News, analysis and comment - visual arts 

Bag some art in a car boot sale

ArtsHub | Friday, July 06, 2007

Sarah Baker’s Art-Car commission - see it this weekend in E1.   

Sir Peter Blake, Sarah Baker, Ian Monroe and Anthony Gross have been announced as 2007’s Art Car Commissions for Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair, which is on this Sunday 8 July. Each artist has been asked to apply their creative ingenuity to the latest Vauxhall car models, and will also be selling their own work - from the boot of the car, of course.

But that’s just the tip of the artistic iceberg. Participating artists in the car boot sale include Gavin Turk, Tracey Emin, designer Vivienne Westwood, actor Rhys Ifans and even the local arts institution Bethnal Green Working Men's Club.

Arts Hub had a sneak peak behind the scenes and can reveal that Rose Blake is selling a limited edition T-shirt, VX Collective artist Daisuke Sakaguchi is flogging a Frida Kahlo t-shirt while Vanessa Fristedt has created some broad bean Princess Di cufflinks.

The Art Car Boot Fair is now in its fifth year. It began as a desire to pick up up on a 90s theme: Joshua Compston’s Fete Worse than Death and Gavin Turk’s Livestock Market and Articultural Shows - all of which re-introduced some summer fun and frivolity into a thriving but increasingly commercial London art scene.

The organisers aim for the Art Car Boot Fair to be a day when the artists let their hair down and for all-comers to engage with art in a totally informal way, and to pick up some real art bargains to boot! Sisters and co-curators Karen Ashton and Helen Hayward said “This year’s art car boot fair line-up is the best yet with stacks of witty and original artwares on offer and lots of surprises in store.”

The sale will have all the goodies that have made it famous: artists selling bargains out of the back of cars, boxes or tables.

New to this year’s bigger and better Booty Stage will be a must-see line-up of acts, including the human Beatbox, thrills from burlesque star Lily White, Devlin Love from Alabama 3 and a Shirley Temple/Bing Crosby number from double act Sophie Parkin & Richard Dyer.

Get there early – there are 60 artists with pitches and a few more enterprising students and professionals who try to sneak in with a secret stash to sell.

The Art Car Boot Sale is at 146 Brick Lane, London E1, Sunday 8 July from 12-6pm. Entry is £2.

Related news

Oriel Factory: Paul Granjon Exhibit

Oriel Factory: Paul Granjon Exhibit

ArtsHub 24 Aug 2011

Oriel Davies Gallery in Newton, Wales is hosting a new exhibit by electronic artist Paul Granjon about the ‘the co-evolution of humans and machines’.

2011 is the year of Craft

2011 is the year of Craft

ArtsHub 17 Aug 2011

Four residencies partnerships for craft based artists have been announced based in Birmingham, Dudley Metropolitan Borough, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

Ruth Ewan: Brank & Heckle

Ruth Ewan: Brank & Heckle

ArtsHub 8 Aug 2011

Dundee Contemporary Arts presents new and recent works by Ruth Ewan in her first major solo show in the United Kingdom.

Gallery Violent raises almost £1000 for Oxfam

Gallery Violent raises almost £1000 for Oxfam

ArtsHub 8 Aug 2011

An art auction held by Gallery Violet has successfully raised almost £1000 for Oxfam’s East African appeal.

Second Government Art Collection exhibit

Second Government Art Collection exhibit

ArtsHub 27 Jul 2011

Details of the second exhibition of works from the Government Art Collection have been announced.

Arts Council Collection goes Online

Arts Council Collection goes Online

ArtsHub 27 Jul 2011

The Arts Council Collection is now available to view online as part of ‘Your Paintings’ project.

Bearpit Saturdays bear in mind cycling

Bearpit Saturdays bear in mind cycling

ArtsHub 27 Jul 2011

An exciting public art commission in North Kent is helping local people get involved in a new cycling and sport facility by running free events this summer.

Photography Pioneers Going to Auction

Photography Pioneers Going to Auction

ArtsHub 27 Jul 2011

An exceptionally rare set of photographic albums of the Dutch East Indies is to be auctioned at the ‘India and Beyond’ sale at Bonhams in London on 4 October.

New Contemporary Landmark for Scotland

New Contemporary Landmark for Scotland

ArtsHub 6 Jul 2011

The Gretna Landmark Trust has announced that Cecil Balmond is the winning artist for the Gretna Landmark’s competition to design ‘The Great Unknown’.

Robert Gillmor Retrospective at Reading

Robert Gillmor Retrospective at Reading

ArtsHub 6 Jul 2011

Internationally acclaimed wild life artist and bird expert Robert Gillmor returns to his native Reading for the first large scale retrospective of his work for 30 years.

Dutch artist takes BP portrait prize

Dutch artist takes BP portrait prize

ArtsHub 15 Jun 2011

Wim Heldens' portrait 'Distracted' has won the BP Portrait Prize, worth £25,000.

King & Kley launch motivational screen prints

King & Kley launch motivational screen prints

ArtsHub 15 Jun 2011

New artistic duo King and Kley are launching their debut collection of screen prints in Cardiff next week, aimed at inspiring people as well as provide them with affordable art for their walls.

Anthony van Dyck painting to be auctioned

Anthony van Dyck painting to be auctioned

ArtsHub 15 Jun 2011

Sotheby's London is to auction a portrait of a monk, credited to Anthony van Dyck, previously thought to have been painted by Rubens.

Waterworks Park in Belfast Re-Imagined

Waterworks Park in Belfast Re-Imagined

ArtsHub 15 Jun 2011

A series of sculptures, created from recycled materials as part of New Lodge Arts' 'Waterworks Big Art Outreach Programme', has been launched in the Waterworks Park, Belfast.

New Honorary Royal Academicians’ Elected

New Honorary Royal Academicians’ Elected

ArtsHub 8 Jun 2011

The Royal Academy of Arts has announced that Ai Weiwei and Per Kirkeby have been elected Honorary Members of the Royal Academy.

Irish exhibition at the Venice Biennale

Irish exhibition at the Venice Biennale

ArtsHub 8 Jun 2011

Ireland is being represented at the 54th International Art Exhibition 'la Biennale di Venezia' in Venice by artist Corban Walker.

Permeate website promotes diversity in visual arts

Permeate website promotes diversity in visual arts

ArtsHub 8 Jun 2011

A south east project that has been addressing the lack of diversity in the visual arts workforce has launched a new website to capture its successes, and also its challenges.

Hepworth centre stage at Chelsea Flower Show

Hepworth centre stage at Chelsea Flower Show

ArtsHub 1 Jun 2011

An original Barbara Hepworth sculpture is the star attraction at Chelsea Flower Show this week, as part of the ‘Art of Yorkshire’ garden from tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire.

Lee Broom is deadgood!

Lee Broom is deadgood!

ArtsHub 1 Jun 2011

Arts Council England’s grants for the arts scheme has supported leading British design company deadgood in commissioning product designer Lee Broom to develop a new collection which will be launched during Clerkenwell Design Week ...

Silversmith’s work to adorn PM’s desk

Silversmith’s work to adorn PM’s desk

ArtsHub 25 May 2011

Artist Cara Murphy was commissioned by The Silver Trust to provide the first piece from Northern Ireland in its Downing Street Collection.