Melting Metropolis - Shadow Stories

Community Photos

A creative project exploring the hidden stories of summer; shade, folklore and everyday acts of care through photography, textiles and storytelling.

The project has been shaped through conversations with women from the Lotus Group, Riot Women and a local Single Mums group, who shared their creative interests, reflections on summer, and ideas for keeping cool. Through our conversations we've identified themes of shade and shadows, acts of care, local nature, folklore and heritage. Shade offers moments of relief from the heat, while shadows reveal the beauty of summer light. Acts of care include the ways we look after each other: our families, neighbours, gardens and wildlife during hot weather. Finally, the stories and figures of Somers Town, together with the tales we carry from our own childhoods around the UK and the world, encourage us to explore how shared histories can help us respond to the challenges of today.

Below are a collection of photos from the Women’s groups, and community artist Ray Malone, in response to heat, light and shade, folklore and care.