It is time to get all arty in Brockley

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Brockley Max Festival has started and there so much to see, but here is just one artist we have chosen to focus on.

Ian Tarr at Artdog was born Zimbabwe in 1954 and studied English Literature at university. He says, “There being no art school in Zimbabwe meant that I was never able to consider getting some professional training. I’ve always felt a bit haunted by what I might have been able to do with a bit of sustained effort.’

He came to London in 1976 just as Punk was exploding across the UK, and careered around in a wide range of work – from six years dealing antique textiles to twelve years as a journalist – and much in between.

Retiring in 2021 provided an opportunity to see what he could still manage in the way of drawing.

Ian says of his art: “I make original drawings, most often just a black and white image in pen and pencil. I then make a photocopy of this image, or use another technique of image transfer to get some distance from the original. I rework that image: re-drawing, correcting, refining, colouring, or re-colouring, adding layers of colour and sometimes removing colour.

‘I like surprising myself, seeing how far I can progress an image and come at an idea from different angles.’

Brockley Max Festival is a nine-day community arts festival celebrating local talent.

It takes place in lots of different venues across Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park and Honor Oak and is a non-profit festival that everyone can attend and be part of.

The final day of the festival is Max In The Park family day, based in Hilly Fields, in the middle of Brockley. From midday until 6pm the area close to the Hilly Fields stone circle is given over to children’s creative workshops and a live stage with dance and musical performances. You’ll also find a craft market, food stalls and bars.