A Tube station manager has turned unused office space in Leytonstone into an art gallery for staff members.
Claudia Borgatti, 36, duty station manager at Leytonstone since 2007, says this is a first step in her ambition to eventually turn the space into a gallery for the whole community.
Different kinds of art, including sculpture, poetry and photography, by around 20 Underground staff members will be on display from tomorrow until Saturday.
“The art gallery used to be my office, but we moved into a new building in 2012 and the old one was left looking tired,” Ms Borgatti said.
“So I thought wouldn’t it be fantastic to use this space for the benefit of the community. Why don’t we start by making a staff exhibition?
“I know lots of people on the Underground have really interesting and cool hobbies outside of work. Let’s use this talent and this space and put on an exhibition.”
The exhibition, Art Lives on the Underground, includes photography by Ms Borgatti, poetry by a customer service assistant at Golders Green, paintings by a Central line train driver and music by a station supervisor at Camden Town.
Ms Borgatti said she wants the gallery to offer a vital resource for the community in the future.
“I’m sure in Waltham Forest there’s a lot of undiscovered artistic talent,” she added.
“The plan for the future is to invite local artists to display with us.
“I think everyone’s really going to benefit. This is just the beginning.”
The exhibition is open tomorrow from 5pm until 9pm and 11am until 6pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The exhibition is in Church Lane, outside the Tube station between Le Parisien cafe and the bus stop.
Entry is free.
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