Art / News
Totterdown hosts pop-up retro art supermarket
A group of local creatives including maker of handmade vegan haircare products, Jayne Rutland, and self-described children’s author, environmental campaigner and “adventure mermaid” Lindsey Cole, have set up a retro theme art supermarket on Oxford Street in Totterdown.
Initially running as part of the Totterdown Arts Trail 25th anniversary celebrations in mid-November, the team have decided to keep the project running on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in the run-up to Christmas.
“It’s an installation of a mock 80s supermarket,” Cole says, “with shelves of fake booze and fags with pun brand names.”
Daydreaming shop assistants
There are improv performances from the ‘staff’ – named Andy, Brandy, Mandy and Shandy. “There’s also a stern manager called Candy who broadcasts over the tannoy”, explains Cole.
“Statements like ‘Customer announcement: you touch it, you buy it’, or ‘can all customers on the shop floor please dance for the next 20 seconds’.”
The pop-up shop exterior featuring ‘Alan’ the inflatable mascot
The pop-up will be full of handmade goods from small independent businesses in BS4 and beyond.
It is situated on the corner, in Rutland’s studio, opposite The Oxford pub. “But you can’t miss us”, grins Cole. “We have our supermarket mascot, Alan, who makes regular performances flying his giant inflatable body, every 10 minutes.”
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Totterdown ArtMart is open at 123 Oxford St (opposite The Oxford pub) on Thursdays at 5-8pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm, in the run-up to Christmas. Follow @totterdownartmart for updates.
All photos: Totterdown ArtMart
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