2018 | Café Art

Recognising and celebrating the talent of people affected by homelessness in a unique, positive & inspiring way!

JANUARY 2018: Still Here, Brick Lane: “This is Mick Taylor, known as ‘Teapot’, ‘Little Harvey’ and more nick names” says photographer Lou Danby. “Lots of people know him as he’s been round a bit. People had thought he was dead so I took a photo of him in front of this mural on Brick Lane!” Mick grew up in Clapton, Hackney but has lived near Spitalfields for years. Lou says he’s one of the last proper Cockneys. His upbringing was hard and they were very poor, says Lou. “At the same time, he had a lot of fun and there was a lot of love.” Mick, 72, met Lou five years ago. “She’s a great help. She comes around and takes me for walks.” Lou enjoys going down to the Nomadic Gardens, “a really nice piece of waste land next to the railway tracks near Brick Lane where everyone sits around doing artwork and being really nice. It’s a place where people can go and broaden their horizons.”

AUGUST 2018: Hackney Sax: I've always been a fan of street art in London and since I was a teen this mural has been one of my favourites. Created by Ray Walker in 1985, it was painted to promote peace and unity, while making a statement against nuclear weapons. “Being able to combine my love of music and street art in photography is really cool” I met Tashomi around 10 years ago at a gig, so when I had the idea for this shot, he came to mind. I asked him to play his sax while taking the pictures, which meant we attracted some attention. Tashomi began playing the saxophone aged 16, is in an Afrobeats band and is currently a resident at a live music bar in Soho. Maya has never studied photography or owned a DSLR, but would love to do both soon and develop her passion: "The dream is to be a commissioned photographer on some level and have my own exhibitions. That would be a bucket list tick."

FEBRUARY 2018: French Couture, Islington: This shot was taken in Barnsbury Park Islington. “There was a doggie dress up contest,” says Ella Sullivan. “I went across and took some shots of the dogs I liked, including Ace who seemed to be posing.” Born in London , Ella grew up on the south west coast of Ireland . She returned to London over 20 years ago and now lives in Islington. She is a trained hairdresser. She has just finished a pre-foundation course in Art and Design at Mary Ward Centre in London where she hopes to continue with her studies in September. She goes to art sessions run by SHP near Essex Road, Islington. “I was having some problems with my housing so that was why I got referred to SHP. I’ve had good support from them.”

MARCH 2018: Punk Rockers, Camden Town: Jackie said it was a hot day so a good day to visit Camden Lock Market. “They” were happy to pose for the camera. While not as common as they used to be, you can still see punks around Camden Town most weekends” says Jackie, “especially when it’s hot”. Jackie goes to the Haringey Recovery Service, which is run in partnership with St Mungo’s, where she does voluntary meditation teaching. “It’s important to share what people have given to you and never forget where you come from,” Jackie says. “Never ever look down on anybody unless you’re picking them up.” “I love London. It’ a cosmopolitan city with a lot of culture. I like taking pictures, especially in my favourite haunts, Alexandra Palace and Hampstead Heath.”

APRIL 2018: Keep Moving, Canary Wharf: “I wanted to capture the stillness on the escalator before they enter the fast pace outside”, says Karina who took this shot in Canary Wharf Station. “Bankers, tourists and the homeless on their daily routine.” “In school I was bullied which interfered with a lot of my education. Things where disrupting at home. I got removed from home at 14 and by 15 I was homeless. I ended up in shelters and never got permanent accommodations. Then I got help and was able to stay in a shelter. “Sometimes we can get knocked off our path” says Karina who heard about the contest in the art class run by One Housing in Camden. “We cannot stay down. We need to keep moving forward. If you feel your physical wellbeing is down then keep up your mental wellbeing. The battle will not be lost unless you accept defeat. I am grateful for the things around me. I keep everything moving.”

MAY 2018: London Icons, Westminster: Tim Paul took this shot in Bell Lane, near the Strand. He says the post boxes and telephone boxes are symbolic to London. “There’s something about red: red boxes, red buses. I kept thinking about London being red… I saw a guy called Jon with a bike standing behind the phone box and I asked him if he wouldn’t mind standing in it for this shot”. Tim is an artist at 240 Project in West London. “They have helped me with my self esteem. When I came I was in a bad place mentally – very depressed, low self esteem. People here don’t ask too many questions so I can be myself. Everyone just accepts each other here.” Talking about the MyLondon contest, Tim says he had never used film before and found the project a challenge because of the limited number of shots. The 240 Project recently had an exhibition of photos and he said one of the “biggest buzzes ever” was to sell one of his photos.

JULY 2018: Shadow Play, Islington: “This photo was taken in Hemingford Road Islington whilst I was out for a walk with my daughter on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I happened to have a red balloon in my bag so I blew it up whilst I found an amazing shadow of my girl on the wall with it. I loved the optical illusion that it created of her holding the balloon.” Born in London , Ella grew up on the south west coast of Ireland . She returned to London over 20 years ago and now lives in Islington. She is a trained hairdresser. She has just finished a pre-foundation course in Art and Design at Mary Ward Centre in London where she hopes to continue with her studies in September. She goes to art sessions run by SHP near Essex Road, Islington. “I was having some problems with my housing so that was why I got referred to SHP. I’ve had good support from them.”

