Visual Arts Trail – open houses in the Thorpes

The highly successful Visual Arts Trail is once again part of this year’s Sydenham Arts Festival (1-15 July). If you are an artist and would like to take part, or if you would like to act as a ‘host’ to local artists as part of the trail, please get in touch with Bruce Harrison: harrisonbruce@hotmail.com; 077269 09808
or Pippa Stacey: pip.stacey@googlemail.com; 020 8778 9160 for more details.

The Sydenham Mosaic Project – a work in progress!

The Sydenham Mosaic is an exciting piece of public art by the mosaicist Oliver Budd, designed to enhance the front of the Naborhood Centre (next to the post office in Sydenham Road). The project was conceived by Bishopsthorpe residents Valerie Kelly and Robert Side in 2009 and is supported by the Sydenham Assembly and many local residents.
By the end of the summer 2010 a design for the mosaic had been agreed. A series of spherical roundels will feature characters and scenes from Sydenham’s history – the image here shows the artist Pissaro, whose painting of Lawrie Park Avenue hangs in the National Gallery.
All that remains now is to continue with the fund-raising, and many neighbours have played a significant part in fund-raising activities. The Thorpes attic sale and Ritz tea in September was great fun and raised nearly £2,000. And for the second year running carol singing around the Thorpes took place during a blizzard! A gallant band of singers and collectors continued until they were not only soaked and frozen but their carol sheets were reduced to papier-mâché. However, thanks to the generosity of neighbours, £408.17 was raised.
Other fund-raising suggestions include the offer of dinner at 15 Bishopsthorpe Road. The first “15 Bishopsthorpe” dinner was held just before Christmas. The idea is to provide a three-course meal for a group of 10-12 people who bring their own wine. The first, a local reading group, celebrated Christmas and two 60th birthdays. It was a bit of a challenge as one diner was vegetarian, one was a coeliac and another had a dairy intolerance! However, the group reassured us that it was a great success and the Mosaic Project made £225. If any Thorpe residents are interested having a group dinner at 15 Bishopsthorpe do let us know. Meanwhile another resident has suggested a series of “Come dine with me” events for four couples, an idea we are now exploring.
We are also delighted to announce that two of the roundels have now been sponsored. The one of Pissarro is sponsored by John Fried of Woodfalls Opticians and that of Sir Ernest Shackleton (currently in production) by the Shackleton Society.
Valerie Kelly
valeriekelly@btinternet.com
020-8778 4775

Mosaic Workshop

Make your own small mosaic, free, next Friday and Saturday

  

Friday 26th February

Here for Good, 17 Sydenham Road:
1pm – 4.00pm

Saturday 27th February
Naborhood Centre, Sydenham Road:
10.30am – 3.30pm

Free Mosaic drop-in workshops next Friday and Saturday–make your own small mosaic -all materials provided. Workshops are run by Oliver Budd, the mosaicist who is working on designs for the mosaic to improve and decorate the front of the Nabourhood Centre. Oliver is now President of the British Society of Modern Mosaicists, and has many examples of his art installed in public places, including Otford, Bexley, and Westerham.

You will also be able to see sketches of some of Oliver's preliminary ideas for the mosaic, and to contribute some of your own.

The Sydenham Mosaic Project

Thorpes’ residents Valerie Kelly and Robert Side have a vision for Sydenham – one in which the Naborhood Centre, next to the post office, is refurbished and embellished with a mural representing scenes from Sydenham life. In June, at the Sydenham Assembly, Valerie gave a presentation about the project and made a successful pitch for £10,000 from the Mayor’s Fund. Now an anonymous donor has generously offered to match this figure with a further £10,000. The chosen artist, Oliver Budd, is a second generation mosaic artist whose father had studios in the area. Oliver has just been elected President of the British Association of Modern Mosaicists and his work is nationally and internationally known. His brief has been to celebrate the history and achievements of Sydenham while acknowledging its diversity. To create the artwork will cost £50,000; to prepare the front of the building will cost £2,000.
In November an organisation called “The Sydenham Mosaic Project” was formed to oversee the consultation and funding process.
More information will be available at the Thorpes Residents AGM and in the Sydenham Society Newsletter.
Please feel free to ‘phone Valerie on 020 8778 4775 if you would like to discuss the project further, or find out more about it.
Annabel McLaren