The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair

Now in its sixth year and still one of the summer’s most thrilling days out, the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair announces its full line up of amazing artists, fashion designers and performers. This year’s wrestling, wrangling, grappling and gaming theme will bring a whole new element to the fair, with a wrestling ring acting as a stage for the diverse range of exhilarating spectacles.

Regular car booters Sir Peter Blake, Gavin Turk, Bob & Roberta Smith and Pam Hogg are joined by Martin Creed, Billy Childish, Pete Fowler and Jessica Albarn, for this year’s fresh and feisty take on what is gearing up to be the hottest day of the year.

A new print edition by the multi-talented poet, painter, film-maker and musician Billy Childish will be on offer, plus his collaboration with Harry Adams and ex-KLF superstar artist James Cauty, will be causing a stir as they bring their National Hate Art Day campaign to the event.The most critically acclaimed event of 2009, The Museum of Everything, will bring all of its magic to Brick Lane.

This year, Art Car Boot Fair founder and organiser Karen Ashton is pleased to announce commissions from Pete Fowler, Jessica Albarn, Ian Dawson and Oliver Guy-Watkins, alongside live wrestling bouts, impromptu auctions and music performances staged on the wrestling ring centrepiece.

Oliver Guy-Watkins’ wrestling-inspired car will be parked beside the main ring, where he will also stage his performance “Becoming a Fighter,” alongside entertainers from the UK’s very own All-Star Wrestling Federation. Oliver will present a four-bout wrestling tournament throughout the day, in which each wrestler will be managed by one of the boot fair’s participating artists.

Artist-illustrator Jessica Albarn’s bee-themed commission features a swarm of bees covering a Vauxhall Astra.

Created from her original drawings of 36 different bees her bee sticker sheets will also be on sale exclusively on the day so you too could have a bee on your bonnet- just don’t be beaten to them!

Taking his Astra down a different road, artist Ian Dawson has created a series of vibrant and intricately complex Spirograph images to deck out his “Spiro Car.” Derived from his series of large wall panels, adorned by hand using the popular children’s toy, Ian has used a Spirograph generating computer programme to generate the stunning totemic series of patterns across the contours of the car’s bodywork.

Live art becomes a central focus for the final commission of this year’s event. In the middle of the bustling fair on June 6th, “Monster” creator Peter Fowler will be producing his exciting and spontaneous artwork on a Vauxhall car, a spectacle set for huge popularity.

Curator Karen Ashton comments: “This year’s Art Car Boot Fair really is the art world’s playground with more artful dodging and weaving, bartering and frivolity than ever before, with serious art bargains to boot!”

The day’s fusion of bargains and bouts will be made complete through an eclectic array of performances taking place on the central wrestlng ring stage. Between haggling for bargains and playing spectator to the hourly wrestling matches, punters can enjoy all the musical entertainments on offer: Martin Creed will take to the stage with his band Owada, as well as Gabby Young and Other Animals. The trendsetting new band Revere will also perform songs from their new album, adapted here for live performance with a rousing eight piece brass section. Along with these staged events, you can join in with the Cinemoi Can Can girls and their “Boules in a China Shop” antics or simply sit back and enjoy the zany antics of the ultimate fun generators Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club.

Get there early to nab one of Sir Peter Blake’s unique, just for the day limited edition ‘wrestler’ inspired prints at a bargain price, while his daughter Rose will bring a new ‘Wrestler’ designed t-shirt – following on from her sell-out ‘F**K Art let’s Dart’ t-shirt, this year’s ‘Wrestler’ T promises to be just as popular.

Boot fair regular Gavin Turk will present a retrospective of all his previous Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair works, celebrating his ongoing support of the event. Here’s your chance to get the whole set, plus a new edition for 2010, called Roadworks!

Reflecting Vauxhall Motors’ support of fresh talent, sizzling young curator Justin Hammond has commissioned exciting artist Kristian De La Riva to create a brand new animation on the theme of wrestling.

Many of this year’s artists will be offering further contributions to the fair as part of Pretty Taxing, launching a range of limited edition artist designed tax disc holders, including new and exciting designs by Matthew Barney, Jessica Albarn and Ian Dawson.

Finally, to fuel yourself through all these excitements, astonishing acts and unmissable bargains, pick up “Something Gamey in a Bun” from St John Bread and Wine, some well hung chorizo from The Bath Pig plus an exotic cocktail or two from the East Room bar.

So grab your diary and save the date, Sunday 6th June, for a chance to get your hands on some art bargains and cheer on the wrestlers and wranglers at the hottest boot fair of the year!

Address: Old Truman Brewery, 146 Brick Lane, London, E1
Opening Hours: 12-6pm
Tickets: £4
Public Information: artcarbootfair.com