my artworks it can be represented anonymously.  

Has your landlord raised your rent?

Do you feel that your home is worth the rent you pay?

Do you struggle to afford your rent?

I'm looking for anecdotes and quotes which describe how people are affected by what is happening with housing in London at the moment. 

You can email your story to: tinseledwards@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you so much in advance!

Tinsel Edwards x

My first Video Blog

I am pleased to share with you, my very first video blog!


Artist and film maker Mark Latimer very kindly offered to help me to create a video diary, and this is our first collaboration.

I will be uploading video blog snippets on a regular basis, I wanted to create the blog as a way of sharing my ideas and working processes, and to document the Housing Crisis project as it develops over the course of this year.

Feedback welcome!  I hope you enjoy:

Art Against The Housing Crisis

'0 Bed Flat. £285 Per Week'

'Alls Bills Included, Access to Unlimited Fibre Optic Broadband. Room in Shared Flat £500pcm'

'Bargain! Two Bedroom £400 Per Week'

'Contemporary Spacious First Floor Double Room. £575'

'Cool 2 Double Bedroom with Spacious Lounge'

'Double Glazing, Double Bedroom One Bed Flat! £400 Per Week'

'Four Bed Maisonette, £600 Per Week'

'Luxury Double Room in Houseshare. £750 Per Week'

Modern Studio Apartment, Neutral Deco and Laminated Floorboards Throughout. £170 Per Week'

'Nice and bright Double Room in Shared House, Laminate Flooring and Great Look.  £737 Per Month'

'No DSS'

'Stunning Two Bedrooms Apartment £475 Per Week'

A collection of studies from 2014.

Someone suggested that it would be a good idea to think of a hashtag for this project....  All I've come up with so far is #ArtAgainstThe HousingCrisis - it seems a bit long, but I think I will go with that for now.

I've been working on the Housing series for a couple of years now, and I still don't feel that I have a body of work which is ready to exhibit.  I'm still experimenting with different ideas and developing the paintings, and I think it's really important to give myself as much time as it takes.  I've often thought about starting to prepare for a solo exhibition to show all of this work, but I don't want to have the pressure of a deadline, I'm learning so much about painting at the moment, and I need the time to allow the paintings to develop, to make mistakes and throw paintings in the bin if necessary!

I recently had a tutorial with Rosalind Davis and Annabel Tilley of Zeitgeist Art Projects, they were very supportive and suggested that instead of a solo show perhaps I could curate an exhibition on the theme of the Housing Crisis.

So I'm starting to plan a group exhibition, I'm really looking forward to finding other artists who are responding to what's happening with housing in London at the moment.  The show is provisionally titled 'The Poor Door'.  More info about this coming soon.

2014 Round Up

Somehow it’s February already, but here’s my round up of 2014…

In 2014 I chose not to exhibit very much, and instead focus on developing my work in the studio. 2014 also involved lots of change, leaving A-side B-side Gallery, starting a new part time job with Acme Studios, and my son starting school.

January 

I started the year by working on a commission to paint around the Bar Area in The Star by Hackney Downs Pub. My favourite thing about this was discovering Sign Writers One Shot paints…ooh - they are amazing.

February 

I made the difficult decision to leave A-side B-side gallery, it was a lot of work and I found it wasn’t giving me the time and energy to focus on my own practice.   Catherine Magnani and I held our last exhibition on the 1st floor of Hackney Downs Studios in January, then gave up the lease.  We both continue to share the responsibility of running the studios at A-side B-side, and since then Catherine has re-launched the gallery as a successful solo project in new premises.

March and April

Finally with a bit more time to be in the studio, I focused again on my own painting, spending Spring and early Summer working on small studies for my housing series.

May 

Another commission from the Star pubs! I worked with Interior Designer Lady Ray to illustrate her design concept for the refurbishment of The Jackdaw Pub in Homerton.  And later in the summer, I did the sign writing for the exterior.

