The Walthamstow Griffin
Thank you!
With thanks to the artists and crew, our project partners, funders, supporters and of course audiences for making this event possible.
The Walthamstow Griffin
Guardian of High Street Treasures
Now installed at 39 High Street, Walthamstow, above Golden Cakes. Have you spotted her yet? Tag us in your social media posts @artilleryarts #TheWalthamstowGriffin
Artillery CIC has been collaborating with local artist Sandie M Sutton to bring a stunning new 3 metre wall mounted sculpture to Walthamstow.
Inspired by the repeating motifs in the nearby heritage architecture, The Walthamstow Griffin is sculpted using reclaimed plastics in eye popping colours and will watch over the High Street.
Check back here soon for our artist Q&As, installation shots and a timelapse video being made by students at Leyton Sixth Form College.
Flags of Our High Street Treasures
While The Walthamstow Griffin perches on the wall, serving as the guardian of great treasure, strength and wisdom of our High Street communities, amplifying dialogue about protecting our planet, protecting our safety, and treasuring our identities and cultures, the flags will be celebrating and showcasing what those treasures are, reminding people of all the wonders, delights, warmth and riches that can be found on our High Street. Whether it’s a delicious pastry or a new friend, the High Street, is both a place of discovery and familiarity. The Flags will encapsulate this diverse rich spirit of the street, celebrating its people, its businesses and its abundance through colorful imagery derived from conversations and interviews with the High Street traders and visitors, along with stories of diverse community groups that will be co-designing the flags.
The flags have been co-designed around 8 themes: Public Space, DIY, Repair & Creativity, The Market, Food & Drink Culture, Future Visions, Past Heritage, Diverse Cultures, Female-led businesses.
This project was led by sustainability-driven fashion and textiles designer and activist Alisa Ruzavina.
With thanks to all the community collaborators involved: Sam Griffiths, Jennie Caminada, Jenny Greenfield, Waltham Forest College, The Gleaners and The Hornbeam Centre, Waltham Forest, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association, The ELMS, The Mill, Mika Sembongi, Anita O’Brien, Carolyn Abbott, Kaori Yatsumoto, Sara Shimasue, Amanda Chaloner, Ellie Horry, NBAM.
To borrrow the flags for your events please email: events@artillery.org.uk
High Street ADVENTures Invites you to
A Winter Feast
Join us outside at 23-39 Walthamstow High Street, E17 7AD
on Saturday 3 December 2022 from 1pm - 5pm
A Winter Feast is a celebratory afternoon to welcome a stunning new wall-mounted sculpture to The High Street: The Walthamstow Griffin is an exciting new public artwork by local sculptor, Sandie M Sutton (above Golden Cakes on the corner of Carisbrooke Road)
FREE activities and performances will run throughout the afternoon to celebrate our fantastic High Street, the local traders and our wonderful diverse community. Make and decorate your own griffin at one of the FREE creative workshops. Have your face painted, play games, join the local history walk or sit back and enjoy the Music and Storytelling performances.
Event Programme
.jpeg)
_edited.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Explore our Project Timeline
Acknowledgements
A project by Artillery CIC and Associate Artists
Artists: Sandie M Sutton & Alisa Ruzavina
Project Team: Morag McGuire, Laura Kerry, Jessica Hudsley Events, Kirsty McNeil, Hattie Scott, Felicity Jones Metal
The Winter Feast has been commissioned by Waltham Forest Council as part of Small Business Saturday and is produced by Artillery CIC in partnership with Jessica Hudsley Events and Associate Artists Sandie M Sutton and Alisa Ruzavina.
The Walthamstow Griffin sculpture has been awarded funding by the Mayor of London as part of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm and is supported by Waltham Forest Council
With thanks to all our project partners, Mayor of London, Waltham Forest Council, St James Street Big Local, Twenty First Century Land, Ambar Installations, L&Q for a donation, and Sainsburys for overnight storage for our scissor lift!
Thanks to our volunteers, and everyone who donated the plastics including pupils at Stoneydown Park Primary School.