DRAWL

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Drawing in Court

A protest outside the courts re disability assessment

Last week I spent a day drawing at the Royal Courts of Justice with the Topolski residents. Unfortunately during the afternoon session we were chucked out. In fact we hadn't been troubled during the morning where we attended and drew many different cases. The specific case was possibly the problem as it was brought about by an individual against the Metropolitan police for discrimination. I thought we were getting some odd looks but when security arrived and removed us it became apparent that drawing in court isn't as straight forward as you'd think.

The drawings were held andwe were threatened with a possible charge of contempt of court. We were eventually allowed to leave sketchbookless whilst the offending drawings were checked by the Judge. Apparently caricature is ok but a direct likeness isn't allowed.

The drawings were returned without any alterations, ommisions or deletions. I was hoping for some critical feedback but nothing was to be found amongst the pages.

From just last week TV cameras are now allowed in the Court of Appeal following a partial lifting of the long standing ban.

Barrister Michael Mansfield QC welcomed the move, saying it was long overdue.

"You have to remember justice is supposed to be public. It is public. You can walk in there today. The problem is that doesn't reach a wide enough audience and we're also subject to the editorial delights of various newspapers as to what they want to report,"

In 1945-46 Feliks Topolski attended and completed an incredible series of drawings at the Nuremburg Trials which were published in La France Libre.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24744684
http://www.topolskicentury.org.uk/chronicles/chronicles-catalogue/
http://www.varoom-mag.com/?page_id=315

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Heygate Estate and Blue Elephant Theatre.

Last week I made drawings at the soon to be demolished infamous Heygate estate in London with the Topolski residents. We spent some time drawing the iconic Neo Brutalist building from the train platform at Elephant and Castle.

Following this we spent the afternoon at the Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell, drawing rehearsals for the production 'Retrospective'

Thankyou to the dancers and Theatre staff for their support.

http://bit.ly/nutshellretro

We were accompanied by Josh, a cameraman who was filming the residents for a documentary on the drawing programme directed by Alistair Oldham from University of the West of England.

Dancer at the Blue Elephant Theatre

Heygate Estate Church RIP

Heygate Estate demolition approaching

The Heygate Estate from the station platform.

The Heygate Estate is controversially undergoing demolition. Completed in 1974 the estate had fallen into disrepair by 2000, however surveyors recommended refurbishment rather than demolition. Four out of five residents didn't want to move out of the estate and contrary to popular belief the crime rate in and around the estate was half the average for the borough of southwark. It was revealed that the council had sold the estate for £50m having spent £44m emptying the site and planning the redevelopment. A compulsory purchase order was implemented in July 2013 forcing the last residents out.

Next location, The Royal Courts of Justice, where the sketchbooks were held on a charge of contempt of court before being released for not being realistic enough.

Saturday, 12 October 2013

Topolski residents draw at the races

A few drawings I made earlier in the week when we went to Windsor races with the Topolski residents. Unfortunately I fell into the lure of the bookies and placed a bet on Rhombus because I liked the name. Obviously my horse came in 5th. However Andrea won two races, following a good tip from the internet. On top of this we made some great drawings and were made really welcome by the staff and public. The weather was fantastic and lighting conditions made the job of on the spot sketching all the more easier. earlier in the day we had a really interesting tour around the Frontline Club near Paddington where the residents are giving a presentation early in 2014.