 

June

Twinkle Troughton and I joined forces once again, this time we created our very own Revolution themed Launderette for The Art Car Boot Fair.

 

I worked with Jealous Gallery to produce two new editions for my ‘Revolution’ screen print, in neon pink and yellow. These were on sale at The Art Car Boot Fair, and at the Moniker Art Fair in the autumn.

July and August

I finally finished making a brand new website!

Let me know what you think: www.tinseledwards.com

September 

A studio revamp in our space in Homerton, and feeling very excited to be starting a new part time job with Acme Studios.  Acme is a housing association with charitable status, it provides affordable studios for non commercial fine artists.

October

Again I collaborated with interior designer Lady Ray and we formed: ‘R Girls Electric?’ we worked together to create a series of limited edition Light Art pieces.  This project was lots of fun and a nice change, there is a possibility we will make more of these light pieces in the future.  Our first collection was exhibited in Brixton in November.

November  

My painting: ‘Lovely Period Style New Build, £380 per week’ was selected for ZAP Open 2014.  Selected anonymously from 547 entries, I was amongst 22 other artists.  Our work was exhibited in a group show at the Zeitgeist gallery in New Cross.

December

Feeling encouraged and inspired by taking part in the ZAP Open, I spent December planning and preparing for the next phase of works for the Housing Series.  After painting small for most of 2014, I decided it was time to paint big.  Wanting to experiment with different grounds for these paintings, I have started working with old sheets and duvet covers found in charity shops.

2015 will be about continuing to develop my series of paintings which comment on the Housing Crisis in London.  
I am intending to curate a group show on this theme in the Autumn.  I have also just started working with a documentary film maker who is creating a video diary for me, this will document the project as it progresses.  The first entry is being edited now and will be uploaded here soon.

ZeitgeistArt Projects Open Exhibition

Tonight I am showing with Zeitgeist Art Projects in their third annual ZAP Open exhibition.  My painting 'Lovely Period Style New Build, £380 per week' was amongst 23 artists work which was selected from 547 entries.  I am delighted to be part of this very exciting exhibition.

 

 Zap Open 2014 has been guest curated by Juan Bolivar, the selectors were Rosalind Davis, Annabel Tilley, Juan Bolivar and Andrew Bick.  

"This exciting new show features a rich array of painting and sculpture that take pride in cocking a 'tongue-in-cheek' snoop at the viewer"

The 23 artists are as follows:

Christian Anstice, Guy Bigland, Benjamin Deakin, Tinsel Edwards, Neill Fuller, Alistair Gordon, Luey Graves, Matthew Hill, Sofia Nathalie Kynigopoulou, Paula MacArthur, Enzo Marra, Jane Morter, James Null, Will Reid, John Richert, Greg Rook, Mark Sadler, Pina Santoro (Ellwood), Paul Smith, Kelly Sweeney, Rob Welch, Joella Wheatley, and Neil Zakiewicz

There is an online catalogue to accompany the exhibition which features essays from the selectors and Lex Thomas.

My painting: 'Lovely Period Style New Build, £380 per week' is from a series of work which explores the issues surrounding the housing crisis in London.  Annabel Tilley describes it as: "The grimmest fairytale miniature which could easily be a depiction of a stage set with a single bed, wash basin, and glaring light bulb".

The show opens tonight 6-8.30pm @

ASC Studios, Bond House, Goodwood Road, New Cross Gate, SE14 6BL

www.zeitgeistartprojects.com

Moniker Art Fair - 16-19th October

I will be exhibiting with the lovely people from Jealous Gallery at The Moniker Art Fair this weekend.  'The Revolution Starts Here' screenprint will be available in two different colour-ways, neon pink/grey, and yellow/grey - spot them in the pics below!  I'm really excited to be exhibiting alongside some fabulous artists such as Charming Baker, Jess Wilson, Magda Archer and Russell Marshall.

Curating the Contemporary have just publishing a fascinating interview with Jealous Gallery owner Dario Illari, have a read here.

Images below are courtesy of Jealous Gallery: