While, five years on, the wounds and unimaginable pain caused by the Grenfell Tower fire remain, this upcoming exhibition illuminates the strength and spirit of the local community.
Works from nine artists are being put on display this week to raise money for LCAT, a west London art therapy charity, and continue the push for justice five years on from the disaster.
In a debut campaign from Create Community, the Greek Street location will showcase 20 different works in a free exhibition on September 23-24 between 12pm – 9pm, with drinks available from 5pm each day.
Each work you see at the “Grenfell: 5 Years On” exhibition was crafted by up-and-coming artists from around the UK; with every piece on display produced at a string of LCAT-hosted workshops that ran throughout August. These workshops helped some of the youngest members of the Grenfell community engage with art while furthering the sentiment of community strength we see through these artists’ creations.
Create Community Director Wilson McTeare said: “We’re excited to finally showcase the pieces created by our nine young, incredibly talented artists. Each of the artists have interpreted the tragedy surrounding Grenfell in their own way, focusing not only on the victims but also on the strength of the community that continues to fight for justice.”
“We will also have artwork on display, which was created with young people from across west London during a series of LCAT workshops this summer. Our artists worked with different age groups to develop 20 amazing artworks across different mediums. This is exactly what we envisioned when starting Create Community and it is a great feeling knowing that it is now all coming together to offer much needed support.”
At the exhibition, you’ll be able to check out the work from Anthony Achille; Maldito Mono; Federico Manasse; Verona Alili; Sam Niklin; Olympia Alsawi; Jennifer McDonald; Jack Badu; and Idara Udo.
All funds raised at the Create Community exhibition will go towards Latimer Community Art Therapy (LCAT), a charity that art psychotherapist Susan Rudnik formed one day after the Grenfell tragedy. The grassroots organisaton provides accessible, professional mental health support through art psychotherapy, plus community services and activities that “support creativity, physical, social, and emotional development.” (Read more about LCAT’s mission here)
Working alongside Wilson McTeare at Create Community is director Kelvyn Quagraine, who raised £9,800 in a prior Grenfell Print Campaign. He said: “My hope is that this project demonstrates the power of art to support the welfare of young people still suffering from the impact of the Grenfell fires across the West London community. I am really proud of where each artist has taken this and people support us in raising important funds for LCAT.”
You can register for your free ticket to the “Grenfell: 5 Years On” exhibitionvia this link.
Check out Create Community’s website here, and purchase prints of a selection of the art on display this weekend, with funds going towards LCAT.
Create Community’s exhibition marking five years since the Grenfell fire and raising money for LCAT takes place at 19 Greek Street, W1D 4DT (nearest station is Tottenham Court Road) this Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24 between 12pm – 9pm, with drinks available from 5pm.