SEPTEMBER 2018: Commuters, City of London: Michelle Goldberg directed her friend to take this shot of herself walking in front of Julian Opie’s CitizenM mural at Tower Hill Station. Last year Michelle got a photo in the exhibition and she’s very happy to get into the calendar this year. “I’m a Londoner. I was born here. My family have been here four generations, possibly five. My grandparents were in the markets.” Michelle has a long term medical condition and lives in temporary accommodation. “I’ve had four heart attacks, three strokes, a lung collapse.” “My background is in the Arts. I did my bachelors’ at Kingston School of Art and then I worked for a year in the West End and then I went to the Royal College of Art in Kensington – Fashion Department… I grew up in the industry. There were factories all over London which are now very expensive flats and everything is made outside of the country so we have lost a really important creative industry. London’s a really wonderful, colourful, inspiring, creative place for people. This project is kind of bringing back some of that spirit of London, albeit in an ironic situation.”

EXHIBITION ONLY: Regent's Canal by Jo: Jo enjoys going to the Crisis art group. ‘I say to people I’m not an artist but I appreciate good art! I come here and the teachers are good. I like the people.’ She also does yoga and computing classes in the Skylight building on Commercial Street. ‘I first came here when this Crisis building first opened. I was in a hostel at the time because of domestic violence in a relationship,’ she says, adding that her housing situation and health have improved because of the support given to her by Crisis.

COVER OF 2018 CALENDAR: Angel Kid, Shoreditch: This shot was taken in Shoreditch, one of Maya’s favourite parts of the city, “I'm always there. My model is Jonathan, the son of two of my best friends. He's five years old. It's such a sweet age: full of curiosity and still so innocent.” “You hear that old adage never work with kids, but because he's my little buddy, making him smile and laugh for the photo wasn't an issue. I had a vision for capturing this spot, but when we arrived I realised he wasn't tall enough to fit the wings, so had to find something to add a bit of height. I asked around eventually managed to borrow this mini step ladder which was perfect.” Maya is a born and bred Londoner who loves her home city and enjoys photographing it. She has previously taken part in this co

EXHIBITION ONLY: Pearly Queens, East London: A substance abuse problem cost Geraldine her house and business before she finally got clean a few years ago. “I’m from Dublin but I arrived here a long time ago and I live in a housing association now. I’ve been homeless twice. And I’ve nearly lost my home a few times because of my addiction. I went to Crisis as a volunteer. I wanted something to do with my life.” She currently helps Café Art’s calendar project in Spitalfields Market, mainly helping with mentoring new vendors to gain sales skills, which was her background. “I think the calendar has empowered a lot of people. For three years now I have seen a lot of people really change their lives.”

MAY 2018: Infinity, Westminster: David Fussell says he was waiting to get a shot of a bird or a plane when this view presented itself. “Right in front of me was a frame within a frame within a frame.” David, who sleeps rough, used to be a film maker. “After my home flooded, I lost the property. I came back to London from Essex. To me London is home.” “A part time job has allowed me to get a 2nd hand MacBook Pro and audio interface to progress with my music and film making, finishing a film called Mystic Demon Killer. The bench I sometime sleep on is near R.A.D.A and I have even recorded some Foley sound effects for my film on that bench. I’m hoping to progress in both my own projects and get some freelance work with a media company or some creative individuals, as this is what I used to do previously.”

NOVEMBER 2018: Trackside, Southwark: Hugh Gary took this shot of the Shard from London Bridge Station: “I visited London Bridge to take a photo of the platform, turned around and seen the full length of the shard and thought the line of the platform canopy merges perfectly with the building.” Hugh is an ex-serviceman, having been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during his ten years with the British Army. He became homeless two years later: “a lot of the homeless people in London are ex-service”. Hugh found shelter with West London mission’s Big House, a hostel for veterans and is currently waiting for his own place through Stoll, who seek to rehouse veterans across London. He has now in his final year of a Photography degree, at the University of West London. Where he founded a photographic society, to support his fellow students. He has also started offering his photography skills to mentor young adults, some of which are homeless through the Pillion Trust and, Café Art and their partners.

DECEMBER 2018: Tower Bridge reflection, Southwark: Christopher McTavish took this shot of Tower Bridge reflected from a City Hall was a follow-up to his winning shot of St Paul’s cathedral last year. “My photography is full of reflections and shadows. It was nice to see the view that the mayor of London has.” Christopher belongs to the Choir With No Name, a choir set up for people who have experienced homelessness. From a small town east of Toronto, Canada, he came to London in 1971, originally intending to stay “for summer”. In 1998 and 1999 he was homeless in London but he is now living in a housing association flat in Chelsea. Christopher says he was adopted and this background has motivated him to volunteer for a Chinese adoption charity, helping people from overseas to adjust to the UK. He speaks Mandarin, German, Spanish and French.

EXHIBITION ONLY: Hands In, Liverpool Street: A former business owner producing clothing, he lost his house, became homeless after his marriage broke up ‘I struggled, Lucky for me I came into contact with various social agencies including SHP, The Hanbury Project (Acorn House). Amadeus had a winning photo in last year’s calendar and since then he has become more confident using the camera. ‘I can frame a shot better now in my mind’s eye. I can just know which is a good shot to take. The tips I got from The Royal Photographic Society [training day] stood me in good stead because now I’m more disciplined. I think my confidence has increased. I am in a happy place now. I realise that man is not an island. I needed to reach out: people need people.’