The second part of the Lowestoft Art project is a collaboration between students from my Wanstead classes and members of The Mayfly Cafe, Lowestoft.
I have been visiting Suffolk for many years, from childhood holidays to the present day. This project, Shopfronts, grew out of my more recent visits to Lowestoft, and my observations of the many changes occurring in the town. This project brings together a series of paintings about Lowestoft High Street from several groups of art students in East London and Lowestoft. The colourful works give a unique view of the mainly Georgian buildings in this historic part of the town and, in the process, highlighting many stories and links with the area. For some of the participants, this is the first time they have shown their work in public – learning to frame their work, set a price and see it in a completely different context. For others, it brought back memories of holidays with their children and even childhood holidays after WWII.
The exhibition has been installed in The Mayfly Café, High Street, Lowestoft, and is accompanied by a day of art workshops. Its distinctive Victorian shopfront is the subject of several of the paintings. The café hosts arts and community events such as music and film nights, and encourages participation, making it an ideal venue for the Shopfronts exhibition.
There were around 30 works shown, a poster was printed and distributed to the local area, cards were printed for sale in the shop and a price list of all works was provided. The exhibition has garnered a great deal of local interest, we have sold at least two works and 4 students from Wanstead made the journey up to Lowestoft to view their work on show. In all, it has been a rewarding and enjoyable group project, giving learners the chance to show their work for the first time in some instances, and others a focus for their work which has been stimulating and unique. Watch this space for further group projects in the near future.
