As part of the North Finchley Outer London Fund regeneration programme, Alice Cicolini conceived and produced the project with Director of Collections Zoe Hendon.
The Museum of Domestic Architecture (MoDA) at Middlesex University houses the collections of Arthur Silver's Silver Studio and the graphic designer Charles Hasler. The Silver Studio created some of the most iconic Liberty print patterns, including "Peacock Feathers", the print which has become synonymous with the collection.
Charles Hasler and the designers who worked for the Silver Studio acquired lots of material for visual reference. The collections of ephemera held at MoDA include everything from cigarette cards, postcards and newspaper cuttings to an important collection of Japanese katagami stencils. Alongside the designers’ finished works they form a unique insight into the nature of creative inspiration and its impact on practice.
As part of the North Finchley Outer London Fund regeneration programme, Alice Cicolini conceived and produced the project with Director of Collections Zoe Hendon, inviting professional designers in fields relevant to the North Finchley retail landscape (interior product, fashion, graphics, accessories, textiles) to collaborate with the archive to create a new piece of work inspired by the collection. The five artists were Jo Angell, Katie Horwich, Leigh Cameron, Aviva Leeman and Yemi Awosile.
The project was part of a wider regeneration programme called Ten Grand Arcade, which saw the North Finchley Town Team(NFTT) take over three units in the local 1930s shopping arcade, running a business centre and a community space alongside the gallery. The London Borough of Barnet commissioned MUF Architecture to restore the arcade to its former glory, bringing its rich historical character back to life. By placing the arts within the wider regeneration project for North Finchley, the NFTT supports and builds on the growing creative industries sector within the borough.