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Dan 12, Jim and Clara 9 (The Trinders!) have been coming to IAF for what feels like forever! They are a fantastic bunch and always a great asset to any art project they get involved in. We love them! Eleanor, our Director of Art and their sometimes teacher had a chat with them about what they get up to here...  Jim, Dan and Clara 2016 What do you usually do at IAF? Dan: We usually go to holiday workshops! Jim and Clara go to an art club every Tuesday. What's your favourite thing about IAF? Jim: My favourite thing is the holiday workshops, you make a big project all together over a week. Dan: Yes, I agree, when everything comes together it's very satisfying. Clara: My favourite is Tuesday art club, because you can bring things to show and every time you come you get to do something different for the project! How long have you been coming to IAF? Dan: We have all been coming since we were 4 or 5, and joined ArtStart on a Saturday morning. Tell us what IAF means to you? Clara: It's somewhere to come when you don't have anything else to do. Dan: It's one of the fun things to do over the holiday! Jim: Because we are having building work done at home, an extension, this is a place we can come if we don't have anything to do at home. Who is your favourite Artist/Artwork? Clara: My grandmother Wendy Trinder. Jim: I like the art works that we have done here, my favourite was the Mr Hoppity sculpture from the Easter Workshop, that was the greatest thing I ever did, that was fun! Dan: I agree with Jim, it was Mr Hoppity!
Tell us something about IAF that might surprise people. Clara: In December we have an exhibition of everything we have done in the year and the Mayor comes.  The Trinders with the Mayor at MakeArt 2016
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Islington Arts Factory is lucky enough to call itself home to a whole load of artists and creatives all working with different mediums, from photography to clay and contemporary dance to taxidermy. That's right! Taxidermy! Tonja Grung from Made From the Dead moved into her studio years ago and we are so glad she did, she's the best! We popped up to her studio to have a chat...  What do you do at IAF? I am a professional Taxidermist and have my studio / workshop here. This is also where I run classes, both private and for groups and where I create my pieces of artwork What’s your favourite thing about IAF? That it is run like a family and is so welcoming. It offers such a broad scale of activities for all people of all ages and abilities. How long have you been coming to IAF Too long to remember! Tell us what IAF means to you A great deal. It’s where I run my business from. When I walk in it’s like walking into my own home and I always look forward to it. Who is your favourite artist? Darwin, Sinke, and Van Tongeren of Fine Taxidermy, their work is beautiful.  What’s a North London gem you think everyone should know about? Highgate Woods as I like going for walks in the relaxing tranquillity of nature What do you do when you’re not here? When I’m not a full time Mum I enjoy lino printing, restoring furniture, sewing and bird watching to mention a few.  A sneak peek at Tonja's studio How cool is Tonja?! If you want to meet her yourself come along to one of her classes they are great fun!
Claire moved her drum kit into one of our rehearsal rooms years ago but just recently she has started running the office on occasional Sundays so we took the opportunity to have a chat with her about what IAF means to her...  Hi Claire! So you have been coming to IAF for ages what do you get up to here? Well originally I came here to rehearse, I play drums in a band, but it's also one of my favourite places to socialise, I have lots of friends here. And now I get to run the office at the weekends which is great! What's is your favourite thing about IAF? I love how quirky the building is, especially the tiles in the listed entrance way. It's a real communal space with a proper community purpose and there is such a variety of activities that go on here. How long have you been coming here? 4 wonderful years Who is your favourite artist? I have loads of favourite artists but actually my favourite exhibition is the MakeArt exhibition here. All the kids make such incredible artwork.  MakeArt our annual children's art exhibition Tell us one thing about IAF that might surprise people
