BLDNG BLCKS is a project by Gillian Swan that invites artists to create a piece of artwork inspired by toy building blocks. Gillian says;
"The idea for the project was triggered by my own small collection of toy building blocks. To tie in with the planned Memorabilia exhibition (an exhibition of artwork and artefacts inspired by childhood memories in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital), and inspired by the positive experience I had of taking part in the Wing Assignment, I decided to produce some blank solid beech building blocks and invite artists to use them as the starting point for a piece of artwork.
I created a simple visual identity for the project based upon the tiling design in a nearby subway and set up a simple website to document the project and share artists’ work in progress images.
With such an open brief, the outcomes were expectedly varied but most either chose to work on the blocks in their own characteristic style or adopted the childhood theme. It was a real treat to open an email or parcel and see each new building block emerge."
I decided to make my blocks into little woodland animals. These are supposed to be a hedgehog, an owl and a fox.
The finished artworks were exhibited at ‘Memorabilia’ on 6th & 7th July at Norlington Road Studios, 66 Norlington Road, London E10 6LA.
Below are some of the blocks on display in Studio 4 at Norlington Road prior to the Memorabilia show. I donated the little wooden cars. The other blocks pictured here are by Jair Graham, Michelle Theodotou, Julie Caves, Ruth Cullis, Greta Staron, Maria Slováková and Carne Griffiths.
The image below shows the blocks featured in Undecided Artzine #1
Thank you!
