Hoxton street market is the environment where A Brooks Art gallery is placed. A smart, genuine and locally-focused art gallery, recently open. The big windows offer a nice glance of the exhibitions also from outside. Julia, the owner, keeps always the door open in order to naturally let people inside. A Brooks Art also represents her personality. Simple, but at the same time smart and open to people. “Exhibitions are free, for everyone. We have to have an impact on the local community. That’s what A Brooks meant to do since May, when we have opened”, she says.
Despite its “short life”, the gallery has already welcomed many interesting exhibitions. Last but not least “We florists”, by Lawrence Daley, now on until the 27th of October. Something between an exhibition and an experiment, to know if a dehumidifier would provide enough moisture to keep the plants in a flowerbed alive (an interview with the artist is coming soon on “Made in Shoreditch”).
Julia how would you describe art brooks gallery?
“As a registered charity our aim is to provide support and opportunity to both creative work and learning and in turn help others to benefit from the same. Each year the gallery will organize a series of exhibitions in a variety of media and each presentation will be accompanied by related free events public programme for local residents and visitors alike. The gallery will showcase emerging and established artists to Shoreditch and East London. ”
Where did you start from?
“We are open since the 3rd of May 2012. The first exhibition we have done concerned lost cinemas in Islington. It was a kind of three
part show and it was very successful. We had an artist talk and walk. We took 20 people to Islington. We have charity, we help emerging people having a platform and a voice. We want to connect and interact with the local community. It’s not about the artist being local, the project has to be local.”
How would you describe the gallery and the exhibitions?
“We might look as a white cube space but we are not. This is a space for everyone, the door is always open because we have to let people in. We have to invite them. That’s the most funny and challenging thing regarding running this art gallery.”
What about “We Florists”, the exhibition now on?
“We florists is perhaps the best example of what A Brooks Art is about. It’s a very locally focused gallery. These plants have been brought by local people and our sponsors, Shoreditch Trust, Hoxton Trust and St. Mary’s Secret Garden which are local too. Once the exhibition will end, plants will be replanted in our area.”
Why have you choose Hoxton street to run the gallery?
“Hoxton street is still very genuine and not too centralized. It might go in that direction a little bit, but it won’t become ultimately like Shoreditch High Street or Columbia road. It’s much more real and diverse.”
How do you link art with the development of Shoreditch?
“As I said. This part of East London is becoming very centralized. To me it will move again. It’s like a circle. Artists are not very interested in centralization. They don’t have much money, especially at the beginning, and so they want a local experience in a place where they can afford to shop and work.”
Which are the plans for future?
“The next exhibition will be on for the whole month of November. A photographic show concerning the left behind and the lonely. We will extend the exhibition time and we will carry on with our focus on the community which is something vital for A Brooks Art. We also have a programme for women with two local charities.”
