Portobello Road Market

The word gallery was the fifth an final word we were given and what is meant by this appears to be anything. However my intention is to go for a gallery of the type that we are probably more familiar with but again, heres the link to what I found.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gallery

gal·ler·y –noun, plural -ler·ies.

...6. a room, series of rooms, or building devoted to the exhibition and often the sale of works of art.

...13. a collection of art for exhibition.

—Related forms
gal·ler·ied, adjective
gal·ler·y·like, adjective

Again some interesting factors jumped out a me here. Not all just from the definition but more from something that was said to me by Keith Piper at a recent exhibition I did at Signal Gallery near Old Street, that related to the definition. At this particular exhibition, our work which we did not intend to sell was in fact priced and then labelled next to the artist name and title was the price itself, decided not by us but by the gallery owners. I mean it was up to us wether we put the prices on display or not but it was their idea to actually put a price on them anyway.

Now the decision to price the pieces is irrelevant. What is of interest to me is the effect that having the price in view has on the piece and the way people view the work. Keith pointed out that this had a detrimental effect in terms of the status that it gave the piece. At the time I couldn't understand but now I suppose I do agree with his argument. This idea that a gallery is there for the display of art work and the viewing of art by others, along with discussion and the like, to then put in there a price I believe almost completely contradicting. As if walking down the street in this day and age doesn't provide enough harassment from our desperate, money making society we go and add to it by sticking another bloody price tag on what is personlly the only thing that gives us a rest and the peace of simply looking at something actually interesting, - Something different to this great mess that is commercialism.

Anyway back to it. For this category I think I am simply going to research a gallery. Not sure which yet but I'll have a think.

Decided against the gallery idea, well in a way I think its a gallery. Portobello road market. Thats the one. Been there a few times now and the place is fantastic. Spent to much time thinking which gallery to chose so dumped the idea and decided on portobello. The history, the culture, the life. Starting with this,

Portobello Road Market - history

In 1739 Admiral Vernon captured the city of Puerto Bello in the Caribbean and this exploit gave rise to a number of commemorative names. One of these, Portobello Farm, in turn gave its name to Portobello Road, formerly the lane leading to it. The Market (known locally as `the lane') seems to have begun in the late 1860's or early 1870's at a time when much of the road had been built. This Market was one of several street Markets operating at the turn of the century; there were, for example, others in Kenley Street, Sirdar Road, Norland Road, Crescent Street and Golborne Road. An early reference in the vestry minutes (8 November 1893) mentions the obstruction caused by the size of the costermongers' stalls in Portobello Road.

Sir William Bull in `some recollections of Bayswater fifty years ago' (1923) says of the Market that `Carnival time was on Saturday nights in the winter, when it was thronged like a fair from Cornwall Road (now Westbourne Park Road) to Bolton Road (Portobello Street - now demolished). The people overflowed from the pavements so that the roadway was quite impassable for horse-traffic. On the left hand side (the east side) were costers' barrows, lighted by flaming naphtha lamps. In the side streets were side-shows.'

The Market was originally held on Saturdays only but in 1920 the local branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers attempted to get the Market extended to other days of the week. The scheme, however, was not approved (the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council's Minutes 26 June 1920 and 21 September 1920) and a running battle began between the Council and street traders who continued to use the road during the week despite protests from local shop-keepers.

At this time the Council had no powers either to designate particular streets as Markets or to licence traders. A trader could be prosecuted for obstructing the highway, however, and this power could be used to exert some control. This unsatisfactory situation was remedied by the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1927 which gave Metropolitan Borough Council powers to licence stationary street traders and to make Bye-laws controlling street trading. By this date a daily Market seems to have become acceptable in Portobello Road for early licence holders could trade between 8.00 a.m and 8.00 p.m on Mondays to Fridays and 8.00 a.m to 9.00 p.m on Saturdays. The east side of the road between Westbourne Grove and Wheatstone Road was designated for trading and a Street Market Inspector was appointed (the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council's Minutes 20 December 1927).

The market today

The boundaries of today's Market are much the same, except that Saturday mornings see the addition of antique stalls in the stretch of road between Westbourne Grove and Chepstow villas. The Market falls roughly into three sections - in the south antiques and bric-a-brac; in the centre fruit and vegetables, with second-hand clothing, bedding and the like to the north. The trade in Antiques has grown markedly in the last few years and was stimulated by the temporary closure of the Caledonian Market in 1948.

In January 1961 there were some thirty-five antique dealers out of a total of 199 licence holders but this number has since increased. On Saturday mornings the southern half of the Market is a great attraction to tourists and it is packed with bargain hunters and onlookers. Although most people know Portobello Market for its antiques, the food section should not be forgotten. This, probably the oldest part, serves a real local need and trade here is brisk throughout the week.

The Portobello Road is also lined with shops on both sides, many of these being long established businesses, and is no average shopping street. At its best, it is a place of extraordinary vitality and a source of both enjoyment and fascination to its myriad users. This is more than can be said of the typical, sterile High Street. Portobello has a rich character, long in evolution, which provides a unique source of appeal to local shoppers, day-trippers and foreign visitors alike. This is a rare asset which cannot be artificially recreated.

This depth of personality, which makes Portobello so appealing, is difficult to define. The street Market is a major component; when the Market stalls are packed away, much of Portobello's vitality goes with them. But Portobello is much more than just a street Market. It also offers an unusually wide range of small, independent shops. Marks and Spencer and Burtons have long gone. Most of the other big High Street names have never been there. But the retailers who are on Portobello offer a splendid array of goods and services which complement the Market very well. There is plenty which is bizarre, to interest the day-tripper and the tourist, but also a large supermarket and a fine selection of small food shops for the local customer. This includes provision for particular nationalities and ethnic groups, often poorly served by the major multiples.

