Bridgeton

• BRIDGETON   -

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Sandwashed silk satin, Madder dyed silk organza, Silk thread, Cotton thread, Stocks, Beeswax. Alis Le May, 2023

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Building studied : The ABC Olympia (The Olympia Building)

Architect: George Arthur

Completed: 1911 (Redeveloped 2013)

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Over the 112 years that the Olympia building has stood at Bridgeton Cross it has seen a range of uses; from theatre, to bingo hall, to derelict building and now, to a library and boxing gym. From 1938 to 1974 it was the Olympia Cinema, refitted (from the original theatrical interior) to plush, art deco splendour by McNair & Elder. After studying images of the former interior, shades of pink were selected, and 16 metres of silk organza were dyed a pink tonal range to reference the former interior colour scheme. The fluorescent lights which once illuminated the front informed the silhouette of the back panels, and the 24 layers of cascading organza represent the curtains that once opened to the ‘silver screen’. The garment is speckled with stocks which were grown from seed in Bridgeton.

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Dyeing - Julia Billings

Studio Assistants - Abby Gray and Magnea Birgisdóttir

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