The CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle celebrated the origins of May Day and the arrival of Spring on 18 May when we walked from Tate Modern to Burgess Park.

Photos by: Amy Bradshaw

Our first stop was Quilp Gardens, where we learnt about the origins of May Day and its folklore. After making some garlands we moved on to the church gardens of St George the Martyr, to hear about how the Italians celebrate May Day, going right back to the Roman festival of Floralia.

From Borough we headed down to the Elephant and Castle, the scene of many violent clashes during the General Strike, and gathered at the roundabout for a talk on workers’ rights and local May Day marches and demonstrations.

The middle of the roundabout was also the site of a 17^th century maypole, so we tied ribbons to a tree close to where it would have stood and, after talking about guerilla gardening, planted some seeds in the ground.

There were also visits to a nearby anarchist bookshop for a talk about May Day celebrations in Lithuania and John Ruskin Street, named after the great writer and art critic who revived the traditions of maypole dancing in the 19^th century.

The walk finished with a visit to a May Fair in Burgess Park, where visitors could enjoy the vintage fun fair, hop on board a static hot air balloon and even feed some lambs from Vauxhall City Farm.

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by Aaron Pilgrim

The exhibition itself will run from 16^th July to 12^th August, and submissions of artwork on the theme of  ‘Southwark Skies’ (interpret that as you wish!) are wanted from participants, staff, volunteers and any other interested artists.

The submission deadline is 10^th July and there is a registration cost for each piece of art of £5(unwaged)/£10(waged) . Your work needs to be already framed.

Get involved and sign up now!
To find out how to submit artwork, call us on 020 7701 2696 and speak to Sara or email sara@cooltanarts.org.uk

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If you are experiencing an emotional or mental crisis please go to the  Southwark Council website for contact numbers and information.

This page lists the emergency social services contact number for Southwark council – 0207 525 5000, when you ring this number the recorded message says it is closed out of hours, but  if you wait until the end of the message and then press  ‘ option 2 ‘ it will put you through to the emergency contact, open 24 hours.

The South London and Maudsley emergency number, also open 24 hours, is 0800 731 2864

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• Visual Art Workshop 1:30 – 2:30
Discover your creative side with this relaxed drop-in arts workshop.
• Mindfulness and Attention Workshop 2:30 – 3:15
Be led into body awareness with the breath & experience feelings of mindfulness in a safe and warm environment.
•  I’m a Commissioner – get me out of here! Workshop 3:15 – 4:30
You’re holding well over £400,000,000 and everyone wants a piece of it! Why do you have this, who else wants it, and – how do they get it!
Find out about new decision-making and budget-holding bodies in your area, and find a way to get your voice heard to get your slice of pie!
• CURRANT BUN – Art Exhibition opening 5:00 – 6:00
Join us for our first exhibition in the new gallery space! Work by CoolTan Arts participants on the theme of summer and light.

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Meet at Tate Modern, Turbine Hall entrance, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Ends: Maudsley Hospital Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ.

Join CoolTan Arts for a fun guided midnight walk – an exciting evening of summer solstice lunacy!

The walk will visit a number of local buildings with an unusual design or purpose and look at the mysterious psychological effects that these locations can have on people. There will be stops at the Marshalsea, where Charles Dickens’ father was imprisoned; the Heygate Estate, a huge neo-Brutalist estate currently being demolished; Camberwell House, a former asylum; and Cross Bones Cemetery, a disused post-Medieval burial ground that was once on unconsecrated graveyard for sex workers.

The summer solstice is the perfect time for the walk as it’s traditionally been a time when the forces of nature are at their most powerful, and the boundaries between the physical and spiritual world are at their thinnest. In the past it was believed witches were flying around and huge bonfires were lit to honour the sun.

The full walk is 4.8 miles and will last approximately 4.5 hours. Suitable for all ages, join us for as long or as little as you like.

CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle is a guided, stigma-busting cultural walk, designed to encourage mental and physical wellbeing, through art, exercise, humour and history. The Largactyl Shuffle is fun, free, fully accessible and a great way to meet new people!

Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water and snacks (no alcohol please). Walk leaders will safely guide the walk, wearing orange high-viz vests and rucksacks. Call CoolTan Arts on 0798 565 8443 if you cannot find the group of walkers on the evening.

All Welcome!

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Join CoolTan Arts’ Sponsored Walk, celebrate World Mental Health Day and help us raise money to keep CoolTan Arts open and helping people with mental distress. The walk will be a fun interactive event with talks, discussion and performance along the way.

Saturday 12th October 2013, starting at 11.30am at Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ (outside the main entrance) and walking to the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd  London SE1 8XX.

Everyone is welcome!

The whole walk is 4.8 miles long and is suitable for people with a disability and wheelchair users – do as much as you can. Our friendly CoolTan guides will be there to help you. There will be breaks, poetry readings and other surprises along the route. The walk finishes with a reception and refreshments at the Southbank Centre, with an opportunity to relax and get to know each other.

Please bring a packed lunch and drinks, wear suitable clothes and sensible footwear.

The walk leaders wear orange high-viz vests and rucksacks. Call CoolTan Arts on 07985 658443 if you cannot find the group of walkers on the day.

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CoolTan Arts would like to thank Alex for his support and wish him the best of luck in the Ultramarathon!

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This course will give you the opportunity to research and design products for sale at CoolTan.

You will learn how to work using a design brief, carry out research into similar products and potential outlets, develop and refine your ideas, learn new techniques and make product prototypes. Products could include: greetings cards, bags, jewellery, art and craft kits and prints.

This course will give you the skills you need to make and sell your work and could help you progress on to art and design college courses. Your designs may be made into real products to be sold to raise money for CoolTan.

This course is suitable for those with some experience in art and design or textiles. You will need your own sketchbook.

Please contact Course Tutor, Georgina Rodgers, for more details: coolwalksinfo@gmail.com or phone 020 77012696.

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Tuesdays 9-10am
10 weeks starting on Tuesday 21st May

Free to attend and open to all beginners.

Come and learn this ancient, gentle martial art and improve your mental and physical well being.

Please get in touch with Sara: sara@cooltanarts.org.uk or phone 020 7701 2696 to register.

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8 Weeks starting on Friday 3rd May

Paula Roush – artist and creator of the Found Photo Foundation will be doing a series of 8 workshops with CoolTan over May/early June which are open to anyone interested in making arts.
Develop your creativity and skills through working with a professional artist, work with photography, visual arts and found objects to create your own work, and see it exhibited in a professionally curated exhibition in June 2013!

Workshops are free and open to anyone.

Please contact Sara Kelly to find out more and sign up:
sara@cooltanarts.org.uk or phone 020 77012696

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