CoolTan Arts Batik & Textiles ‘RETRO-spective’ Private View August 16, 2011

An exciting exhibition with fashion show at CoolTan Arts celebrating the achievements of the Batik and Textiles class since it started in 2006 with their first major 'RetroSpective, coinciding with the 60th Anniversary of the Festival of Britain'.

As the Southbank Centre celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Festival of Britain, CoolTan Arts look back over the last 6 years of their Batik and Textiles class with our first major 'RetroSpective'. As we look back at the Festival that attempted to give Britons a feeling of recovery and progress post-war, CoolTan Arts celebrate the recovery of the mind through the arts.

The Festival of Britain was described as "a tonic for the nation" and in a time when Britain is once again embarking on a journey to financial recovery we look at the importance of adopting the 'make do and mend' attitude of the past. Applying these ethics to contemporary design and master craftsmanship, we will be displaying the bespoke hand dyed and crafted garments by CoolTan Arts participants.

Over the modest 6 years CoolTan Arts Batik and Textiles class has helped over 40 participants back into the community through our batik workshop. Our collections have show three-years-running on the Alternative Fashion Week's catwalk and been on display at exhibitions from Elephant and Castle to Bethnal Green.

We invite you to view the positive effects textiles arts can have on the modern Britons of Southwark and how we 'make do and mend' the stigma of mental distress in our community.
Come along to our private view, meet the artists and get inspired.

Please RSVP to kathrin@cooltanarts.org.uk or call 020 7701 2696.
Venue: CoolTan Arts Unit B 237 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RL.

Additional Information

The exhibition will be on display until mid-September, feel free to pop in CoolTan Arts’ Independent Gallery Monday-Friday 10.30am-5pm.

CoolTan Arts believes that mental well being is enhanced by the power of creativity. It is a charity run by and for people with mental distress and exists to inspire the well-being and creative participation of a diverse range of people through the production of quality art based on social enterprise principles,.

Further information is available from: Kathrin Kirrmann, Communications Officer, CoolTan Arts
020 7183 0350 kathrin@cooltanarts.org.uk www.cooltanarts.org.uk