Celebrating stories in Walthamstow market with a new sculpture
The Walthamstow Griffin
In a world of global brands and chains, our high streets can sometimes feel a bit homogenous.
A new sculpture by Sandie M Sutton was inspired by the people who live, work and trade in Walthamstow’s famous market, with funding from the Mayor of London’s Untold Stories programme.
The Walthamstow Griffin, was created using waste plastic donated from stall owners and local community groups. It's accompanied by a unique collection of eight large-scale flags, co-created by Alisa Ruzavina and a team of artists, that recognise the importance of local businesses.
Working with the community
The project co-created the artworks with the ideas and imaginations of local participants.
Sandie worked with discarded materials to create the Walthamstow Griffin asking the local community to gather plastic waste for its construction.
Inspired by Walthamstow's history
The repeating griffin motif on Walthamstow High Street’s architecture was her inspiration as it had historically symbolised protection and was thought to be ‘the guardian of gold’, reflecting the history of trade in the area.
In this way, these were co-owned from the outset and the Griffin is becoming a much-loved new addition to the high street.
There is a sense of togetherness with an art project such as this, the art trail etc always highlights the different cultures that make our borough such an amazing place
How the sculpture has been received
The Walthamstow Griffin, now a permanent feature, has been admired by traders, shopworkers and the public alike and has inspired many conversations around the histories and experiences of the market.
One of the flags, featuring stories about Walthamstow bus station prompted Alisa Ruzavina to show it to workers at the station.
As part of the project, artists, traders and residents felt valued and empowered as creative activists to change the physical and social experience of visiting Walthamstow High Street.
By re-thinking waste, the project also provided new ways for the neighbourhood to share stories across a diverse range of cultures and create a memorable community occasion with far reaching legacy.
Untold Stories: uncovering fascinating stories of diverse Londoners across the city
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