A programme of art, culture and new infrastructure to reimagine the future of the UK’s biggest council housing estate
Barking-based artist and designer, Sarina Mantle will produce a new artwork using the form of decorative bunting to mark the Becontree Estate’s centenary in 2021. Bunting is often used as a DIY decoration for street parties and community celebrations, made from chains of flags, often generated communally. Its first recorded use was as a signal between ships, as a means of communication.
Sarina will work with local residents to collectively design and make bunting to use for Brightening up the Borough, reimagining and reclaiming bunting for the modern-day, to represent residents of Becontree. The bunting will combine different textiles and patterns, employing different surface designs such as block printing, hand painting, embroidery and appliqué to depict language, poems and imagery that capture the stories, cultures, cuisines and experiences of contributors.
Get Involved
Be part of Becontree Bunting, our community bunting project with local artist Sarina Mantle and Barking and Dagenham’s #BrighteningUpTheBorough!
Sarina is inviting local residents to collaborate on a new decorative bunting design, which she will produce to mark the Becontree Estate’s centenary and at the Becontree 100 Festival this summer.
Click to download your free creative activity pack with templates to design your own piece of bunting – then send it back to us to feature in Sarina’s bespoke Becontree Bunting. It could be a self-portrait, a colourful pattern, a drawing of your house, family, favourite plant, food, pet or anything that represents Becontree and the borough to you.
Plus, make your own bunting to decorate your homes, gardens and schools to brighten up the borough for the Summer of Festivals this year (find out more here)
Send your bunting designs back to us by Sunday 27th June
By email: Send a photo or scan of your design and email to: whitehouse@createlondon.org
By post: Post any drawings to The White House, 884 Green Ln, Dagenham RM8 1BX
By WhatsApp: Take a photo on your phone and send it to the White House WhatsApp: 07715 998362
The White House
884 Green Lane
Dagenham
RM8 1BX
Sarina Mantle is an artist, designer and singer-songwriter based in Barking and Dagenham, London. Mantle works across print, fashion and music, incorporating patterns, florals, sacred geometry, intuitive tribal and ancient visuals to reconnect with the cosmic and natural world.
Commissioned by The White House and funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.