All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
Turnpike Art Group
The Turnpike Art Group (TAG) are based in North London N15, within one of the most ethnically-diverse urban locations in the UK. It is this rich mix of cultures which inspired our drive to create an ongoing visual dialogue of street art interventions.
The core ethos is to provide a free art experience for residents, visitors and admirers of urban art. TAG champions heritage, cultural development, and the natural world. The artworks we place arrive through a dialogue with individuals, building owners and businesses (from small to corporate).
Over the years many art pieces have appeared in the West Green/Turnpike Lane Area, yet, as with the ephemeral nature of street art, some have come and gone; many still exist.
Created in 2012 by local residents and artists James Straffon and Veronica Bailey, TAG is as an offshoot from award-winning charity Sustran's DIY Streets Turnpike Lane/West Green project, who successfully united a London community in a dialogue of change. Within that program Art in the Community was a key element, from which residents chose a heritage-based street sign project called Doorstep Welcome, by Veronica Bailey, who studied Communication Design at Central St. Martins.
Referencing the decorative Victorian tiled residential porches within the West Green area, encaustic letter tiles of older road signs linked the street names with orange tiles similar in colour to the Turnpike Lane tube station walls. Made by the same manufacturing company - Craven Dunhill Jackfield 'the most complete Victorian tile factory in England' - eight street signs were placed at key locations, introducing a unique visual identity to the area.
Since 2012, primarily under the creative direction of artist James Straffon, TAG have overseen installation of a broad mix of carefully-curated art pieces within the urban landscape - Envision Peace, by Shepard Fairey, was one of the first to be placed in our neighbourhood within an erstwhile, and crumbling, plaster-framed advertising hoarding, above a local shop.
TAG welcomes you to visit the Turnpike Lane area and The Westbury Pub, which exhibits many artworks by James Straffon, some which are available to purchase.
During 2021, TAG hope to run some street art tours, providing first hand information and a personal guide to the urban work of The Turnpike Art Group. If you are interested in being on a mailing list click here > info@turnpikeartgroup.co.uk.
The core ethos is to provide a free art experience for residents, visitors and admirers of urban art. TAG champions heritage, cultural development, and the natural world. The artworks we place arrive through a dialogue with individuals, building owners and businesses (from small to corporate).
Over the years many art pieces have appeared in the West Green/Turnpike Lane Area, yet, as with the ephemeral nature of street art, some have come and gone; many still exist.
Created in 2012 by local residents and artists James Straffon and Veronica Bailey, TAG is as an offshoot from award-winning charity Sustran's DIY Streets Turnpike Lane/West Green project, who successfully united a London community in a dialogue of change. Within that program Art in the Community was a key element, from which residents chose a heritage-based street sign project called Doorstep Welcome, by Veronica Bailey, who studied Communication Design at Central St. Martins.
Referencing the decorative Victorian tiled residential porches within the West Green area, encaustic letter tiles of older road signs linked the street names with orange tiles similar in colour to the Turnpike Lane tube station walls. Made by the same manufacturing company - Craven Dunhill Jackfield 'the most complete Victorian tile factory in England' - eight street signs were placed at key locations, introducing a unique visual identity to the area.
Since 2012, primarily under the creative direction of artist James Straffon, TAG have overseen installation of a broad mix of carefully-curated art pieces within the urban landscape - Envision Peace, by Shepard Fairey, was one of the first to be placed in our neighbourhood within an erstwhile, and crumbling, plaster-framed advertising hoarding, above a local shop.
TAG welcomes you to visit the Turnpike Lane area and The Westbury Pub, which exhibits many artworks by James Straffon, some which are available to purchase.
During 2021, TAG hope to run some street art tours, providing first hand information and a personal guide to the urban work of The Turnpike Art Group. If you are interested in being on a mailing list click here > info@turnpikeartgroup.co.uk.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
Turnpike Toscana | Artist - James Straffon. Installed August 2013
Tuscan hills roll in downtown Tottenham.
Completed in 1372, the famous Torre pendente di Pisa, or Leaning Tower of Pisa, leans at a precarious 5.5 degrees. Taking nearly 200 years to complete, this freestanding bell tower is rumoured to be the product of Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano. With the builder most probably Diotisalvi of Pisa.
With a mere 3-metre foundation, the tower is 55.86 metres from the ground on the low side, and 56.70 metres on the high side, meaning the top of the bell tower is nearly four metres off vertical.
Artwork created by James Straffon
Completed in 1372, the famous Torre pendente di Pisa, or Leaning Tower of Pisa, leans at a precarious 5.5 degrees. Taking nearly 200 years to complete, this freestanding bell tower is rumoured to be the product of Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano. With the builder most probably Diotisalvi of Pisa.
With a mere 3-metre foundation, the tower is 55.86 metres from the ground on the low side, and 56.70 metres on the high side, meaning the top of the bell tower is nearly four metres off vertical.
Artwork created by James Straffon
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
Mother and Child • London 2015 | Artist - James Straffon. Installed October 2015
When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets hurt.
Swahili proverb
On the eve of the largest global protest march for the support of Elephants and Rhinos, TAG added their voice to the many, with an artwork entitled 'Mother and Child' - which looks to the past and the future, posing the poignant question 'What will remain for the next generation?'
More than 35,000 elephants are being killed every year (currently one every fifteen minutes) so their tusks can be carved into ivory trinkets. A rhino is slaughtered once every 8 hours for its horn. Their only hope for survival lies in an immediate end to the ivory and rhino horn trade (both "legal" and "illegal") and the chance to recover from decades of mass slaughter.
