About this project
The Wall: London’s Most Public Gallery
Our Project
We’re turning 5 years old here at Village underground, and in celebration we’ve decided to try and make a dream happen.
We want to build London’s most public gallery. For years this immense wall on Great Eastern Street has been host to many artists painting in the wall’s 4m X 3m recesses, they’re oddly like natural picture frames, from Steve Powers and Shepard Fairy to incredibly talented local artists. We want to evolve this informal project, turning it into an amazing permanent art space.
Why We’re Coming to Kickstarter
To do this, we need to design, build and install bullet proof metal and glass frames over the recesses to protect the art work from theft and vandalism. Importantly, this means that artists can paint on board and canvas so the work can be kept. Its been really tough over the years to see such amazing work lost as the next artist paints over it.
Saving the art work will mean that artists can sell their pieces and earn a living. That’s obviously important, but it also means that we can exhibit art that’s not just painting – photography, digital art, mixed media, even interactive work: This takes the wall onto a whole new level.
Staying True
We’ve always been steadfast in remaining independent and much of what we do at Village Underground is on a not-for-profit basis. Supporting artists and providing an open and alternative space for culture is why we get out of bed in the morning. We’ve fought off the offers from advertising companies who what to use the wall, we want to raise our own money rather than having a corporate sponsor.
How it Will Work
We’ll invite guest curators and artists to contribute, programming The Wall with the same mixed-art approach as venue of Village Underground itself. Established artists will exhibit next to emerging ones, international artists next to locals.
We’re also creating The Digital Wall that will take the project much further afield. The Digital Wall will allow artists from all around the world to upload their own work in a bid to have exhibition time on the physical wall, this means we can go global, from New York to Istanbul. Art lovers can log onto the Digital Wall to follow this international stream of creativity, as well as download or order affordable art prints. This will generate income for both the artists and for the ongoing project costs, as well as Village Underground’s social programme of supporting young talent.
London traffic stats state that over 10 million cars pass The Wall every year - that’s more ‘visitors’ than Tate, The National Gallery and The Barbican combined. Add to that a few million more passengers, pedestrians and cyclists, and you’ll start to see why we’re more than a little excited about our plans. That's why we need your help.
A huge thank you from Auro, Abi and Orlando and all of us at Village Underground
And if you're interested, you learn more about who we are and what we do here: www.villageunderground.co.uk
Thanks to all the wonderful people who helped us create this film and project including Simon Drew, Anna Boberg, Mark Sloan, Steve Powers, SheOne, End of The Line, Dan Davies, Amelie Snyers, all those at Moniker, Monorex, Arnold Hattingh, Lisa Cadwallader and anyone else we've missed off (please let us know and we'll add you too!)
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 12.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
We'll send you a digital postcard from the first exhibition thanking you for your support
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
We'll send you a digital copy of the film 'Launching The Wall' a short piece documenting the first exhibition, and we'll add your name on the credits.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
We'll post you a set of 6 limited edition postcards of Village Underground street art (Ben Eine, Herakut, Pete Fowler)
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
Entry +1 to come for a behind-the-scenes look at Village Underground. Have a tour around the venue, the trains and our ex-massage parlour. Finish up with drinks on the roof.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
Get yourself a limited run Village Underground t-shirt (either in black or white - S, M, L)
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street. We'll take a digital photo of your brick and send it to you.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
Your name etched into a brick in the The Wall on Great Eastern Street. We'll take a digital photo of your brick and send it to you. We also give you a set of 4 limited-edition postcards from the first exhibition
Pledge $78 or more Pledge $78 or more
Available in time for Christmas if you can collect from Village Underground! A tile from our mock-walls painted on wood for our Street Jam. Large scale pieces painted by Will Barras, Toasters and SHEONE (signed). Tiles are offered on a first come first served basis. To reserve a specific tile please get use the reference number from http://bit.ly/vuwalljam and leave a comment in our Kickstarter comments section.
Pledge $80 or more Pledge $80 or more
Your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street (plus digital photo sent). Entry +1 to come for a behind-the-scenes look at Village Underground: the venue, the trains and our ex-massage parlour. Drinks on the roof to finish up.
Pledge $90 or more Pledge $90 or more
A tile from our mock-walls painted on wood for our Street Jam. Large scale pieces painted by Will Barras, Toasters and SHEONE. Tiles are offered on a first come first served basis. To reserve a specific tile please get use the reference number from http://bit.ly/vuwalljam and leave a comment in our Kickstarter comments section.
Pledge $110 or more Pledge $110 or more
You'll get a limited-edition A3 print of Ben Eine's iconic Vandalism piece. Your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street (plus digital photo sent). A set of 4 limited edition postcards from the first exhibition
Pledge $120 or more Pledge $120 or more
Invitation for you +1 to come and enjoy exclusive gig access at Village Underground. Arrive early to hear the sound check and enjoy pre-gig refreshments in the trains on the roof. Valid for one year (check www.villageunderground.co.uk for upcoming gigs). And a set of 4 limited edition postcards from the first exhibition
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
Limited edition artist painted model tube trains. Trains painted and signed by artists.Plus your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street (and digital photo sent).
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Photo shoot at Village Underground. Photo shoot for two people taken in and around the trains, The Wall and the venue. Photography done by Village Underground Artists in Residence. A2 print of selected photograph to be digitally printed. Plus your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street (and digital photo sent).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
A day's creative session with artists as they prep for an exhibition. Spend the day at Village Underground seeing the artists at work as they create huge 4x3 metre pieces. Have the chance to create your own canvas (1 x 1.5m) working along side the artists. Refreshments and music included. For two people. Plus your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street (and digital photo sent).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
A day's creative session for two people with artists as they prep for the exhibition. Spend the day at Village Underground seeing the artists at work as they create huge 4x3 metre pieces. Take away your own one-off artist-designed t-shirt or bring your own garment. Refreshments and music included. For two people. Plus your name etched into a brick in The Wall on Great Eastern Street (and digital photo sent).
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
Repaint our iconic tube trains! A never to be repeated opportunity to embellish our iconic roof top tube trains. Collaborate with any one of our East London artists to create your own bespoke design and then customise the trains in a day long session. Date determined by demand and artists subject to availability.
Project By
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I'm Auro Foxcroft, Im a furniture designer by training and I set up Village Underground.
As a project Village Underground lets me indulge myself in a few of my passions – promoting special gigs and events is something that I've done since my beginnings as a teenage raver, exhibitions of design and art and other cultural shows are close to my heart, and also I get to travel - Im setting up other Village Underground projects in Lisbon and Berlin.
I sit on the board of Trans Europe Halles, which is a network of not for profit cultural centres across spread over 25 countries in Europe.
All of my work is important to me because Im a passionate believer in the power of culture, and in particular independent and alternative culture. It happens on the fringes and it’s a vital way that society redefines itself and evolves.
Im very happy that my work keeps me in that space, working at ground level with artists and the local creative community, as well as the ultra diverse community of East London at large.
