PRETTY VACANT RSS

Welcome to Pretty Vacant, a forthcoming arts collaboration between artists Christopher Guest and Darren Washington based in Newcastle under Lyme, UK.

The project has been funded by The British Arts Council and will see the two artists from differing creative backgrounds coming together to create work in empty shop windows in Newcastle Under Lyme.

The project will be a celebration of the “Local Heroes” of Newcastle Town. Local heroes are not the recognised celebrities we all know about, ie Stanley Matthews, Robbie Williams, but rather those individuals who are of unique character and make the area what is it..and what it is- is not what you read in the national press!

Taking place in the large empty windows in a vacant unit in Warner Village, in the heart of the town, the artists will hold regular research workshops around specific venues we have identified- meeting the public and talking through our ideas with them. In a way this project will be shaped by the public as it will be their character traits and vivacity that will make this project successful.

We will use our respective creative practices in graffiti and drawing, photography and digital media to create large scale projections and cut out forms, inviting the audience to look for the humorous, beautiful and fantastical aspects of those around us.

Over the coming weeks and months we will be posting regular updates on this blog,keeping you up to date with our venue visits, interesting people we have met and also documenting how us as two artists from very different creative backgrounds can learn together.

For more information on Pretty Vacant you can email us at prettyvacant2010@hotmail.com

And you can also text your interest through to the Pretty Vacant Hotline on 07504005980

Archive

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More research photos posted Our most recent research day was spent trawling through the pubs and betting shops of Stoke on Trent in search of our Local Heroes..and we found some gems! Heres Ken, who works at Staffordshire University as a caretaker at the Fine Arts studios. Ken and Pretty Vacant co-artist Chris met years ago, when Ken had to throw Chris out of the studios at night.. but instead kept him there telling the truly awful jokes that has given him legendary status amongst the student population in Stoke Town. A really genuine and nice man, Ken will be the subject of more Local Hero posts as the project continues..we may even blog a few of his witty one-liners! If you know of  any local characters in Stoke Town please drop us a message on the blog or through our facebook account. Alternatively you can email Chris and Darren at prettyvacant2010@hotmail.com

More research photos posted

Our most recent research day was spent trawling through the pubs and betting shops of Stoke on Trent in search of our Local Heroes..and we found some gems!

Heres Ken, who works at Staffordshire University as a caretaker at the Fine Arts studios. Ken and Pretty Vacant co-artist Chris met years ago, when Ken had to throw Chris out of the studios at night.. but instead kept him there telling the truly awful jokes that has given him legendary status amongst the student population in Stoke Town.

A really genuine and nice man, Ken will be the subject of more Local Hero posts as the project continues..we may even blog a few of his witty one-liners!

If you know of  any local characters in Stoke Town please drop us a message on the blog or through our facebook account. Alternatively you can email Chris and Darren at prettyvacant2010@hotmail.com