London sculptor Joe rush, founder of the Mutoid Waste Company, a travelling arts collective of wild and subversive punk performers, is an icon of the festival culture. In the words of the Guardian: "Master of Mutoid art, King of Glastonbury". He has transformed military and industrial scrap into spectacular rock n’roll machines and sculptures since the 80’s.

Find out more about the career of ‘waste alchemist’ artist Joe Rush and hear behind the scenes stories about the creative vision and artistic direction of the world-renowned Glastonbury Festival.

In derelict warehouses, disused factories and buildings, urban decaying environments, that they occupied and mutated, Joe Rush introduced his “art of salvage”. His museum, his galleries are the free parties the Mutoid Waste Company organises within Glastonbury Festival and everywhere in Europe. In 1985 he first arrived at Glastonbury Festival and this marked the first “art invasion” of Glastonbury, which had been a music only Festival until then. For 15 years, Michael Eavis has invited Joe Rush, the dreamer of mutant worlds and master builder of rock n’ roll environments, to collaborate on the Festival.

He created Trash City, a Disneyland on acid for adults, commissioned Block 9 and Arcadia, reinvented Shangri-La, created the Unfairground, “ A Kiss on the Apocalypse ”, Cineramageddon, the Pier, the Lotus Burn and the mythical parades of mutant vehicles around the site. Joe was art director responsible for the production of the vehicles, mobile stages and props of the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games in 2012 and we will also hear about other projects he has worked on.

Tickets:

SWFed Members: £3.75

Concession/Student/Unemployed: £2.75

Non-member: £5

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We look forward to welcoming you to the talk.