As Extinction Rebellion grew meteorically we had an influx of great volunteers, including Bridget, she quickly became my number 2, and wrangled the other volunteers into order.
From April 2019 we would have 'Blocking Stands' in every location, forming an intrinsic part of any occupation. These are amazing for outreach, creating a welcoming environment, and inhabiting a space in a non-illegal welcoming family friendly way.
In 2020 we got an amazing warehouse space which became the 'Art Factory', top floor banner sewing, painting, block printing and screen printing. Ground floor storage, carpentry, trikes and sound and power.
Chris Smith is a key crew member, here he is on the ground floor.
The space provides a hub, and although there is a very high workload making banners provides great theraputic work for many different teams. This is the first floor which is devoted to making art, here is bridget in the centre, a selection of Elves, and Michael Collins of ‘‘PARIS 68 Redux’’ far left.
More of the panorama, this day a whole range of projects where in full swing.
Below that table live all these giant word printing blocks, we made them for printing ‘‘Human sized banners’’, the eye was made later for larger banners.
Bridget with her ability to juggle and organise meant she has been running the Art Factory, and often ‘‘Creative Circle’’ single handed, allowing me to do more ‘creative’ things and think about what the hell we should all be doing. One thing that I have done consitently is to design and make printing blocks, to support Bridget and the makers.
Here is the beautiful cutting table being used for ironing, with a keen Elf printing on the super flat floor.
I have never really been involved in making these large banners, Simon Palmer did many in the early days, and above are some of the killer techniques developed in the Arts Factory. They have sets of these ‘‘Positive Stencils’’ in a range of sides, made from recycled materials.
These SKull lino prints in fluro ink are about to have lettering hand painted over them.
Here is Bridget discussing details of the layering with an excellent Elf.
Sewing is a major job, every banner and flag needs some kind of edge seem or overlocking.
2023 and the there is much change in the Climate Movement, Extinction Rebellion works with many other more specialised groups, and the Arts Factory gives art support to all.
These banners for other groups where layed out using a projector.
This Banner is for ‘‘Ocean Rebellion’’, another briliant splinter group. Anthony Burrell did a beautiful job of the branding and font design, but this font is right bugger to paint. https://anthonyburrill.com/
I made this Mackerel block to support ‘‘Ocean Rebellion’’, a repeating fish is good ‘‘Bang for Buck’’. In the background we have ‘‘Bread and Roses’’ flags.
‘‘Bread and Roses’’ flag in progress
Also Rebels and Elves can print them selvesclothing , and here a pillow case. These Rose border and Corner blocks took forever.
Beautifully painted eye umbrellas, for an action which brought together many different groups.
I just made these ‘‘Peace Palestine’’ flags, using the Pigeon block made for the XXXX rebellion, and used in various Actions and events. I designed him to carry stuff but it has only been D-locks or hearts up to this point, the Olive branch was always and option, but here he is also carrying a Palestinian Key, symbolising the right to return.