I’m nursing a strong coffee and a small hangover after last night’s Camberwell Arts Festival opening party, hosted by Moona in St Giles Crypt, and contemplating what the rest of the week has in store. The theme of this year’s Festival is to put art in some unexpected places, and get people to explore different parts of the area. So there’s film screenings on a rooftop, (Well)water-inspired installations in various eateries, trails to follow around and about Church Street, and — we hope — three new permanent artworks to — eventually — be unveiled.
The events I’m personally looking forward to this week are:
The Myatt’s Field Park Tea Dance, taking place today (Sunday 20th), courtesy of Home Live Art.
Also today, Daniel Lehan’s ‘Your Art Here Too’ on the Green, which follows on from last year’s successful event that drew many passers-by to have a go at creating some art and exhibiting it on the railings.
The Green becomes Speaker’s Corner on Monday evening, and, this being Camberwell Green, who knows how that will pan out…
The mysterious promise of ‘An Introduction to the Art of the Funerary Violin’ on Tuesday will, I expect, maintain the feeling that we’re entering the unknown where anything could happen.
Summertime Sounds in Grove Chapel should bring a sense of calm and civility back to proceedings on Wednesday.
Just in time for the Camberwell Beauty (see what they’ve done there?!) Fashion Day, hosted by the SE5 Forum, on Thursday.
We’ll get back to Midsummer Madness on Thursday night, though, as Creative Routes do what they do best in their Muses Cafe in the Crypt.
And the unpredictability continues on Friday with some story-telling and much more from the Honourable Society of Faster Craftswomen.
All of which brings us to next weekend, featuring a pop-up travel agency on the Green and the now traditional mayhem of The Chutney Preserves Fair on Sunday.
Phew! I’m going to be busy. And besides all that I have to fit in a visit to the Camberwell School of Arts end of year show, get a gander at the expanded and refurbished South London Gallery opening on Saturday 26th, and have a quick nosy in the various artist studios open this weekend and next.
There’s lot’s to see and do folks — so get out there and have a look. The Camberwell Arts Festival is run on a small grant from Southwark Council, put together by our impressively serene and cheery Director, Kelly O’Reilly, and relies on the goodwill and enthusiasm of lots of artists. It’s no mean feat, and it’s something Camberwell should be proud of. Make the most of it!
Full info about all events can be found here: www.camberwellarts.org.uk