Neither is Portobello just about shopping. It is a residential area too. Several major housing estates sit next to Portobello Road, there are some attractive residential mews adjoining, and the street is surrounded by a densely-packed, enormously varied set of communities. There is no shortage of pubs and restaurants, so Portobello also serves as an entertainment area. It is also home to the famous electric cinema which currently closed for renovation. A number of cafes, offices and light industrial users are situated close to the street, particularly under the Westway. Finally, there are the schools and other major educational institutions to bear in mind. The bi-lingual Spanish school, for example, makes a further contribution to the lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere of the street.

Portobello offers shopping, leisure and entertainment in a human-scale environment. Unusually for a busy London shopping centre, there is little through traffic. Public transport connections are good, with three tube stations within walking distance of the street. The road line predates the surrounding urban area, curving gently downhill as it snakes northwards. Original Victorian Terraces remain along most of the length of the street. Not always well maintained, these nevertheless provide an intimate street-scape.

Most remain as single shop units, their independence often affirmed by the colour scheme of the facade, as well as by the shop signage. Even the few larger buildings tend to have a narrow frontage onto Portobello Road, remaining in tune with the small scale and intimate character of the place. Neither are there any large expanses of tarmac, such as car parks, to fragment the enclosed feel of the street. Space is at a premium and every last inch is used to advantage, particularly on the busiest Market days.

In short, Portobello has many strong features which contribute to its unique character. Its distinctive feel owes something not only to the buildings and street-scape, but also to the three sections of the Market, the kaleidoscopic range of shops and the variety of communities and individuals who choose to use the place. It is to this mix of features that Portobello owes its international reputation and its commercial success.

Now, having been to the market on more than one occasion, its easy to picture the hustle and bustle of the market trade and the fantastic atmosphere of the people hunting for a bargain. This one of my favourite places to be. Completly fascinating so it is that this market has been around for so many years. To think that a hundred years ago, people were trading, as they still do today in that similar, bartering manner is just brilliant.

Why I go to the market, other than for a day out is with the intention of buying old, second hand items. The main items I go for are books. The fascination with where the book has been in its lifetime, who has owned it, how old is it coming top of the itinery I suppose. Also the biggestthing for me is the authentucity of the book. The binding and how it was made, the material, leather or other wise. The content not been an issue. The last I bought for an absolute bargain. Two pound got me an old bible. In spanish which in itself is quite extrordinary. The old frail leather bound cover an extra addition to the quality of the article.

Been a book binder myself, its easy for me aswell to appreciate the time thats been paid to the making of the book. On the subject, another favourite stall of mine is the leather man. I buy leather skins to use to back the books I make, an absoluite jem of a stall. Bargains in the leather. So saying this I suppose to me the market is a very important element of my practice. Providing the majority of my materials from tradesman making a living. No set price, no comercial harrassment, and none of this modern day nightmare of the fake comercial society were surrounded by in the high street.

Since visiting the market on several occasions, I've often thought of the idea of renting a a plot in the market and try and make a bit of money myself, selling books I've bound or maybe some paintings or the like. In some ways using the market place as a gallery. An interesting idea that I'd like to persue and found this.

How to Rent a Market Stall
in London's Portobello Road Saturday Antique Market

We rent out covered market stalls within The Good Fairy open air antique market at 100 Portobello Road, London W11 2QB to antique dealers, enabling them to sell goods within London's busy Portobello Road Saturday Antique Market.

-the rent for each stall is £50 to £60 per Saturday, depending on position and is paid a week in advance.

-each stall is 4 feet 6 inches(137 centimetres) long by 3 feet(91 centimetres) wide and is covered by rigid translucent roofing. Extensive shelving and steps are available to facilitate display.

-this market has a larger throughput of customers, than any other market in Portobello Road due to it being open air.

-the market is open from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday. Traders arrive anytime between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and leave whenever it suits them.

-stalls are well lit with halogen lamps and extra lighting can be provided.

-our porters are there from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. to help unload vehicles and carry stock into the market. They endeavour to keep the road outside of the market clear so that -there are never any problems unloading stock.

-We can supply a parking space which is a 10 minute walk away from the market at a cost of £10, and there are parking meters or 'pay and display' in the area.

-some dealers bring stock that is particularly appealing to foreign tourists which they put out to sell later in the day.

-we have C.C.T.V.

-all of our traders are invited to help themselves to tea, coffee, toast and croissants provided freely by us.

-friendly and helpful traders and Management.

-stalls are also available for casual use.

http://www.goodfairyantiques.co.uk/firstco2.html

After finding this out I've decided to go through with renting a market stall and try and sell some work. Its so exciting to think that I could make money from exhibiting work on a stall in a venue like that. I'll contact them. Get involved. Even get a job as a porter in the long run. Although selling works this way could be a possible income. I can't wait. First thing is to produce some work to sell. Going to take a while to build up enough stuff to exhibit and sell. Be good fun though. Organising hthe transporting is also an issue. I'm thinking wooden canvas are going to be to large and heavy, although maybe a few, and the rest of the stuff I could do on smaller sheets and transport in a folder. I could mount them in white card. I could also take a few books along. I'm going to try it and see how it goes. Might be I don't sell anything but how do I know until I've tried it. This my friend is going to be good.