A house with dilapidated grandeur and peculiar mannequins dressed in spectacular feathered headdresses staring at you from the window. Enter the world of Richard and Bettina. Two artists transforming their living space into an art space. Marvel at the object d'art strewn across tables, fascinating artworks hanging everywhere and innovations in architecture and ecology. Every nook and cranny filled
with delight, ‘curiouser and curiouser’ I here you say. Welcome to the ‘5 Bow Road Arts Club’
If you live in Mile End and walk down Bow Road you will already know of the house with two impressive golden horses stood outside. You can’t help but notice these and other artworks outside No 5. As the lintel inscription notes, this was once the home to Bow Arts Club, 1822. The Bow Arts Club was a hub of the arts, although a social venue, it was a place where influence could be exerted and careers developed. It has continued to provide a forum and meeting place for those involved in all the arts and resident artist Richard Sleeman has created an art school here. It’s actually on the tourist trail with many people stopping to take photographs and peering inside this wonderful building. FYI the horses are not for sale as they are priceless. Brought over from Rio de Janeiro from their famous carniTval they now belong to the mighty Paraiso School of Samba and were Boudica’s steers in the parade last year with their theme ‘Heroes of Independence’. Helping them win the converted title of ‘Champions of Notting Hill Carnival’
Richard and Bettina have set up ‘5 Bow Road Arts Club’ as a meeting place for painters, designers, architects, writers, actors, dancers filmmakers, photographers, musicians, lawyers, nuns and craftspeople etc etc. They have opened the house as a gallery, studios, a film club and performance art venue. Our beloved patron is actress Dame Anna Wing MBE the East End Great Grandmother. Come join us for workshops, parties, happenings and every weekend a market in the front garden selling artwork, jewellery, furniture, ornaments and cutlery.etc etc. Or come just to look at the bizarre, enjoy some refreshments and a chat or even sell your wares at the weekend market. Bring your children and let them try on some feathered carnival headdresses and get their photo taken. If they get the carnival bug maybe they could get involved in parading with Paraiso School of Samba. Thanks to our friend and landlord we may have been granted three months grace enabling us to offer full service till Christmas. Richard and Bettina will be harnessing up the horses and taking the Arts Club elsewhere in the New Year and intend to make the most of the place until they leave. We celebrate the illusion of property with a silhouette of the grim reaper entitled ‘take it with you estates’ tacked onto the estate agents sign
Come and join us! Drink the cup! An exploration of gorilla urbanism. Fondest regards the People’s Republic of 5 Bow Road Arts Club
