A week of fun, reflection and lots and lots of love. Binki Taylor, organiser of this year’s Brixton Design Trail looks back at some of the highlights.
The shining beacon on Windrush Square – Hubb – was the signal that Brixton Design Trail 2017 had arrived with a powerful message of Love is Power. The three-metre steel installation by local design collective AWMA, brought hundreds of visitors every day to Brixton throughout the London Design Festival and invited them to look up and reflect on words of congregation, community and peace.
Promising “Something for everyone”, Brixton Design Trail this year included more than 40 different ways to bump into design on the streets of Brixton. From exploring inventive play at Brixton Playingfields/St Matthews, to a circus-inspired crafts market at the Department Store building, and a living green installation of the plants from Loughborough Farm, Brixton’s creatives encouraged us to look at design from every angle and in every corner of the town.
Young creatives at 198 Gallery mapped the history of the Frontline; Friends of Tate Library and the brilliant installation at Brixton Community base, brought us the voices and stories of our local heroes. Meanwhile, the worn seating on Windrush Square got facelift with a temporary razzle-dazzle pattern, promoting the value of creating inviting spaces for everyone to share.
The previous Brixton food court on Atlantic Road was temporarily transformed into a tranquil gallery for the Silent Arch and a graphic installation inspiring a revolution of kindness. Freshly deep-cleaned and painted by Network Rail, the station passageway provided temporary space for designers with obsessive interests in ceramics, print, illustration and embroidery; encouraging a new generation of artists with graphic workshops with Liisa Chisolm at Blast Skates.
Up on the Rec centre forecourt the young people at Livity with Street to High End creative director brought Friday night alive with the Love Fashion Power Show complete with red carpet, and all week the Love Carnival Trail by Kofi Arts showcased the heritage of’ carnival arts with talks, workshops and exhibitions.
And its not over yet… Here to stay are the beautiful flags hanging from the rafters of Brixton Village and Market Row by artists Sam Furness and Toni Hollis. Silent Arch has a new home in the Courtyard of Southbank UTC – inspiring creativity for young engineers; and at Popes Road, the new portrait by artist Neequaye Dreph Dsane of Micheael, manager of the Popes Road loos, will remain a testament to the commitment one man has made to this community. It has been fantastic to see the trail go from strength to strength again this year involving more young people, businesses and organisations. It’s been a week full of fun, reflection and lots and lots of love.
