East London library archive plundered for supercool collage project

Date
7 September 2012

Libraries have been in the news a lot this year because as many come under threat of closure, community groups have issued use-it-or-lose-it pleas to remind people why these are such significant facilities.

One of the most creative library-based events we’ve come across was Mass Movement, by Real Gold and the T-shirt Party inspired by the the idea that independent ideas gain momentum through community and collaboration.

They approached various artists including James Pearson-Howes, Ben Freeman and Carri Munden to explore the amazing archive held by the CLR James Library in Dalston, east London, and pick out images that captured their imaginations. These were made available to members of the local community last weekend who were able to make them into t-shirts and above and beyond this being an uplifting tale, there was also some top collage work courtesy of the many superb images (plus a few newer bits and pieces) at the participants’ disposal.

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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Mass Movement: The CLR James Library project (photo Nina Manandhar)

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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