Across South Asia, you can see bright and bold trucks wobbling along the highways covered in metalwork that glitters in the sun and swinging garlands of pom poms and bells. Here in Redbridge, we bring you the world’s first fully-electric Truck Art truck, which celebrates the communities here in Redbridge.
We will deliver a variety of workshop activities and performances where you can make things to give to friends and family or to sell all which focus on a different skill or learning element. The workshops include decorating mini truck plaques and keyrings, and you will be able to get some great photos and share your stories and experience through the artwork. Some of your work will be showcased in the touring exhibition.
There will be spectacular music or dance performances. You will get a chance to learn some steps and join in with the professional artists.
These workshops and performances will provide a platform to bring our communities together celebrating our culture, history and heritage.
Who is this for?
From children and families to people of all ages; anyone who lives, works or studies in Redbridge. No prior experience is necessary as these workshops and performances are designed to be fun and accessible for all skill levels.
What is the format of the workshops?
Each day will feature different performances to showcase the best our communities, bringing the essence of the Truck to life. There will also be opportunities to join in.
There will be 20-minete performances alongside 90-minute workshops across the days where you will be able to craft your own Truck Art inspired object.
Participants will be able to
Workshops are free to attend, and all materials will be provided. Some activities are a little bit messy, so we recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting marked. Wear clothing suitable for being outside.
What do our Community Producers say?
Our Community Producers have described the event as
What will I get out of it?
You will learn more about south Asian truck art and get to take part in a fun and unique activity here in Redbridge. You will enhance your creative skills and learn new techniques from the expert to make beautiful objects to give to friends and family or to sell. You will leave with some great photos and maybe some new friends.
Workshops
Use the link on the right-hand side of the page to book via Bookwhen or call us on 020 8708 2858 and choose option 4. For more information, email hello@colours.red. Booking guarantees you a space, but there will also be some spaces available first-come-first-served on the day.
Performances
Booking is not required although please fill in the form to give us an idea of attendance numbers. Use the link on the right hand side of the page to book via Bookwhen or call us on 020 8708 2858 and choose option 4. For more information, email hello@colours.red.
How do I get there?
We recommend taking public transport where possible, as parking will be limited. Plan your journey at tfl.gov.uk.
Fairlop Waters:
Bus 462 stops directly outside Fairlop Waters, or it is a 15 minute walk from Fullwell Cross. Fairlop station is a 10-minute walk, and there is parking at the Fairlop Waters Main Car Park. Once you arrive at Fairlop Waters, follow the footpath towards the Boat House (near the Owls Play Centre and Aqua Action). Find us using What3Words ///gazed.moved.stump.
Barkingside Recreation Ground
Bus 150, 167, 128 stop directly outside Barkingside Recreation Ground, or it is a 5 minute walk from Barkingside High Street. Find us using What3Words clever.total.wells
Fullwell Cross/ Keniston Square:
Bus 150, 167, 128, 169 stop directly outside Fullwell Cross Library/Ken Aston Square. Find us using What3Words client.remove.class
Hainault Library:
Bus 462 one-minute walk from Hainault Health Centre stop.
Bus 150 or 247 a short walk from Staggart Green stop. Find us using What3Words sofa.labs.camps
Hainault Forest:
Bus 247 stops at Fowler stop directly outside Hainault Forest. Once you arrive at Hainault Forest, turn on to Fox Burrow Road and walk for 15mins. Foxburrows Barn is next to the cafe and the visitor centre. Find us using What3Words trunk.spider.drew
Access
All our activities are step-free with facilities such as accessible toilets. Most activities can be easily adapted for people with varying disabilities or neurodiversity. Please email us at access@colours.red to discuss your requirements.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the advertised start time as any empty spaces will be reallocated on the day.
About the artists
The Leap: The Leap is Bradford’s ‘Creative People and Places’ Programme. An initiative funded by Arts Council England to help make more arts and culture happen within communities. They have supported us bringing out Truck Art Panels to life and have piloted their own electric tuktuk’s.
Abid Bhai: Abid is an Islamabad-based artist working to promote and preserve traditional methods of bringing Pakistani truck art ‘Phool Patti’ to life across Pakistan and through commissions from around the world. He collaborates with other truck art artists through an informal cooperative and truck fabricators, creating exceptional art that can be seen on vehicles moving along the roads of Pakistan.
Felicity Jones: Felicity is a metalworker hailing from Redbridge who uses a mixture of traditional and contemporary techniques to form modern art works. Her first creative outlets were drawing and painting, inspired by her father, a car designer and an avid painter.
Francis Plowden: Francis is a Brixton based blacksmith who supported our ‘Making of the Truck’ Project alongside Felicity.
Zareena Bano: Zareena is a visual artist and has worked in the arts for over eighteen years. She uses mixed media, and her work is inspired by traditional South Asian designs fused with modern and contemporary art. She also recycles and upcycles items giving them a new lease of life as sustainable pieces of artwork. She has recently completed a project on Truck Art in Bradford.
Momtaz Begum-Hossain: Named of one the Top 100 influential crafters in the UK by Mollie Makes magazine, Momtaz has been running creative craft workshops for over a decade. She has supported collecting our ‘Home Away from Home’ stories, running mixed media crafting sessions in the community.
Sheyamali Sudesh: Sheyamali is an archival artist and writer and was the artistic facilitator working with our Community Producers to codesign the vision of the project.
With special thanks to Fairlop Primary School, Gilbert Colvin Primary School, Clore Tikva School, Inclusive Communities and Pinewood Residential Care for supporting the co-design workshops for the Truck Art Panel designs and capturing the ‘Home Away from Home’ theme.
*Image Credit ‘Touring Art Truck’, Wayne Snooze
