“Flying Boots and Eyes on Fire” creates an art trail to celebrate the resilience and revival of Herne Hill community

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Cars were left half submerged, houses sunk deep in water and shops flooded five years ago.

One resident even tweeted about a floating wheelie bin. “Don’t see that every day,” said Conor Garland at the time.

Families, and especially shops, in Herne Hill were left reeling by flooding caused by a burst water main in August 2013.

Up to 58 businesses, estimated to have lost more than £6million, are only now starting to fully recover.

The traders and their customers are supporting each other out of the dip.

They have jointly created an art trail to celebrate the resilience and revival of their community. Their project, “Flying Boots and Eyes on Fire”, created by artist Caroline McCarthy, gives locals a further reason to explore the area and shop in their own neighbourhood.

The art trail is a set of 15 steel-cut drawings connecting Herne Hill station, Railton and Milkwood roads and Half Moon Lane, the areas most flood-affected.

The images are of flying boots, fiery eyes, a stopped clock – and Bono’s bad haircut.

They are inspired by local folklore and history, of determination and protest, threat and survival.

Each celebrates the strength, resilience and “can-do” community spirit of Herne Hill people.

The “Flying Boots” were those once thrown to drive away jewel thieves in Half Moon Lane. The glint of battle in the “Eyes on Fire” recalls the protest by local matrons to gain afternoon access to the walled garden in Brockwell Park.

The images also depict Dylan Thomas, who lived on Milkwood Road, and big Herne Hill names Michael Crawford, Judith Kerr and U2 who performed in the Half Moon pub.

McCarthy said: “Early on in my research I realised there was a long local history of determination, empathy and passion; of people willing to stand up to authority and expressing their love for their community. ‘Flying Boots’ is in recognition of this spirit, whether saving a pub or a squirrel, resurrecting a cinema, demanding rights, planting trees.”

Herne Hill Forum chairman George Hornby said: “We hope the art trail will intrigue locals and attract curious visitors.

It is an additional reason to explore the independent shops on and around Herne Hill. An annual local schools storytelling competition based around the art works will bring the art trail and its tales to our next generation of neighbours.”

Barrie Westwell, of The Illlusioneer theatre and studio in Half Moon Lane, said: “The devastating flood was a huge setback.

It took over more than two years to fully recover and re-build the business, with some businesses permanently destroyed.

The art trail is a permanent way to really bring together all of the stories about Herne Hill and its fantastic community.

We hope everyone will enjoy it from children to visitors and encourage people to explore everything Herne Hill has to offer, and learn more about its past and future.”

Fabienne Nicholas, head of consultancy at the Contemporary Art Society, which backed the project, said: “Out of adversity has been born a fantastic art trail for Herne Hill.

Caroline McCarthy has cleverly unearthed the secrets and folklore of the area and its trading history to create something very special for local residents and visitors.”

The art trail is the start of a project to make Herne Hill a thriving centre for the area’s independent retailers, makers, doers and menders.

Local schools will also be invited to enter a story-telling competition as part of the project.

The challenge is to invent and illustrate a short story which includes and gives new life and meaning to the art works.