A former block of Edwardian public toilets in Bristol is to be reopened as a temporary art gallery and winter shop.
Antlers Gallery, which has produced similar shows in London, Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, is working with Bristol City Council, which owns the disused cloakroom building on the corner of Woodland Road and Park Row.
Built in 1904, it is still divided into 'ladies’ and 'gents’. Both are in remarkably good condition and contain the original porcelain and beautiful black and white tiled floor.
This important piece of Bristol’s architectural heritage is not normally open to the public, so this Antlers project is a great opportunity for the public to view and engage with a true architectural gem.
The winter shop will bring together an exclusive collection of artist designed products, multiples and artworks in one of Antlers most distinctive and intriguing venues to date. The shop will stock unique and original gifts from £1 – £500 including; artist designed ceramics and t-shirts, Mr Mead’s playing cards and Anton Goldenstein’s chimp chalkboards. Antlers is working closely with its team of artists to launch a range of artists designed products, multiples and limited edition prints which will be released gradually throughout the build up to the project on the Antlers Facebook and Twitter pages.
The Winter Shop will also be animated by a series of events and temporary projects, as the Antlers team invite other collaborators to join the project.
Antlers Gallery director Jack Gibbon said: “I am really excited about animating this amazing and historic utilitarian space. It’s an ideal setting to showcase the unique collection of artist designed items we have.
“We are super proud of the products that we are bringing you and hope to offer an alternative, independent and friendly shopping experience for those people who are exhausted by the high street chains and are keen to support and share the work of really talented artists and makers.
“I really believe that people are looking for more unique and exciting presents both in what they give, receive and keep for themselves.”
The shop will be open between 11am – 6pm from December 8 to Christmas Eve. Antlers has a sister project – Philadelphia Street – a hireable venue in Cabot Circus.
