The first collaboration between Spoonfed and Artfeelers goes off pretty much without a hitch. Tom Jeffreys is relieved.
I spend most of my life telling people about all the amazing art exhibitions going on in London – you could say it's kinda my job. But telling people about things can sometimes only get you so far (I'm as guilty of extreme laziness as the next man, particularly if the next man happens to be this guy); sometimes you just have to take people with you. And this is where a company like Artfeelers comes in.
Founded in 2009 by Claire Flannery, Artfeelers aims to open up the sometimes-intimidating world of the East London contemporary art scene by organising regular guided tours around a range of galleries and artists’ studios that lie, as it were, off the beaten track. Claire's tours are wicked – relaxed, informative and fun – so we thought we'd get Spoonfed involved for a special one-off (although more may be in the pipeline) invitational edition.
And so to Art on the Outskirts, an Artfeelers tour curated by Spoonfed. Our aims were several: to get more people talking about Artfeelers; to showcase some of east London's most consistently interesting artists and galleries; to drag some art world bigwigs out of Mayfair and over to Hackney; and to generally show how well-connected, discerning, organised and enterprising Spoonfed can be. Oh and to have a fun evening, obviously.
Despite clashing with Art Basel, we secure an impressive array of people on board for the ride – the cream of the London art world are out in force tonight. Things kick off at Schwartz Gallery in Hackney Wick, where Ronald(o) Wright is on hand to discuss the exhibition that explores his fascinating life-story. Nude male model, illustrator for gay magazines, faith healer... Wright has lived a full and fascinating life. Schwartz Gallery have assembled a whole host of Wright ephemera as well as reassembled his living room piece-by-piece inside the gallery, and it's a real thrill to hear anecdotes from the man himself.
From here it's a ten-minute walk along the canal (and past the monstrous 2012 Olympic site) to the studio of brilliant young artist and curator Rosie Emerson. Her work – across photography, painting and drawing – is elegantly elongated, theatrical and really rather beautiful, and her dog Prince is awesome! She's currently got work on show in an exhibition she curated at the nearby Smokehouse Gallery – go see it.
After a pleasant potter over Victoria Park, we get to The Residence, Ingrid Z's gallery recently relocated from Hackney Wick. Artist Robert Hawkins is on hand to tell some of the incredible stories behind his work – like the massive and boldly original The First Ghost which was believed to have been destroyed until it was discovered being used as an awning above a vintage clothes store in NYC.
Finally – and running a little later than anticipated – we make it up to James Taylor Gallery, a colossal old warehouse just off Well Street in Hackney. In the semi-darkness, wandering around James Taylor feels like an adventure in itself. Huge video projections, a walk-in Styrofoam tunnel and a colossal rotating wooden wheel add to this sense of being in a kind of dream-land.
By about 11pm the last of us stragglers decide it's time to head home. It's been, in my opinion, a cracking evening. Drink flowed – courtesy of Maker's Mark bourbon and Tio Pepe sherry – and we met some fascinating people along the way. Here's to plenty more.
Click here for more information about Artfeelers.
All photography by Richard Wallwork.
Click here to see all London exhibitions.
Click here for things to do in London.
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