The Big Smoke

Woolworths has been all over the news today, thanks to the fact the much-missed stores are making their comeback on the internet. But that doesn't solve the problem of what to do with all those disused stores that are currently littering London's high streets. Many have been turned into pound shops, one in Camden briefly became a squat but many have simply been left empty and abandoned.

Not all though. The artist Bob & Roberta Smith has alerted Time Out to a new art project that is developing in Leytonstone. A small group of artists and supporters in the community have successfully lobbied the council to get Woolworths used as a gallery space for the duration of the Leytonstone Arts Trail from June 27th to July 19th. A spokesperson says: 'The Art Deco building will host a multi-media exhibition of pictures, paintings, sculptures and films as well as site-specific installations stimulated by the building.

'The works selected deliberately and defiantly echo the unique and eclectic nature of Woolworths’ retailing style. The collision of hardware and homeware, CDs and kiddies clothes, toilet seats, toys, trinkets and trash have been replaced by a similarly unlikely and brash combination of painting, video, drawing, installation, sculpture, ceramics and prints. The resulting experience, part-exhibition and part-event is appropriately a visual Pick ‘n’ Mix of styles, languages, approaches and attitudes.'

Looks like fans of Herne Hill's soon-to-close Apollo Project in search of a new pop-up art venue located in a disused shop need to head out east.