Urban Alchemy

Urban Alchemy explores the material stories and processes of urban change through imaginative salvage and chemical print experiments. Roofing zinc becomes etching plate from which portraits of those removing this zinc from the rooftops of London's ever changing skyline emerge. Slate and bricks become ink and plywood hoardings are transformed through woodcut.  

The project is the work of UCL Chemistry Leverhulme artist in residence and Urban Lab steering committee member Hilary Powell. A book of these stories and experiments will be launched in the UCL construction workers canteen with an associated exhibition of prints moving out onto the surrounding hoardings. The experimentation continues with UCL Institute of Making's Festival of Stuff.  

Urban Alchemy Book Launch Wednesday 24th June, 5-9pm -  UCL Construction Welfare Building canteen, (adjacent to Bloomsbury Theatre) Gordon Street, WC1A 0AH Book via eventbrite.

Alternative Stone Lithography masterclass Thursday 25th June - UCL Institute of Making, Malet Place, WC1E 7JE. Book via Festival of Stuff website.

Participate in giant woodcut and brick ink making Saturday 27th June, 1-5pm - Urban Alchemy skip and roadroller printing at the Festival of Stuff streetextravaganza. Malet Place, WC1E 7JE. Open to all and free.

Thanks to: Leverhulme Trust, UCL Chemistry, UCL Urban Laboratory, East London Printmakers, UCL Grand Challenge for Sustainable Cities, UCL Anthropology and the Journal of Material Culture, UCL Estates and Sustainability teams, and Institute of Making. Urban Alchemy is an associated project of London Festival of Architecture 2015.

More information on the new website www.hilarypowell.com.