User:Natasha Grey/sandbox

REACTIVART
•	1 Origin In 1987 a group of artists ( brainchild of designer Janette Swift ) working in a variety of medium displayed their work together for the first time. "Janette is the impetus behind Reactivart, a group of  35 artists and designers who use recycled materials and aim through their work to encourage awareness about the environment and action to save it. The Guardian, July 17 1989". The theme unifying the group was their use of recycled materials. which spawned the name "Reactivart".Janette Swift turned to recycled art from a sense of concern and frustration at what was happening to the environment."I got really angry,angry at the waste and pollution, and angry at myself for not doing anything".Madeleine Marsh, You Magazine for the Daily Mail 1989. Shows were put together in random spaces, warehouses, restaurants and car parks. The group quickly gained momentum with the ranks of artists growing weekly and the the press covering every move.''It's unusual to find a designer who's interested in anything other than how a lapel should be let alone to find one who wants to educate through her designs.Jane Alexander, City Limits, June 1988.Janette Swift has no time for falling in love .....She is a member of a fast-growing group called Reactivart who use waste materials to make fashion and objets d'art.ID Magazine November 1988.I'm just a second hand rose say's Janette Swift whimsically referring to her reincarnatory compost art, for some 10 years before the bandwaggon rolled up Swift had been realising her enviro friendly ideas.Tatler, February 1990.As green permeated our every pore , the art world has turned to it's dustbin for inspiration. Reactivart is a group of artists and designers who produce their own recycled art.Elle Magazine, March 1990.''

1. Exhibitions •	1.1 The Petit Prince. The first art show took place at the tiny but beautifully formed 'Petit Prince' restaurant off Kentish town Rd, the show was small but caught the attention of MTV and a full page in City Limits magazine. 1.2 The Hammersmith Palais. Janette Swift was requested to take part in a fashion show and performances at the Palais. •	               1.3 The Westway The space beneath the Westway at Portobello road was offered to Reactivart for a show, which attracted many new artists and audience alike. An article in the Guardian followed outlining the principles of the group. use Recycled materials in your art or Fashion, or promote green ideas in the message of the artwork. After this article was published numbers of artists jumped from 15 to 32 in the space of two weeks.

•	1.4 The Submarine Gallery, Kings Cross. The submarine gallery quickly became a hub for reactivartists, the owner had a sympathetic like minded approach to our work. Some designers began selling recycled jewelery and clothing in the shop above the gallery and we were invited to do a group show.

1.5 The Bluebird Cafe Before work began on the now named Bluebird Cafe, Reactivart were invited to exhibit the biggest collective piece of art work that we had ever attempted, a rainforest made entirely from recycled metal

1.6 Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Fashion show, Submarine Gallery. Within a year the nuber of clothes designers working under the umbrella of Reactivart had increased to more than 10, with 4 other designers making Jewelery and milinery/ accesories. It was decided that a fashion show was needed to promote the group. LWT was approached and they suggested live coverage by the programme'Live from London' with Richard                       Jobson compering the show.

.7 Fashion Week- Paris. Photographer Susan Gunther who had photographed Janette Swift along with Rock Legend Nina Hagen for V Magazine, acquired a free stand at Paris Fashion Week and invited Reactivart to display their work.

1.8 The Empire Ballroom, Leicester Square There had been a concerted effort to demonstrate that Reactivart could work as a business, the Empire Ballroom Fashion show was the launch of the new face of Reactivart, with more established designers like Ally Capellino, Red or Dead and Michiko Koshino contributing.

1.9 Fashion Forum, with Jeff Banks. chance to listen to lectures by designers/ stylists and photographers in the field of Fashion.

1.10 The Glasgow food and beverage Fair. Janette Swift and Finlay Cowan were asked to design and Build a stand for drinks promotor GULP at the Glasgow food and beverage fair. The stand was funded by Corona and the mainstay of recycled materials came from the company. A Mexican theme was used including chandeliers, bowls, mirror frames all made from Corona bottles.

•	2. Education

The drive towards gaining more presence in schools came with the addition of Melanie Agace to the team. Along with Janette Swift she believed education should be an equal arm for Reactivart along with exhibitions. She made it her aim to bring recycled art workshops to junior schools. •	               2.1 Keep Britain Tidy Keep Britain Tidy ( Richmond) invited Reactivart to their yearly events for 4 consecutive years. It was a great partnership with both groups promoting the same green issues.

2.2               Michael Marland Head Teacher of North Westminster High school, Edgeware Rd, (always a forward thinking Head Teacher) decided to put together a group of proffesionals from the working world to head his 'Vocational studies course'.Janette Swift was invited to contribute. The aims of Reactivart would be no less important on the course, Mr Marland applauded the recycled materials approach. The course ran successfully for 5 years until funding was exhausted.

2.3 Camden Recycling Centre For many of our workshops we had to provide materials for the children ( as resource centres such as Orinoko did not exist at that time ) Camden recycling Centre was a regular source of free materials, plastic bottles, paper, card and fabric.

•	3. Press City Limits The Guardian The Independent Dazed and Confused. Elle The Face The Camden Journal Viva Magazine The evening standard Company The Early Times South London Press Ark Times. Max Magazine

•	4. T.V. MTV Good Morning Capital Woman This Morning Live From London Posh Frocks on the Box 'Scratchy and Co'.

•      5. Books After completing regular recycled  fashion slots on "Capitol Woman" the publishing division of the production Company approached Janette Swift to write a book on the subject of recycled interior dedign. The book was completed the following year with step by step projects working through a house from Garden to Kitchen, it was called "Rooms from Remnants" and was published by                    Boxtree. •			•	6. List of Artists and designers Janette Swift Richard Royle Phil Smith Lucy Shuker Lucy Wisdom Julian Wisdom Mikey Wisdom Finlay Cowan Paul Mathews Lennie Lee Brigit Riley Vicky Hawkins Paul Hardaker Jason Atomic Livia Lowendaal George Cowan Jason Greenwood Marina Heath Jessica Dorrington Janine John Mann Ann ( sat morn kids show ) Howard Jones. If your name has been omitted please add here. •	6 	•		6.1	•		6.2 	•		•