Artists TOandFOR in Archway float ideas that could take them to Venice Biennial
Gallery founder says ‘overlooked’ part of borough will be London’s new bohemia
Published: 20 August, 2010
by JOSH LOEB
A GONDOLA made of industrial-strength cardboard will be built in an Islington gallery before being taken for a spin on the Regent’s Canal as Archway turns into a nexus of culture.
Not as crazy as it sounds, if you believe Chris Lane, co-founder of not for profit “pop up” gallery TOandFOR, which is located opposite Upper Holloway station.
“Archway is a throughway,” says Chris. “The clue’s in the name – nobody ever stops here, everybody’s just passing through. It’s so close to central London and it’s so overlooked.”
But now all that could be set to change. Residents of Archway prepare yourselves: the artists are coming.
Last month renowned arts institution Central St Martins took over Byam Shaw college, the long-neglected arts school in Elthorne Road – a stone’s throw away from the dreaded gyratory.
And next year, Central St Martins will move its entire body of students, along with all of its halls of residence, to King’s Cross.
“There will be about 4,000 students living in the area,” says Chris. “In 10 years Archway will be the new bohemia of north London.”
TOandFOR opened in its current premises, a former clothes shop, at the end of June. It receives funding from Islington Council, is a registered charity and runs a range of art workshops that anyone can attend free of charge.
Chris believes that trendy, moneymaking, galleries in Hoxton are partly to blame for the stereotype that art is elitist. In an effort to change that, he is bringing art to the streets of the borough.
Last year, sculptor and performance artist William Alexander toured Islington in an ice cream van made out of cardboard, dispensing “ice cream” sculptures to passers-by as part of a project arranged by TOandFOR.
And next year he will undertake an even more ambitious feat – building the gondola he hopes to take to the Venice Biennial.
“The plan is that he’ll build his gondola in this gallery and take it to Venice,” says Chris.
The vessel will be taken on a test run on Islington’s very own man-made waterway, the Regent’s Canal, before being transported to Italy.
• From August 21 TOandFOR will be hosting the Ultra-Motion/Anti-Static exhibition, a series of films and sound installations examining the theme of Time.
• TOandFOR Gallery, 720 Holloway Road, N19. Opening times: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 12-6, Thursday 12-8, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 11-4.