New Local Art Exhibition Celebrates Mudlarking

It seems like mudlarking is popular win all sorts of ways in N8. Not only does the Ladder host one of London's best loved mudlark bloggers, over the way in Crouch End we have a few artists celebrating mudlarking in art. 

Starting next week there's an exhibition in Original Features on Tottenham Lane.

Once Upon the London Tide’ runs from 21st March - 28th June 2014, showcasing original works from three local artists: Sue Irwin-Hunt, Helen Kaminksy and Alex McHallam.

From three different backgrounds these women have found a joint passion for mudlarking on the banks of the River Thames, finding pieces of London’s history they use for inspiration and also physically in their work.

Historically, Londoners would sit on the banks of the river Thames to have a meal of oysters and a clay pipe with a pinch of tobacco (the custom before the first commercial cigarette in 1865).

These clay pipes were commonly thrown into the river and vast amounts remain there today. 

“As artists, we are inspired by these small, precious remnants of history. We love the randomness of our finds and the strange, aged beauty of the glass and pottery that has been rolled over and over in the ebb and flow of the river.” – Irwin-Hunt.

The collection includes jewellery, mosaics, paintings and sculptures.

What is mudlarking?

A popular term from the 18th and 19th century ‘mudlark’ refers to a person that rummages for items of value within the mud of river banks. 

With London’s huge reputation for trade the Thames River banks were a popular place to mudlark for fallen cargo. 

Altering the shady perception of Victorian mudlarkers, Irwin-Hunt, Kaminksy and McHallam forage for items of historic rather than monetary value. 

The Once Upon the London Tide exhibition looks to spark excitement over the history found right beneath London’s surface. All works use inspiration from or actual historic fragments found on the Thames River banks and are available for general sale.