Arts / Window Wanderland
Bishopston Window Wanderland to star in Sky Arts documentary
It started as a small neighbourhood arts project in Bishopston and went on to capture imaginations around the world.
Now Window Wanderland – an illuminated art trail that transforms ordinary streets into magical outdoor galleries – has been selected to be part of a new Sky Arts documentary in which 50 artists across the UK explore ‘Britishness’.
It doesn’t get much more British than tea and cake
The project was conceived following the invoking of Article 50 in March 2017, starting the process of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
is needed now More than ever
Camera crews will be out to capture the scenes this Saturday as more than 200 windows in Bishopston go on display for the unique illuminated arts trail, taking place from Saturday, February 9 – Sunday, February 11.
Lucy says she found the theme of ‘Britishness’ challenging
“I was over the moon when Art 50 told me they liked my project Window Wanderland,” says Lucy Reeves Khan, who set up Window Wanderland in Bristol five years ago.
“Taking the theme ‘Britishness’ has been personally challenging, but it has been an interesting journey; ‘how to say this in a window display?’
“Over the past few months, we have had workshops in schools, libraries and discussions to get the creativity flowing.
“Some ideas have been about the politics, like: a Banksy-style bunch of balloons with EU flags on, with the Union Jack floating away; or Liam Fox, on a fox, being chased out of Britain; or the house boarded up, as we are now all starving zombies.
“Other ideas are about who we are, and will still be, once the dust settles: tea and cake, apologising all the time or a self-portrait.
“Whatever happens, we have 234 homes signed up to make their own display, and even a mobile British Disco camper van will be out and about.
“Some of the displays will reflect Britishness, some will go their own way with ideas they have been brewing over the year, but whatever way that is, each home will be completely unique and say something about the person who made it. I can’t wait for this weekend to see the show.”
Brainstorming Britishness at a recent workshop
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Dr Edson Burton (main photo), a historian, writer and performer, will be performing a poem he wrote on what it means to be British at the launch of Bishopston Window Wanderland on Saturday night at 8.30pm at Alchemy on Gloucester Road.
Sky Arts will be filming the window displays on Saturday night and the documentary is expected to be shown in the autumn.
As part of a wider art project, Lucy will also be contributing to Art 50 displays at the Barbican in London and Sage Centre in Gateshead.
Read more: 21 pictures of Window Wanderland 2018
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