Concrete Playground

A couple of years ago an empty shopfront with 'Keys Cut' signage re-emerged as an artist-run initiative where artists could show without being obliged to sell, and a bit of funding that meant they could pay exhibitors. Emma White's current show, 'While You Wait', is a nod to the history of the site and to the philosophy of the directors of the Locksmith Project. She’s made a giant key for the window, some touchably-realistic replicas of household-type sets on colourful chains hanging inside the store, and she will be making more creations for the duration of the show. During the gallery hours, White will be in-residence with her tools: wire, pliers, markers, coloured putty, a roller and an oven — and visitors can not only watch her work but get a fully-baked copy of their own keys to take home, and leave their spares behind.

On the last night of Emma’s show, the Locksmith Project will be launching and selling the third issue of their self-titled ‘whenever we can-nual’ journal that showcases works and research in emerging contemporary art. The limited run of 300 multi-volume boxed sets, dedicated to “basically anything that constitutes making art work”, is already available to pre-order.