Local art brings Leith to life at night
Published Wednesday 27 June 2012
Leith artists are being commissioned to brighten up Leith Walk by 'The Shutter Project' supported by the City of Edinburgh Council's I Love Leith initiative and LeithLate.
The shutters, used by businesses to close up their shops for the night, are being used as a blank canvas for local artists to display their work after hours.
Illustrator Jamie Johnson is the first of
six artists to be selected to take part in the project and his work will be
revealed when Gamesmaster Games Exchange (287 Leith Walk) closes for the night
on Thursday, 28 June. Jamie has worked with the owner of Gamesmaster to create a
2D retro gaming-style 'landscape' to reflect the business, which has been
painted onto the Gamesmaster shutter. The final image will be very much in keeping with
Jamie's own work, which is concerned both with mapping and other worldly
narratives. Cllr Tom Buchanan, Convener of the Economic
Development Committee, said: "This is an excellent example of local
collaboration to improve the look of the town centre. It is
important that we encourage shopkeepers to look after their premises to create a
good impression for potential customers passing by after
hours." Morvern
Cunningham from LeithLate said: "We
are proud to be collaborating with the
City of Edinburgh Council on an initiative that brings high-quality
artwork by talented artists onto the streets of the creative hub that is
Leith." Jamie Johnson, local artist, said: It is
really good to be part of a local project, working with Dave to achieve something we are both happy with. It
also adds to the cultural vibrancy of the area, which I think is
important." I Love Leith is part of a programme
to build stronger town centres in Edinburgh and LeithLate is Leith's annual multi-arts event, now in its
second year. Businesses on Leith Walk interested in the
project should contact Sarah
Woodford at the City of Edinburgh Council - sarah.woodford@edinburgh.gov.uk
or Morvern Cunningham of LeithLate - leithlate@gmail.com Additional information: A graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone art
school in Dundee but grew up in a flat opposite the shop on Leith Walk. He was
a Gamesmaster customer from an early age, getting his first Sega Game Gear
around the age of eight and had regular visits to the shop with his mum as a
boy, spending a lot of pocket money in the process! Dave Wilson
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