Get Wicked down in Hackney Wick

Coracle Regatta. Photo: Annamal

The Hackney Wicked Art festival returns to E9 this weekend, the Field Day Festival hits Victoria Park on Saturday with five stages and there are dog sculptures in Clissold Park. This Thursday Keep Me Posted will open a new gallery at 67 Wilton Way Hackney with work by Angus Fairhurst + Tracey Emin + Rachel Whiteread + Julie Cockburn among others (11am-5pm). Bored in Lewisham?  Artefacts Edutainment runs creative workshops through the summer holidays – for free,  or get out and kick a ball about at Millwall.

Now in its third year, the Hackney Wicked festival provides an opportunity for everyone to get involved in something creative. Spanning the whole weekend, the Stour Space corner carnival, situated on Roach Road and Beachy Road, in Hackney Wick, supports local up and coming artists and entrepreneurs by giving them space to exhibit their work. With live art shows and a designers market, this event is certain to keep everyone entertained – and there are wood workshops for the kids too. Alternatively, there is always the option to sit back and relax in the midst of the hustle and bustle in the vibrant beer garden with, freshly cooked BBQ food as part of the Counter Café

However, if such fast-paced antics are not up your street, then the peaceful surroundings of the River Lea may just well be. The Festival closes with the 5th annual Hackney Wick Coracle (a boat made of wicker) Regatta on Sunday 1st August from 2-6pm. Families can sit and enjoy refreshments and a full commentary of the boat race while cheering on the competitors. The trophy at the end certainly adds a competitive element to the race.

For something a little different: Saturday, 31 July 2010 1pm – 4pm Stokey artist Akane Takayama creates a sculpture installation of 250 model dogs. At the end of the installation, from 4pm, you will be able to take a model home and own a piece of this public art.  Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, London, E8.  Contact: Jack Adams. Email: dog@takethepebble.com Telephone: 07917526996. view website

And on the same day the Field Day Festival at Victoria  Park  (from 11.30am-10.30pm)  features among many other acts, the incredible Hypnotics, the brass ensemble from Chicago who went down a storm at Glastonbury.  The festival is run by Eat Your Own Ears, Adventures In The Beetroot Field, Bugged Out! and Bloggers Delight.  Tickets are £33.33.

Still sad about the World Cup? Well here’s a better chance to win at the footie; Lewisham council, in collaboration with Millwall community scheme, are putting on football training classes for young people.  They’ve got soccer schools for boys and girls, sporty stuff for toddlers, plus striker and goalie masterclasses for talented players at training grounds across the borough. Visit the Millwall Community website for more details.

More Info:

Hackney Wicked Festival 2009 video by Mary Adeline Royal:
http://vimeo.com/9071043

The Hackney Wicked Art Festival – Hackney Wick, Friday 30 July – Sunday 1 August. Stour Space, 7 Roach road, Fish Island, Hackney.

London, United Kingdom, E3 2PA Overground: Hackney Wick station is within walking distance from Saturday 20 February, Monday 31 there will be no trains running between Gospel Oak and Stratford on the Overground, but rail replacement services run every half hour. Pudding Mill Lane is also within walking distance and has good connections to North and South London. Buses: 26, 30, 236, 276, 488, 388. Night bus: 26. Cycle routes: River Lee with links from the Regents Canal and the Hertford Union.

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