More than 35,000 elephants are being killed every year (currently one every fifteen minutes) so their tusks can be carved into ivory trinkets. A rhino is slaughtered once every 8 hours for its horn. Their only hope for survival lies in an immediate end to the ivory and rhino horn trade (both "legal" and "illegal") and the chance to recover from decades of mass slaughter.
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
The Ritz • London 2015 | Artist - TAG. Installed October 2015
On 30th December 1935, The Ritz Cinema (designed by Major W.J. King) opened as part of the scheme which included the new Turnpike Lane tube station and bus station, designed by London Transport’s architect Charles Holden.
The opening 'picture' featured Clark Gable in “China Seas” and Ricardo Cortez in “Sing Me A Love Song”. The Ritz Cinema was built for and operated by Associated British Cinemas (ABC), with seating for 1,271 in the stalls and 579 in the circle. It was re-named ABC from 9th October 1961, updating to the triple-screen ABC 1,2,3 on 29th September 1977. The final incarnation as a picture theatre came in July 1988, when it was taken over by the Independent Coronet Cinemas chain and re-named the Coronet Cinema.
In August 1999 London Transport demolished the 1930’s bus station to make way for a larger depot, the cinema also consumed as part of the new scheme.
Based on the success of TAG's Palace Gates artwork, we began a dialogue with UK Power Networks to adopt a similar heritage-focussed installation at their larger substation site two streets away on Carlingford Road, London N15. It seemed obvious to commemorate the former Ritz Cinema - with a celebration of the Golden Age of Movies.
This began a year-long process to obtain the usage rights for some of the characters we proposed to incorporate. With a to-and-fro dialogue between London N15 and east and west coast movie studios based in the United States, consent was eventually given to allow some classic movie characters to form The Ritz.
As well as extending our gratitude to UK Power Networks, TAG would also like to thank:
Roy Export S.A.S./Bubbles Inc SA
Felix the Cat Productions
Cinematographische Commerz-Anstalt
Larry Harmon Pictures
Artwork created by James Straffon
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
A Rhino in the Herb Garden | Artist - James Straffon. Installed June 2018
On 4th June 2018 the enlightened pupils at North Harringay Primary School, London returned from a half-term break to discover a Rhino in the herb garden. Further exploration of the outside zones of the school uncovered a climbing Red Panda, a majestic Tiger, an enquiring Red-eyed Tree Frog, a glorious Giraffe, bending to take a drink from one of the playground’s child-proportioned water fountains, and a mature Rhino, casually chewing on a clump of fresh Oregano shoots. A mini-menagerie had magically appeared in their absence.
The five animals in this collection were chosen to introduce the children to the diversity of the animal kingdom, and more critically bring focus to the plight of those species in danger of extinction, along with the rapidly disappearing flora on which they depend. The Sixth Mass Extinction is now a recognised phenomena - this a disconcerting and destructive component of a new epoch known as the Anthropocene - in which human activity on our planet has become the dominant influence on climate and the environment; polluting the oceans and altering the atmosphere.
This influence has set a new and different trajectory for the Earth system. As the children grow up, and in time produce families of their own, will animals painted on walls be how we remember the creatures which once existed?
This series of artworks created with the generous help of the North Harringay Primary PSA, along with the assistance of staff members.
A Rhino in the Herb Garden is partly created in the memory of Sudan - the last male Northern White Rhino - who passed away in March 2018.
Painted by TAG Co-Founder James Straffon.
Project limited edition prints available from the TAG SHOP.
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
Sensitive dependence on initial conditions • London 2015 | Artist - James Straffon. Installed July 2015
The Monarch (or King of Butterflies) is on the endangered list due to high use of herbicides used in GE Crop production across its native American habitat. Sightings in the UK are rare.
Chaos theory, aka the butterfly effect, is stated as 'the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state'.
The Swallowtail is our largest native butterfly, and also one of our rarest.
To a Butterfly
I've watched you now a full half-hour,
Self-poised upon that yellow flower;
And, little Butterfly! indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! and then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!
This plot of Orchard-ground is ours;
My trees they are, my Sister's flowers;
Here rest your wings when they are weary;
Here lodge as in a sanctuary!
Come often to us, fear no wrong;
Sit near us on the bough!
We'll talk of sunshine and of song;
And summer days, when we were young;
Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.
William Wordsworth (1770-1850).
Artwork created by James Straffon
Chaos theory, aka the butterfly effect, is stated as 'the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state'.
The Swallowtail is our largest native butterfly, and also one of our rarest.
To a Butterfly
I've watched you now a full half-hour,
Self-poised upon that yellow flower;
And, little Butterfly! indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! and then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!
This plot of Orchard-ground is ours;
My trees they are, my Sister's flowers;
Here rest your wings when they are weary;
Here lodge as in a sanctuary!
Come often to us, fear no wrong;
Sit near us on the bough!
We'll talk of sunshine and of song;
And summer days, when we were young;
Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.
William Wordsworth (1770-1850).
Artwork created by James Straffon
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
Turnpike Art Group - Shop
A limited edition print series, featuring street art works created by TAG artist James Straffon, placed within the urban environment.
For buying enquiries email shop@turnpikeartgroup.co.uk
[include the print name. For overseas orders there will be extra for postage.]
[include the print name. For overseas orders there will be extra for postage.]
Shanti.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
Let's Stay Together [The Mandarin].
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
A Giraffe at the Drinking Fountain.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
A Red Panda up the Drain Pipe.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
A Tiger in the Tree House.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
A Rhino in the Herb Garden.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
A Leopard guards the Landlord.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
A Tree Frog by the Snakes and Ladders.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
Dear Old Muffin.
Limited edition of 25. Signed.
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
Hahnemühle German Etching pigment print.
42 x 29cm.
[plus postage]
£150
All artwork, text and images © Turnpike Art Group 2022.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)