Greenside School Hosts Graphic Art Fair


As restored Gordon Cullen mural is unveiled

After a three year campaign, parents in Shepherd's Bush have successfully raised the funds to restore a piece of remarkable local heritage - the Greenside Mural by Gordon Cullen, in the Grade II listed primary school.

Greenside Primary School, in Westville Road was designed by Erno Goldfinger and Gordon Cullen created the mural in 1952/53 as part of Goldfinger's design.

Gordon Cullen Mural at Greenside School in Shepherd's' Bush

The restoration is being celebrated at Bouncing Off the Wall! The Twentieth Century Graphic Arts Fair when the restored mural, hidden for years under a red velvet curtain, will be revealed at a ribbon cutting ceremony by Gordon Cullen's widow, Jacqueline Cullen.

The fair will run from 11am till 5pm and organisers say there will be excellent examples of midcentury print for sale as well as contemporary work inspired by the period from Central Saint Martins and local artist-designers Starch Green, publishers and artists.

Among the work for sale will be a previously unavailable Eric Ravilious wood engraving will available for the first time as a limited edition, published by Jennings Fine Art, printed at the Hand & Eye Press and a commemorative poster, with a specially commissioned wood engraving by Jonathan Mercer.

Guests will be able to join in maypole dancing choreographed by Mike Ruff, from Trademis and author of the Maypole Manual and there will be food and drink in the playground provided by Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Claud the Butler, Daisy the Vintage Ice Cream Van, The Gin Garden with Sipsmith Gin and the Portobello Brewing Company.

Having formed a small charity, Friends of the Greenside Mural, parents and local people have raised the funds for its restoration through donations and grants, running a highly engaging series of Greenside Arts Lectures and selling Mural Mugs.

Over £8,000 has been raised with significant donations from the Foster Foundation, Thames Wharf Charity, Heritage of London Trust, Hammersmith & Fulham Buildings Group and some generous individuals, many from the local community but several from the wider audience interested in the unique heritage of this very special building.

" Bouncing Off the Wall! will be a superb finale to the Friends of the Greenside Mural’s campaign, and a day we hope will involve the whole school community and the many supporters we have met over the last three years," says Kate Fishenden, spearhead of the campaign and organiser of the Greenside Arts Lectures.

" We are thrilled that such a high calibre of artists and designers are showing at the Fair and looking forward to a great day of celebration," adds Jonathan Mercer, Chair of the charity Friends of the Greenside Mural.

 

May 7, 2014