London Passion Week

London Passion Week is a great community art exhibition in Deptford, South East London put on by the Bear church.

It explores the Easter story, through the stations of the cross.

Instead of a passion play, the story is told through a passion exhibition.

From the last supper...  

...to the resurrection.

Many different people contributed to the telling of the Easter story,

the very young in the creche,

pre-schoolers in the playgroup,

 and children with their parents.

Told by people who like...

recycling...

brazing (a kind of welding)...

sailing...

 photography...

knitting...

and flowers.

Some pieces of work were made by the church community,

contemplating promises,

 and betrayal, by a kiss.

 Visitors also get to take part, take two sticks and some yarn. 

Whatever your take on Easter, this affords an opportunity over the bank holiday weekend to pause and contemplate its meaning.

Chatting to visitors, I got to hear more about Easter, their thoughts and experiences...

...of huge Easter processions in Columbia, South America, and 'fun' Easter activities in a Croydon primary school.

No mention of chocolate by anybody.

There still may be time to see this exhibition. It closes at 4pm Saturday 19th April 2014.

The Shaftesbury Christian Centre, Frankham St, Deptford, SE8 4RN.

More details on the Facebook page here.  

The Prefab Museum

The Prefab Museum is a pop-up exhibition in South East London, in a real prefab, one of 186 soon to be demolished on the Excalibur Estate, Catford.

These council houses were built after Second World War to help overcome the housing shortage, built for returning troops and those who had lost their homes in the bombing.

 They were built to last 10 years but ended up providing family homes for nearly 70 years.

These modern, new 2 bedroom houses had... 

built-in cupboards,

 immersion heaters, indoor bathrooms,

refrigerators,

and spacious gardens.

 "An unheard of luxury for many!"

Before the estate is demolished you can visit the Prefab Museum, a pop-up exhibition curated by Elizabeth Blanchet, bringing different artists together who all share her fascination with prefabs and the communities who live in them. The exhibition includes photographs, drawings, installations, film, and memorabilia, all celebrating life in a prefab.

These photos show work by Jo Cooper, Harriet Mcdougall, Sarah Gregory & Jane Hearn.

I have to thank Wendy for sharing her i-phone photos of Jo Cooper's work. My camera just wasn't up to it, taking photos through the tiny viewing holes in her installation.

Visitors are asked to get involved too, pinning prefabs you know of. Red for those no longer standing, blue where there were some, and green where there are still some standing. Looks like red is winning, the prefabs are losing their battle. All the more reason to have events like this, to celebrate them and their communities. 

In the Excalibur Estate, Catford, six prefabs have had a reprieve from demolition, they have been awarded a grade 2 listing and are set to stay.   

You can see this exhibition at number 17 Meliot Road, Catford, SE6 1RY. Open until 1st April 2014. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10.00-16.00. Saturdays, 10.00-18,00.

More information is on their Facebook page here.

NB- *The exhibition has now been extended until end of Septmeber 2014*