Whitechapel's OTHER gallery launch
1st April 2009
As Whitechapel Gallery, East London’s most famous exhibition space, prepares to open its doors following a spectacular refurbishment, a makeshift gallery directly opposite hopes to give it a run for it's money (though admission is free).
A group of nine local artists including alumni and students from The Cass (The Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design at London Metropolitan University) have joined forces to create Anon... a one-off exhibition of contemporary artwork in a disused shop opposite Whitechapel Gallery.
Participating artists, including Janet Mckay, Martin Jones, Matthew Vincent Townsend, Graham Hughes, Matthew Blackner, Neil Paterson, Sayshun Jay, Joe Watling and Joe the Painter, have worked round the clock to transform an empty travel agents off into an exciting venue.
The exhibition will include innovative works of video, photography, sculpture, site-specific installation, paintings and multi-media. The show will run from the 5 to 11 April with the opening hours and private viewing coinciding with similar (if grander) events at their more famous neighbour.
Curator Lisa Wegner Davis, herself an alumna of the MA By Project course at The Cass explained: ‘The Anon… artists have collaborated with a local businessman in a mutual endeavour to buck the trend of the credit crunch. The exhibition will be open for one week only, but a week where all eyes will be on the creative East End. "
Michael Upton, Academic Leader at The Cass, commented: ‘Anon... is a really inspiring project. Whitechapel Gallery has been 108 years in the making, and this one has had more like 108 hours! I think Canon Samuel Barnett who founded the Whitechapel Gallery in 1901 would have approved. The Anon.... artists are delivering on his mission to 'bring great art to the people of the East End of London' - albeit in a 21st Century manner’.
Exhibition details
- Private View 2nd April 2009, 6pm -9pm
- Artists: JANET MCKAY, MARTIN JONES, MATTHEW VINCENT TOWNSEND, GRAHAM HUGHES, MATTHEW BLACKNER, NEIL PATERSON, SAYSHUN JAY, JOE WATLING AND JOE THE PAINTER
- Dates: 5-11 April 2009
- Address: 64-65 Whitechapel High Street E1 7PL
- Contact: Lisa Weger-Dennis on 020 7284 1158
- Gallery opening times: Monday -Sunday, 11am-6pm
Thursday, 11am-9pm