Me and Lee went to the 2nd annual arts festival in Hackney Wick yesterday. Apparently Hackney Wick has the most artists per capita in the world (all the artists priced out of Shoreditch moved there) and I can't recommend the festival highly enough. With open studios, activities, cabaret, live music and industrial car park raves it was thoroughly inspiring and enormous amounts fun. My only regret is that I didn't go for the whole weekend!
Here's some highlights:
This was just randomly on a street and sums up the freely creative atmosphere of the Wick. This was made entirely from takeaway menus
This was quite cool. Basically there was a paintball fight and people just threw stuff and around and created a destruction zone/conceptual art depending on how you look at it.
More random art from the streets.
My personal highlight was Joseph Loughborough. A brilliant painter drawing inspiration from the likes of Rothko and Schiele. Figurative abstract craziness. Click the pic for his flickr page.
Another highlight; Rosie Emerson's fashion illustrations. Click the pic for her site.
These guys certainly knew how to throw some shapes - the guy in the centre had us in stitches during the gig in a car park. One of those moments when you're just glad you're not drunk enough to join in.
The festival ends with a ceremonial burning of a wicker man.
Overall it was an absolutely fantastic day and I urge you all to go next year, I'll certainly be there again. Any further information about the event can be found at: http://www.hackneywicked.com