Sarah Mercer, curator and volunteer for Art Works at The Mill on how the Walthamstow community centre is platforming local artists
By Sarah Mercer
For many years now, volunteers at The Mill, a community centre at the heart of the St James Street area in Waltham Forest, have been organising and curating ‘open call’ art exhibitions celebrating the diverse creative skills of local people of all ages and abilities.
The most recent show, “Collage!”, which I curated, was free to view from 25th July until 1st September, shows 55 artworks by 35 artists.
Art Works is a fantastic team of creatives and organisers, who work hard in their spare time to ensure local people have the opportunity to develop and show their creative skills in a free, accessible public space. Each exhibition has a theme to inspire people: in the past year we’ve organised shows exploring animals, our “happy places” and Walthamstow’s industrial heritage to name a few.
I wanted “Collage!” to allow people to explore any theme they liked through the medium of paper cutting and sticking – encouraging them to experiment with a new technique if they hadn’t tried it before.
Artists have responded to the theme in varied, creative and sometimes unexpected ways. We had a fantastic response – one of our largest yet – receiving submissions from experienced artists, children and complete beginners alike.
It’s amazing to see how each artist has interpreted what collage can be. Some have made images using torn, cut and decorated paper, whilst others have explored using digital technology, textile collage and even collagraph printing: a specialist relief printmaking technique that involves applying ink to a textured surface before pressing it onto paper, leaving an image.
The exhibitions at The Mill often provide vital inspiration and motivation for artists. Emily Brown, who has two pieces on display in “Collage!” told me how participating inspired her to return to her practice after having her baby last Autumn. “It is so lovely to have the work on display, especially in such a warm and welcoming place, and to feel part of the community.
Motherhood can be lonely at times, and spaces like The Mill are so important.” Emily’s artworks – “Jigsaw Collage #1: Badlands” and “Jigsaw Collage #2: Boreal” – depict moody, remote landscapes, and are constructed from cut down pages of fashion magazines, selected for their colours and tones.
A number of works in the exhibition were for sale, giving visitors the opportunity to buy beautiful, unique artworks at affordable prices whilst also directly financially supporting local artists. A percentage of the proceeds of each sale also goes back to The Mill to be reinvested in other community projects.
While “Collage!” ended its display on 1st September, the open call is already out for the next exhibition: ‘Colours of Walthamstow’, curated by Jane Evans, another member of the Art Works team. Borough residents are invited to submit work in any medium reflecting the vibrant colours of Walthamstow people, places and life.
Curator Jane Evans said of the exhibition: “We expect the Walthamstow Colours exhibition to attract a comprehensive range of work from diverse participants. The idea behind the broad call out is to create an inclusive community exhibition where exhibitors can interpret and exhibit from different perspectives, observations and media.”
For more details head to The Mill’s website (www.themille17.org), email [email protected] or just drop by during normal opening hours.
“Colours of Walthamstow” will be on display from Tuesday 12 September to Friday 20 October 2023.
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