Big up the Stööki Fam for pincluding me in their Self-Made Spotlight Series they run to highlight creatives doing bits with their craft.
If you didn’t know, Stööki is an independent Jewellery & Apparel label based in London, presenting themed collections through interactive art and immersive events. I’ve known the guys for a good couple years now & was blessed to take part in this with such good spirited creatives – special mention of Quincey, a key member of the crew who sadly passed away a couple years ago – we facilitated a couple art workshops together in East London back in the day, real cool dude – RIP bro.…
Head screwed on,
But life can hit you,
New challenges,
To get through,
Whatever they are,
Look how far,
You’ve come,
A blessed soul,
With loads more to give,
Take time,
Unscrew a little & live,
Day by day,
Bit by bit,
You’ll get through,
Embrace the sh*t
Popped down Penge on a random one over the weekend, and came across this beautiful 13ft mural of Mimi Fresh (@firemoonfresh) painted by artist Dreph (Neequaye Dsane / @Dreph_). Apparently the mural was part of 10 large scale murals painted across the capital to celebrate extraordinary women doing amazing things in their communities and society as a whole…
So imagine…my show done, then Banksy turns up in the Endz…
I popped over to the space opposite Surrey St Market one night where Banksy had a full on installation titled ‘Gross Domestc Product’ – it’s raining, it’s mucky, but then you really want to digest the artworks on show, but this bloomin’ rain, it’s kinda crowded still, people aint rampin’, eff the rain, I take some pics, then this happens STORAGE FULL, I delete some pics to take new pics, then this happens STORAGE FULL, I delete more pics, to take new pics, AGAIN STORAGE FULL…it’s raining, this is long…CRISIS AS USUAL…I leave, I soaked up some of the work at least…*Shout out to a guy named Stuart whom I got to take the shot of me on my phone with the STORAGE FULL sign when the idea hit me…
I came back the next day and took more pictures, but the whole thing was more of a vibe at night tbh…hope you managed to catch it, such a sick concept, and to think I literally cancelled my gym membership at the Pure Gym above only 3 months ago, and saw that space derelict beneath from way back…Big up Banksy!…
I spend most of my time absorbed in cultural spaces and places – whether they be museums, galleries, hotels, cafes, libraries, whatever…yet when you think about it…a cultural space can be anywhere which connects with you, uplifts your day, or just celebrates shared values…
Living in Thornton Heath for almost 12 years and spending most of my time outside the local area on the work front – you gradually find yourself realising the potential of local spaces around you – often unused or derelict, and with creative interjection, can actually enrich and enhance the well-being of communities living there…
So take Ambassador House, a disused, run-down building opposite Thornton Heath station, and why not creatively interject and pop up a temporary gallery celebrating local creative talent in the hope of bringing some brighter vibes to an often neglected, anti-social space…?…
