People of Tottenham Street
Project Aim
To honour & memorialise all the people who live or
work in the street where I live (Tottenham Street)
To bring people together
Further details
I have lived in Fitzrovia for over 48 years & so I decided it was time to pay a tribute to all my lovely neighbours.
The idea for the format of the project came from a trip I took to East Berlin in 1960 on a Teacher’s Delegation when the Berlin Wall was still in place. Everywhere, where ordinary men or women were working, or making a contribution, they were recognised, & acknowledged through portraiture. Photos outside building sites, in hospitals, all over...
Back in Fitzrovia in 2010, I decided to do something similar and undertook to honour and celebrate my neighbours by photographing, interviewing and then sharing their stories. Very quickly, I began to see a ripple effect. People who were "invisible" or felt shy or inadequate started to feel valued. I found myself making more and new friends; like the interesting Nigerian guy who works in a basement all day for a taxi firm and cycles home to Hackney everyday. I got to learn about peoples’ existing troubles (three survivors of holocaust in Nazi Germany, Saddam's Iraq & Vietnam}, not to mention the real fear and anxiety around the current recession and the way it is being managed by Local and Central Government. No less than 15 nationalities were represented - India, America, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Italy, Sicily, Pakistan, Vietnam, Portugal, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, England, Norway & Denmark - and the street is only 300 yards long!
In addition to forging new contacts myself, the project also enabled me to link and connect people up. For example, Michael from a nearby restaurant is now doing business with Dan from the motor bike shop.
Another great advantage was that although it cost me about £200 to do, quite unsolicited support came through, which really moved me: a free show in a smart West End Gallery, full cover for the printing & framing, wine for the Opening & offers to have the show on other cafe walls thereafter.
Already, I the show is travelling up and down the street to spend time in each cafe and it went into our free paper The Fitzrovia News in March. Future plans to turn it into a book. Watch this space!
Inspiration
Outcomes so far
Unexpected outcomes
Obstacles, and how we overcame them
No obstacles
Since this other businesses have asked me to photograph their street too
Lessons Learned
Links and Partnerships
CONINGSBY ART GALLERY/
FITZROVIA PRIVATE DINING CAFE/
GIGS FISH & CHIP SHOP/
FITZROVIA NEWS Centre spread of March Edition)/
FITZROVIA NOIR
Sources of Funding
2 LOCAL BUSINESS SPONSORS
Contacts
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VISITORS BOOK COMMENTS : December 13th, 2010
20 March 2011 - 3:58pm — Fiona GreenDAVID JOSEPH : Really interesting, getting an insight of people,names,mentality
MAX NEUFELD : Good to see ones neighbours well portrayed
CLIVE HENDERSON : Very nice!
ERLING LUND : Great idea!
BRENDA KOUPIS : I never knew my street was so International! Thanks.Absolutely stunning!
NAZREEN A SUBHAN : Fantastic. Well done,Fiona! You're a star!
MIKE EXTON: Fascinating insight into a truly multicultural iconic & not-well enough-known area
PATRICK HOURIHAN : Fiona - fascinating show & a poignant reflection of your passion for the area : well done!
ASH KAMEL (ICCO) : It was a pleasure to see all these beautiful pictures of the Fitzrovia area but the way it is done was v.good,thank you
AZEM SIDDOLI : Its great to know a person like you:you've made us really proud. On behalf of myself & all at Icco,we wish you the best of luck XX
ANNA BACKAKOVA : What an honour
FELICE BRACCO : Its great to see your neighbours & find out you dont know all of them.
PAOLO SEDAZZARI : A great exhibition. Fascinating to see such a range of people from all corners of the Earth
ROBERT MACGIBBON : Brilliant! Art & memories:Now the same for Transition Kentish Town!
ANN-LINN KRISTIANSEN : Wonderful initiative. I never knew I'd experience such a feeling of welcome & Community in this big City
SUE BLUNDELL : This is a brilliant & inspiring show!!!
BARBARA CORR : Wonderful record of Tottenham Street
MIKE PENTELOW : I never realised how many nationalities lived in one street;surely worthy of an entry in The Guiness Book of Records
KATIE GREEN : So lovely to be part of an amazing exhibition :Community Rules!
FIONA WALSH : Great exhibition Fi, Fitzrovia still rocks!
LYDIE DESPERES : What a generous initiative! We are supposed to be in a Global Village & this is when local connections matter as we are human beings & community thru Fiona's example is not necessarily an empty shell.Bravo!
NICK RATHBONE : This is a brilliant idea! More local stuff for locals
MARIETTA TT : Hey,Fiona this is a brilliant,a great/easy/enjoyable way to promote & (BLOOMSBURY) support the Transition spirit! Congratulations! Do make it into a book!
MARIE STONE : Delicious then & now. Thank you,Fiona X
PETER MAKERTICH : FAB!
PETE WHYATT: Wonderful!
NANCY FOUTS : Wish I was still here!