SAM’S SALOON

Tate Modern
May, September and October 2018

An artist activated project that draws comparisons between public galleries and the public house, aka The Pub.

Sam’s Saloon is an opportunity for members of the public to engage in philosophical enquiry, share ideas with other visitors, create your own work and engage in conversations with the artist whilst surrounded by paintings of inner thoughts, conversation provoking beer mats and complimentary pickled eggs. 

Pubs achieve what public art galleries wish they could, right?
Egalitarian, regular visitors, broad general audience, intergenerational interaction, community hub gathering space, opinion forming, life affirming, perspective changing, comfortable seating, refreshments, a pause and escape from everyday life?

Initially a two day installation at Tate Exchange, Tate Modern in May 2018 with Vital Arts and now a monthly occurrence as part of Uniqlo Tate Lates attracting it’s very own regulars. 

An extension of the Vital Arts collaboration with Art Night London 2017 and the series of workshops with students at the Royal London Children’s Hospital. The project started life based on the work of Charles Avery, and used his work ‘The Islanders’ as a springboard for ideas. Students explored imagined animals, ecologies, roles, their future selves, and philosophical inquiry to create new works of art.

Supported by Art Night and Art Social Foundation 

Image credit; Justyna Fedec