The opening of London’s most unusual bookshop takes place on 2nd December
2009 at East End gallery Black Rat Projects (formerly The Black Rat Press).
The pop-up antiquarian bookshop is also rumoured to be haunted and is built inside
their railway arch gallery.
The bookshop will be filled with an unusual selection of books from major and
independent book publishers. A large selection of second hand books and artist
made fanzines, films and artwork by Swoon, Burning Candy, Giles Walker, Brian
Adam Douglas and Lucas Price will also be on display. Reports have already been
received of eerie incidents and strange happenings, with books magically flying off
shelves, and lights switching themselves on and off. Halloween may have been and
gone but the real ghosts and ghouls work all year round.
The idea of creating the bookshop came when the Black Rat owners slept in the
gallery one evening and were woken by the toilet flushing and books falling from the
office bookshelves. Thinking they were being burgled, they turned the lights on only
to find the gallery empty. Asking around, a local landlord mentioned that the gallery
had been used to store the stock of legendary Victorian book dealer F. J.
Williams who disappeared in 1903 and is rumoured to haunt various pubs and
houses around the East End.
Black Dog Books promises to be one of the year’s most interesting art and book
events. Working with support from publishers including the Tate, Thames and
Hudson and Drago, the project promises to not only provide a unique experience,
but also a great place to do a little alternative Christmas shopping.
Black Dog Books is a fully functional bookshop complete with customer assistant,
working antique till and books available to buy. The book shop has been designed by
Will Randall and Giles Walker and can accommodate up to 10 people at a time.
Editors Notes
Launch date: Wednesday 2nd December
Address: Thru Cargo Garden, Arch 461, Kingsland Viaduct, 83 Rivington Street,
London. EC2A 3AY.
Nearest tube – Liverpool St / Old St
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm
Entry: Free
Information: 020 7613 7200
About Black Rat Projects
Black Rat Projects is the new name for young east end gallery, The Black Rat Press.
They specialise in installations and exhibitions by some of the world's most exciting
contemporary artists.
In the last two years Black Rat Projects have put on over 20 projects which have
gained widespread media attention including features in the Guardian, CNN news,
CBS news, BBC London, The Sunday Times, the Telegraph and others.
The gallery's focus is on representing artists who undertake ambitious projects which
other more traditional galleries might not facilitate. Works by artists represented by
BRP can be found in many public collections including MOMA, the Brooklyn
Museum, The Tate and the V and A.
For more information contact: Letitia (press) or Johnny (online)
firstname@outpostmedia.co.uk | 020 7684 5634