Gods Own Junkyard

It has been an age since I wrote an article about a day out that I have had and shared some of my own photography.  I have to admit, I don’t always think to do it as I find other peoples artwork and photography much more compelling than my own, but I am very lucky in that go to some amazing places and see some amazing things, so I really should share this a bit more, otherwise you might get the impression that I am some stuffy art critic who has lost touch with the real world… and that would be my worst nightmare (please feel free to scream at me in the comments if I ever do turn in to one of the art critics that I find abhorrent).

Nestled away in a corner of Walthamstow is a small industrial estate, where you will find a unit which has a pink haze that you can see before you approach the entrance.  It’s free to enter and has its own cafe within, but its not the food that you’re going for.

Gods Own Junkyard is a floor to ceiling extravaganza of Neon lights.  The place has been put together by Chris Bracey, has been in the neon business for over 37 years.  He has created amazing pieces for names such as David La Chappelle and Martin Creed and has a cult following from London to Los Angeles.

In Gods Own Junkyard, you will find new and salvaged neon art, along with old movie props, salvaged fairground parts and all sorts of other wonders.

One word of warning… if you are going here with the intention of taking photos, you can only take them with your phone, other cameras are forbidden.  All of the photos in this article have been taken with my iphone.

Are you getting enough neon?

The place is not huge, I would say you only really need perhaps an hour or two to wonder around the brightly lit cavern and maybe have a cup of tea and a slice of cake, but it is definitely worth viewing it you like neon lights or something which is not your everyday occurance.

The whole place has an eccentric charm, as you wander around the hazed glow of strip show lights, carnival signage and manikins draped in neon.

Jesus giving the double guns

If you are lucky, you may find one of the curators wandering around, who will explain to you about the art of making neon signs and how some of the pieces on display were created for the use on film sets or photo shoots.  Notoriously these have been used for photo shoots in Vogue, and on sets such as “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream…

This is such a friendly and intriguing place, and it is really hard not to feel happy when you are bathed in a fluorescent glow, the atmosphere feed everyone’s emotions in the place, and you will find yourself talking to everyone in there as the place is so surreal.

Collection of neon nicesties. 

If you are in or around London, I would highly recommend a trip to this little treasure trove.

If you want to find out more or want to plan a visit, you can find more details here

What do you think of Gods Own Junkyard?  Have you been?  Why not tell me in the comments?  Like this post?  Why not share it?

Neon Love.