Approach to the artwork
Each artwork delivered as part of the Fore Street Murals project engaged residents, local schools and community groups in a number of different ways. Below sets out the artist’s approach both the mural and the engagement to ensure each work becomes a part of the local social fabric.
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Charlie by AGWA
Through on street community engagement Albert designed three artworks based around the market traders, local architecture and cultural cuisines. The public then voted for their favourite.
The final artwork was based on Charlie who has been working on the market for more than 70years.
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Charlie's Wall - Christina Kalinowski of Doodle Designs
Inspired by the stories of Charlie, as well as contributions from Edmontonians past and present, the murals are influenced by Victorian illustrations, botanical studies and William Morris. The artwork will eventually evolve into a faux 'ghost sign' - where text and illustrations of years gone by remain visible, fading over time, contributing to the history of the area.
Imagery taken from both the past and present include: crowns and a tun as a nod to the Paddy Power building once being a popular public house, and blocks representing the chimneys of Snells
Estate Mansion - now demolished to make way for the current housing. Transport images through the years are depicted with both horse-drawn and electric trams, as well as the more recent mopeds, which reflect the long-standing hustle and bustle of Fore Street, being a thoroughfare since Victorian times.
Colourful fruit, vegetables and fish are prominent in the pieces, marking the historical significance of the market stalls, with an array of different produce to reflect the deep-rooted diversity of Edmonton's community. This contrasts with the monochromatic tones of the man-made transport elements of the piece, set in an urban environment. Quotes from 'Charlie’s Stall' by local Poet Keith Mowatt also feature throughout.
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Sacred Geometry, Edmonton by Static
“Sacred Geometry Fore Street” by artist duo Static, is an artwork that has been created as a response to reflect the communities in the area, referencing Islamic craftsmen and artists who developed an instantly recognizable aesthetic based on repeated geometrical shapes, where representations of people in holy sites were not permissible. Adjourning the front and the entrance way of the Muslim Cultural Society, the artwork and colouring was chosen by the congregation of the of the mosque, selected by seven different colourways. We would like to thank Mr Youfi and Mr Nahoor and the congregation of the Muslim Cultural Society on Fore Street for their support and contribution to bring life to the exterior of the building, reflecting the energy inside.
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This is US by Tiger Monkey
Tiger Monkey artists Emma Ghafur, Licia Santos and Delina Kidane worked with 300 children including some parent /carers from St John and St James Church of England Primary School delivering creative consultation and design workshops.
Children created their own original designs by drawing and making simple bright coloured collages inspired by the work of Henri Matisse. Emma then took all the images and selected 90 for the mural and copied them in Procreate on her i-pad ready for Wall Street Walls to transfer to mural artwork. This method and process ensured that the images were kept in line with how the children originally drew them. This is important in terms of ownership by the young artists and keeping true to their original visions and ideas.
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Inside Out by Hanna Benihoud
Inside Out is a collaborative artwork created with the input from local residents and with help from Edmonton Community Partnership. We hand delivered 1000 postcards asking residents where their happy place was. Developed from responses the artwork merges the love of the outdoors with home comforts. The ‘Fore Street Wallpaper’ is made up of a fantasy bouquet of national flowers celebrating the diversity of Upper Edmonton.