The E17 Art Trail kicks off on Saturday 1 September, with over 170 free events happening across the Waltham Forest district of East London. As part of the Trail, the 29 artists based at Blackhorse Lane Studios – one of two London spaces managed by Barbican Arts Group Trust (BAGT) – will be opening their studios to the public and hosting a silent auction.
Works for auction – 49 in total – will be displayed in the corridors and stairwells of the building over the weekend of 8-9 September. Bidding opens at barbicanartsgrouptrust.co.uk on 2 September and closes 2pm on 14 September, with sealed bids starting at £125. Proceeds from the auction will be split between the artists and BAGT.
Money raised from the 2011 auction enabled a project led by artist Michael Donlevy for users of Leyton Joint Community Day Services to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. The group created individual portraits of the Queen, which were displayed at Tate Modern over the Jubilee weekend.
New Blackhorse Lane Studio holder Jhinuk Sarkar explains what it means to be involved: “The auction raises funds that are put directly back into the building’s maintenance, services to artists and enabling artists in the group to deliver workshops and events in the local community.
“I am very excited to be opening my studio doors to the public. This is the first time I’ve had a studio from which to practice my illustration and I’ve already experienced the benefits… I can develop my practice, sharing my work with new audiences and artists alike, to make new creative connections.”
For details of E17 Art Trail exhibitions and events, download the Trail Guide or pick up a printed copy from participating venues. You can also download an E17 Art Trail mobile app.
E17 Art Trail 2012, 1-16 September, various venues across Walthamstow and Waltham Forest.
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