The Triangle SE19: ceramics

Monday, 10 July 2017

A L'Etage 2

2017 is shaping up to be a bumper year on the Triangle, with, it would seem, more new openings than the previous 5 years I've been writing this blog, put together. One of the most recent is, A L'Etage 2, a new project by local/Danish jeweller, Tine Bladbjerg. As she explains,
"A friend once asked my sister and I what games we liked to play as children. We looked at each other and then replied that we made stuff and played shop. I guess some things never change…"
Up until recently, the sisters, Tine and Lene shared a studio in Coopers Yard, but Tine always hoped to fulfil the second half of her childhood dream, and open a shop. That wish finally came to pass when she took on the lease of No.4 Westow Hill, formerly an internet cafe, and began to turn it into, not only a shop for her jewellery designs, but also a gallery space showcasing the work of other artists and makers, including her sister, Lene. The undertaking proved bigger than expected, when dry rot was found in part of the flooring, which had to be replaced. Fortunately she had the help of a very supportive landlord in carrying out the works. The long narrow premises also allowed Tine to move her studio across the road from nearby Coopers Yard, but due to the shop's location and the one way system, transporting the contents of the studio had to be done by hand by Tine's husband, Dominic, as a van would have entailed an almost complete circuit of the Triangle for each load.
The finished gallery, gives space to talented artists and makers, some local and familiar, selling high quality handmade products, ranging from jewellery by a number of different designers, to accessories, homewares and fine art, at a range of prices to suit all. And thanks to the existing success of A L'Etage online, Tine has been inundated with people hoping to showcase their work in her gallery.
Meanwhile beyond the counter at the back of the shop, Tine continues to work on her own exquisite designs in her new studio, where she also plans to hold classes and workshops. She is also preparing for Art Unequalled, a show taking place in Ely in November.

Tine Bladbjerg

Woven scarves by Kate Williams, belts by Melissa Simpson

Art by Lene Bladbjerg

Glass vase by Christiaan D Maas

Cookie Scottorn Ceramics

Jewellery

Rings by Tine Bladbjerg

Pendant by Tine Bladbjerg

Necklace by Sabine Konig

Pendant by Tine Bladbjerg

Pendant by Gill Laverick

Necklace by Deborah Kelly-Hopkins

Earings by Karen Faulkner-Dunkley

The Studio

A L'Etage 2

4 Westow Hill

info@aletage2.com

@aletage2 (instagram)

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

The Paxton Centre

In the course of the last five and half years of blogging in SE19, I've met some pretty inspiring people; people who campaign and contribute hugely to the local community. Beth Mander, whom I first met on the Handmade Palace stall at the market a couple of years ago, is someone of huge energy and determination to get things done. She originally set up the stall as a Transition Town project, and its success spawned off-shoot Christmas markets and the monthly Makers market. At the same time, she was pursuing her own creativity as a potter, as well as offering pottery classes. Now she has brought all those threads together by taking on the lease of the former Paxton Hotel, halfway down Anerley Hill. With this large, light and airy high-ceilinged space, it has been possible to house all her projects under one roof, and throw in a cafe for good measure. Here, the work of artists can be displayed in a way not possible on a market stall, creating a gallery setting for regularly changing exhibitions. In addition, The Paxton Centre not only hosts pottery classes, but a variety of other activities, including life drawing classes, an adult and kids' art club, a venue for choir practice, quiz nights, a hot-desking / co-working club, and with the cafe in place, it's able to hold regular creative social events. Coming up soon, there will be a Bonfire Night, pop-up curry evening, and in the new year, a series of music events is planned. Impressively, Beth runs the centre with a team of volunteers, who in return, can earn free classes or hot-desk sessions. There's a buzz about the place, and Beth is delighted that what started as Handmade Palace, has been opened up to a whole new audience.
The 150 year old building housing all this, has an interesting story too. Beth was drawn to the building's "resilience" in the face of adversity, after seeing old pictures posted online of the structure standing proud, while surrounded by bomb sites. On 11th July 1944, a bomb fell nearby, killing 13 people. A split second earlier and it may have killed many more, as a bus had just pulled away from the scene. Drinking at the bar at that moment, was a man named John Markham, finishing his pint. He dashed out to help rescue people from the bombing, and 11 years later, when the pub finally re-opened, there was a pint awaiting him on the bar. As Beth relates this tale to me, she is busy finishing a ceramic plaque, which will be fixed to the building's exterior to commemorate those who died in the attack.
So this is the start of a bright new future, for Beth, for the building, and for the creative community in Crystal Palace.