Pretty Vacant is an arts collaboration between Christopher Guest and Darren Washington, two artsts based in Newcastle Under Lyme, UK.
The project has been funded by The British Arts Council and will see the two artists from differing creative backgrounds coming together to create work in empty shop windows in the locality.
The project will be a celebration of the “Local Heroes” of Newcastle Under Lyme. Local heroes are not the recognised celebrities we all know about, ie Stanley Matthews, Robbie Williams, but rather those individuals who are of unique character and make the Town what is it..and what it is- is not what you read in the national press!
Taking place in a large empty unit in Warner Village, in the heart of the town, the artists will hold regular research workshops around specific venues we have identified- meeting the public and talking through our ideas with them.
The project will be shaped by the public as it will be their character traits and vivacity that will make this project successful.
Using their respective creative practices in graffiti and drawing, photography and digital media to create large scale projections and cut out forms, inviting the audience to look for the humorous, beautiful and fantastical aspects of those around us.
Over the coming weeks and months the pair will be posting regular updates on their blog, keeping you up to date with our venue visits, interesting people they have met and also documenting how the two artists from very different creative backgrounds can learn together.
To keep up to date with the Pretty Vacant project, you can visit their blog http://prettyvacantart.tumblr.com or add them on Facebook or Twitter @PrettyVacantart
