It rained in Walthamstow this morning. Miserably. But the dampened mood was lifted slightly on Rosebank Arcade.
Here, a new wraparound artwork by Edward Crooks brightens the cut-through in bold, pink, yellow and cyan.
The work was commissioned by Waltham Forest Council, as part of the borough's tenure as London Borough of Culture 2019. "The landmark piece acts as an enormous welcome mat," says a press release, "wrapping new visitors and daily commuters in a tunnel of colour."
The 20-metre 'welcome mat' is said to reflect the character of the local area, representing the patterns of William Morris and the bright colours of the adjacent market.
If you've not had the pleasure, Rosebank Arcade is the short alley due north of the tube and bus stations. It serves as the quickest route through to the High Street, and gets plenty of footfall.
It's a good spot to choose. As well as attracting plenty of footfall, the alley can be seen as a microcosm of diverse Walthamstow, with a halal butchers and Paddy Power at one end, the Perky Blenders coffee stall at the other.
The artwork will remain in place for up to a year.
