I helped construct the Olympic Site, tell the story of the Greatest Show on earth, and am on site for the Legacy build until 2014.

This is my View of what's going on. These Views are mine and not of my employer or the LLDC/ODA/LOCOG

I was one of the Official BT’s Storytellers for London 2012 .


Thursday 26 January 2012

Olympic Park artist reinterprets French masterpiece as tribute to London 2012 construction workers

An artist working on the Olympic Park has paid tribute to the workers building the London 2012 Games by recreating his own version of an iconic painting by French post-impressionist Georges Seurat.

The National Gallery, which houses the original masterpiece, expressed that Neville Gabie – the Olympic Park’s artist in residence - had imaginatively reinterpreted the famous ‘Bathers at Asnieres’ for a post-industrial age.
 
The image by Gabie forms part of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) Art in the Park programme, and will be exhibited at the View Tube – a community viewpoint and cafe overlooking the Olympic Park near Pudding Mill Lane DLR station from January 28-March 18.


Gabie’s photograph recreates the 1884 pointillist painting’s composition, with the characters inhabiting the image taken from across the Olympic Park, including landscape gardeners, engineers, designers and security staff. The image reflects the range of tasks, diversity and skills of those delivering the venues and infrastructure ahead of this summer.

Image : Neville Gabie
More Info : London 2012

Tuesday 24 January 2012

First view from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

First view from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, pretty sweet view of the Olympic Stadium.
Pics From : ArcelorMittal Orbit on Twitter: @AMOrbit

Monday 23 January 2012

Olympic audience in afternoon sun

Olympic audience in afternoon sun

Under the Orbit.


OP Site 10th January 2012 64, originally uploaded by Andy Wilkes.

Mowing the Olympic Lawns.


OP Site 10th January 2012 13, originally uploaded by Andy Wilkes.

The Mirrored Bridge.


OP Site 10th January 2012 36, originally uploaded by Andy Wilkes.

Eton Manor Gateway.

World's biggest McDonald's to open... on the OLYMPICS site

Not the greatest picture, taken as I was driving past, but this is the World's biggest McDonald's, or will be when complete.

London 2012 Olympics security rehearsal on the River Thames

Monday 16 January 2012

First images of 30-tonne Olympic Park artwork show scale of spectacular project

Work has started on installing an iconic artwork in the Olympic Park that was inspired by popular music – including the songs of Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. RUN, created by internationally-renowned artist Monica Bonvicini, will be the largest standalone artwork on the Olympic Park and will be situated on the plaza of the 6,500-capacity Copper Box (the new name for the London 2012 Handball Arena).

'The ODA’s Art in the Park programme has strived to commission original and meaningful works and Monica Bonvincini’s unique installation will capture both the imagination and attention of spectators and visitors passing it.'

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: '2012 will be a summer like no other, with a myriad of fantastic events taking place right across London. This wonderful sculpture is just one example of inspiring new artwork that will form part of a lasting cultural legacy for the benefit of the capital, long after the Games have left town.'

Monica Bonvicini said: 'It's exciting to see the work finally start on site after being awarded the commission in Summer 2010. RUN will blend in perfectly in the landscape, avoiding monumentality through the mirroring of the surroundings. At night the psychedelic light reflections will illuminate it in a vigorous, elegant and witty way, reflecting the great liveliness of London.'

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, Cultural Olympiad & London 2012 Festival, said: 'The ODA have done an amazing job of putting art at the heart of the Olympic Park. RUN will not only be a wonderful piece for visitors to enjoy during the Games, but also leave a lasting legacy for years after. Through the London 2012 Festival we are building on this platform, programming a celebration of arts and culture for the whole of the UK in the summer of 2012.'

All Images copyright London2012

Thursday 12 January 2012

Eton Manor Transport Hub

Westfield is offering some great prizes for participating and showing what side of London you think is best. Competition home (UK)

This summer London is going head to head in a game of East vs West.  Join the tug of war on Facebook between Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City by picking your favourite films, festivals and events from East or West London.  Every two days it's a new game on the Westfield London and Stratford City Facebook Pages. Join in to win a £100 gift card!
This article is sponsored by Westfield


OP Site 10th January 2012 244, originally uploaded by Andy Wilkes.

If you are wondering where East Marsh, Hackney Marshes has gone... It's all under there... And is now the Northern Spectator Transport Mall, or as it's been newly re-named, Eton Manor Transport Hub.

If you're driving from the north this is probably the way in for you and you'll be climbing these stairs to get your first glimpse of the London 2012 Olympic Park.

Finishing touches to the barriers.

Under the Aquatics Bridge, newly re-named Startford Walk.

Monday 9 January 2012

Olympic Games Winter Update January 2012 - London 2012

Olympic Park area re-naming

As part of the 200 days-to-go countdown, LOCOG also released details of new Games-time naming for selected venues and spectator areas in the Olympic Park. The naming will help create consistent signage and ‘wayfinding’ for spectators, aiding crowd flows and helping spectators navigate the 500-acre Olympic Park site. New naming includes:

- Riverbank Arena (Formerly Hockey Centre). The venue hosts Hockey events in the Olympic Games along with Paralympic 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football. The new name reflects the venue’s location next to the River Lea in the Olympic Park.

- Copper Box (Formerly Handball Arena). The venue hosts Olympic Handball and the Fencing discipline of the Modern Pentathlon, then by Goalball during the Paralympic Games. The new name reflects the venue’s boxed-shape and distinct copper cladding, helping create a visual reference for spectators travelling to the venue.

- Stratford Walk (Formerly F10 / Aquatics Centre bridge). This huge 250m-long land bridge forms the main ‘Gateway to the Games’ taking spectators from Stratford City across the Aquatics Centre and towards the Olympic Stadium. Stratford Walk is expected to carry two-thirds of people visiting the Olympic Park, and will be joined by three other main spectator entrances - ‘Greenway Walk’ in the south of the Olympic Park; ‘Eton Manor Walk’ in the north; and ‘Victoria Walk’ in the west.

- London Way. The main circulation route for spectators and central ‘spine’ of the Olympic Park, running north-to-south through the middle of the site. It will be the only 'London Way' within London.

- Orbit Circus. Located around The Orbit, the 115m high visitor attraction in the south of the Olympic Park between the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre, this spectator area takes the typically London reference to ‘Circus’ meaning a central area where a number of different spaces converge.


Standing below the ArcelorMittal Orbit

Wednesday 4 January 2012

London's latest Olympic venue

In Woolwich, by the Arsenal, is a collection of wonderfully wacky Olympic buildings - this the only one photograph-able above the building site hoardings. For the shooting and paralympic archery events. Two others are tucked behind this edifice - one with pink 'things', the other with blue. On a cold winter's day, with the moon hanging in the sky, they're a striking testament to the creativity of contemporary architects.

London's latest Olympic venue

The red structures are moving membranes, rubber-like, birthday balloon-like - they seem to breathe for the building. And according to the architects - they act as natural ventilation and allow light into the building. Nice for the shooters and archers, and spectators.


Shooting gallery - London 2012

A side-on view of the latest London Olympic venue to near completion. PVC membrane encloses the shooting and paralympic archery venue and the rubber membranes provide natural light and ventilation.

Sides aren't straight

All Pics : ChristinaGrieve's photostream on Flickr