Love was all around yesterday at the midsummer edition of The Art Car Boot fair. Offering an antidote to our decidedly unlovely times, the event took 'love'—“love for the Planet, love for each other and of course, a love of art”—as its theme. More than 120 artists parked up in Lewis Cubitt Square, King’s Cross to sell their most lovely wares. Christine Binnie’s ceramic loving cups sold alongside her sister Jennifer Binnie’s painted celebrations of the female sex. Then there were the family love-ins of Bob and Roberta Smith, Jessica Voorsanger and their children Etta and Fergal, all of whom were selling their own work, with Jessica’s portraits of famous artist couples available singly or as a duo.
Christine Binnie Courtesy Louisa Buck
The renowned street artist Ben Eine was making on the spot LOVE screen prints, the octogenarian Colin Self was selling images of love hearts and there were some particularly covetable cupids painted in oils by Geraldine Swayne. Your correspondent couldn't resist snapping up one of Anne Ryan’s 24 ceramic Rude Women and was also sorely tempted by neo-naturist Wilma Johnson's love-themed, high-glam rubber washing up gloves.
Another popular pit-stop was the stall of Gina Birch, best known as a founding member of the post-punk band The Raincoats. Birch is also no slouch with the paintbrush, selling some stunning dresses emblazoned with the female nude—perfect for those who want to bare all without actually doing so. And talking of baring all, there was every fluid form of love on offer in an all-day live cabaret and performance programme which provided a riotous backdrop to proceedings.
ACBF founder- Director Karen Ashton, Helen Hayward of Turps Banana and her daughter Nancy Courtesy Louisa Buck
For anyone who missed all this artistic love—or who wants to get some more—the theme carries over to the next Art Car Boot Fair which will be held in Margate on 28 September to coincide with the opening of the Turner Prize at Turner Contemporary. I’m feeling the love already…