Got the post-Notting Hill Carnival blues? Head east for a street party celebrating 40 years of Hackney’s colourful Peace Mural and highlighting the legacy of the artist Ray Walker. The Hackney-based artist was commissioned by community arts panel chairman, Tony Banks, to design the piece, which was painted after his death near the Dalston Curve Garden in the 1980s. Given the theme ‘peace through nuclear disarmament’, the mural was intended as a symbol of harmony at a time when Cold War ban-the-bomb marches were common. It’s one of five iconic peace murals in London.
To mark its 40th anniversary, Londoners will be able to visit an exhibition and talks at Hackney Archives, which explore the mural’s creation through original sketches and photographs. There’ll also be a series of creative workshops at Dalston Curve Garden, where people of all ages can create artwork that will be displayed outside the garden.
The celebrations will continue throughout the day with live art, music, dance, and interactive, family-friendly events across Dalston, concluding with a carnival-style street party and after party at Netil360.