Artists launch ‘Keep Hackney Crap’ campaign
Badges and t-shirts emblazoned with the unlikely slogan, ‘Keep Hackney Crap’ have appeared as part of a campaign set up by The Eel magazine in response to a comment Mayor Jules Pipe made last year.
Tony Collins from The Eel, which is produced by local artists, said: “When Jules Pipe accused opponents of the Dalston regeneration scheme of wanting to ‘keep Hackney crap’, many local luminaries were up in arms.
“Implicit in Pipe’s comment is a belief that he is actually making things better and that what is currently there is not worth keeping. This betrays a negative attitude to the area he is meant to represent. However, one person’s crap is another person’s gold.
“The Eel likes to celebrate that which is forgotten and marginalised. The ‘Keep Hackney Crap’ campaign is about retaining the things which genuinely make an area unique and loved.
“It is not reactionary to want to keep the little gems that characterise an area. Change will always come by stealth, force or evolution. We prefer the latter and do not believe it gets in the way of the genuine need to improve the living standards of the poorest.”
Really would like to catch this film, any other dates? The use of signage without consultation by Hackney housing to stamp their ownership on our homes (& power over residents) really rings true. They recently put up 8 no smoking signs in a communal passage way that serves 4 flats ostensibly in order to stop a 70 year old Vietnamese guy smoking on a communal balcony with no roof. ..i wasn’t happy about his smoking, but I much preferred it to their nasty little officious signs.
Dear Petroc, the film will be shown early summer again, in July, details will be on http://www.estatefilm.co.uk
Hi Andrea,
I enjoyed reading this article even though I missed the screening.
I am 63 now but I was brought up from the age of 6 weeks at 40 Richardson House (long since demolished), and then at 9 Samuel House. It was a tough area and we used to play out in the London smog in the late 50s early 60s.
I did visit a few times and saw a lot of ghosts from my past.
Thanks for doing what you did. Email me if you ever need any of the little information I have about that time
John Hirst
Hi John Hirst,
I am a teacher from the Haggerston area trying to track down those who have experienced the changes in the local area, would it be ok if I contacted you directly? My A Level Geography students would greatly apricate it!
Many thanks
RJ