It's a maze, even I haven't seen all the rooms yet! What other space do you think people should visit in Islington Union Chapel is an amazing building and their gigs programme is always really interesting. And finally what do you get up to when you aren't here? Well I work as a French teacher, an obvious choice as I'm French! I also work in a music venue and as voice actress for dubbing. How cool is Claire?! So gald she is part of the IAF family. During our Summer Salon exhibition we grabbed Eleanor for a quick 5 mins over a glass of Prosecco to ask her about her life at IAF...  What do you do at IAF? 'I am Director of Art. I also teach young people aged 4 - 16 as part of the MakeArt programme'. How long have you been coming to IAF? 'I first walked in at the age of 11! I attended art classes here all the way through my teenage years. It was a really important part of my life at the time, offering me the space to develop my interest in art and my skills outside of school. I had a great group of friends who came to the class and I have really happy memories of those years. Years after leaving to pursue my art training at university, I was invited back as an art tutor. My involvement developed from there and I ended up leading the art department. I try to offer my students the same kind of experience that I benefitted from at their age; support, encouragement and a nurturing space for creativity to flourish.' Tell us what IAF means to you? 'I just love the multi art environment. I think it is vital that places like this exist! I believe strongly that art has an important role in bringing communities together and giving people something outside of the everyday, to explore, be creative and find new passions in life.' What is your favourite artwork? 'The Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio never fails to stop me in my tracks when I visit the National Gallery. I love the study of human psychology that this piece reveals, the drama and the perfect rendering of his subject.'  The Supper at Emmaus Caravaggio Tell us something about IAF that might surprise people... 'Behind the scenes we keep and maintain a Moose, who regularly changes his dress to keep us entertained in the office. He is partial to Tutus, feathers and sequins and seems to be working his way through the Costume Department's vast collection with joyous abandon!' What's your favourite local gem? 'Toni and Guy on Holloway road. A lovely stylist called Sylvia gave me the most fabulous restyle recently. Call me shallow if you will, but I firmly believe a good hairdo can give you all the confidence you need to move forward in life.' Thanks Eleanor, before you get back to the throng, tell us what do you get up to when you're not here? 'My studio is in Forest Gate E7. I am currently working on a Forest Gate Portrait Project, where I make large scale pencil portraits of people who live or work in the area. I love working with communities and involving people in my art practice, either as the subjects of my work or as participants in workshops. Art is for everyone!'  Eleanor and her Forest Gate Portrait Project
Josh is our newest member of staff and like most of us he was a Islington Arts Factory user before he started working here. We caught up with him at reception to get to know the newest face at The Factory...  Josh! Welcome to the IAF, so what do you do here? 'Well right now I'm being the Office Assistant but I also dance here 3 times a week (Ballet and Contemporary).' So far what is your favourite thing about IAF? 'I like how friendly and inviting everyone is.' Aww thanks Josh! How long long have you been coming here? 'Just over a year' What does IAF mean to you? 'IAF is a very significant part of my life now. I have and continue to develop here as both a dancer and a person in general' What's your favourite Art work? 'Leonardo Da Vinci's ''Study of Crabs''.'  What have you learnt about IAF that surprised you? 'There are way more rooms and studios than you'd expect' Where is your favourite place in Islington? 'I just recently discovered Cookies and Scream on Holloway road and their staff and food are amazing!' What do you get up to when you aren't here? 'I'm studying for my A Levels at SMMA Sixth Form so a lot of my time is spent doing homework, but when I am free I go around London with my friends discovering new places' Thanks Josh! We are so happy to have you.  Josh performing at last years Montage
Dan is our technician here at Islington Arts Factory, we took 5 minutes over a cup of Earl Grey and a biscuit to chat to him about his IAF...  Hi Dan. So what do you do at IAF? 'Everything! Sometimes all at the same time. I fix microphones, unblock toilets, make tea, eat soup, make music, deal with bands...' What's your favourite thing about IAF? 'The people who use the space. I love the fact that anyone one can and does use our spaces - our users are so diverse'. How long have you been coming here? 'Since 2004' What does IAF mean to you? 'It's a place to come and be creative' Who is your favourite IAF user? 'There are a couple of regular bands that I really like, Adia Victoria and Bikini Faso' So tell us one thing about IAF that might surprise people... 'It has some of the nicest Art Nouveau fireplaces I have ever seen.' (they aren't in the public bits unfortunately). What's your favourite place in Islington? (apart from IAF obviously!) 'St Pancras Old church, is that in Islington?' I think it's Camden... 'Well I live near the canal and love the bit between Kingsland road and Angel, and also Islington has lots of lovely old man pubs'. What do you do when you're not here? 'Cycle around, drink coffee with friends, buy records, go to exhibitions'. Thanks Dan! And finally what's the strangest thing you've ever overheard at IAF?
' ''Why can't I throw water over people?'' A good question I thought!' |
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