Another memory comes from a very busy weekend in which we hosted lots of events including an alcohol-free party from 1-7am from the Passing Clouds family, called the Love Lounge. Somehow, we were all forced into a selection of ball gowns and prince outfits (not the artist formerly known as). That night I was trying to find a place for a quick nap when someone thrust a poem into my hand and asked for my opinion. I sat down for a minute and didn’t move until I came to about twenty minutes later to find I’d been draped fast asleep across the concrete steps in a silver ball gown with a silver dish of frankincense in one hand and poetry in the other. Very surreal. The next event was supposed to start at 10am – the Hive was acting as a drop off point for donations for Calais refugees. However, people were turning up from 7am – we had no chance to change clothes either, and so people must have thought we were a total bunch of hippies!! People were so generous at that event – it was heart-warming. We even had Natalie Bennet from the Green Party on the stairs helping to form a chain gang to pass clothes, blankets and tents up the stairs. We were also able to put together a package for a homeless man who had been sleeping in our neighbour’s garden, which had new shoes, socks, jumpers and toiletries.
I have a lot of happy memories from the Hive – and I’ve seen some fantastic talent pass through the building. Some of my favourites were the young dance group at Lyrically Challenged who bossed it, and some of the excellent poets at the Congolese poetry night, which raised awareness of Fairphones, the first ethical mobile phone. Their poetry made me cry. Fortunately, I have some footage of these events. I also have footage of Carlos’ legendary great erection of a totem pole made from old tyres in the front yard. It is the most surreal farce that could only have happened at the Hive. I can’t watch it without crying with laughter, but I’ll save that for the movie!!
Lyrically Challenged: https://vimeo.com/137891275
Congo Benefit: https://vimeo.com/136262669
Watch Welcome To The Hive Fleur's film about the Hive's first year.Fleur Disney – Hive crew and ReSpace Director
Hive memories
My first impression of the Hive was of an exciting new space that vibrated with untapped potential for solutions to social issues. The management style promoted organic decision-making - based on consensus - and the Hive thrived as people came and went, making use of the chance to meet neighbours or run an event of some kind.
It quickly became apparent that the Hive also influenced the many people who helped create the space. There was so much talent, craziness, kindness and genuinely lovely people drawn to the building – it has been a whirlwind and there has been a lot of madness. There has also been a lot of laughter. One early Hive memory that stands out for me was at a general meeting we had, which got fairly heated – most likely over something fairly trivial - in which a crew member stormed out. He had the temperament of an Italian chef and had been suffering from health issues. We all thought he’d gone home, but as the meeting drew to a close, he turned up apologising for his temper and leaving us with a box of cup cakes to say sorry. We fell on them hungrily, and I wondered aloud about where he managed to find such lovely cakes, decorated with petals, at nine o clock on a Monday evening in rainy Dalston. Ned turned – mid bite – and just said, ‘a nearby bin, probably’. Still delicious, despite their dubious origin.
Another memory comes from a very busy weekend in which we hosted lots of events including an alcohol-free party from 1-7am from the Passing Clouds family, called the Love Lounge. Somehow, we were all forced into a selection of ball gowns and prince outfits (not the artist formerly known as). That night I was trying to find a place for a quick nap when someone thrust a poem into my hand and asked for my opinion. I sat down for a minute and didn’t move until I came to about twenty minutes later to find I’d been draped fast asleep across the concrete steps in a silver ball gown with a silver dish of frankincense in one hand and poetry in the other. Very surreal. The next event was supposed to start at 10am – the Hive was acting as a drop off point for donations for Calais refugees. However, people were turning up from 7am – we had no chance to change clothes either, and so people must have thought we were a total bunch of hippies!! People were so generous at that event – it was heart-warming. We even had Natalie Bennet from the Green Party on the stairs helping to form a chain gang to pass clothes, blankets and tents up the stairs. We were also able to put together a package for a homeless man who had been sleeping in our neighbour’s garden, which had new shoes, socks, jumpers and toiletries.
I have a lot of happy memories from the Hive – and I’ve seen some fantastic talent pass through the building. Some of my favourites were the young dance group at Lyrically Challenged who bossed it, and some of the excellent poets at the Congolese poetry night, which raised awareness of Fairphones, the first ethical mobile phone. Their poetry made me cry. Fortunately, I have some footage of these events. I also have footage of Carlos’ legendary great erection of a totem pole made from old tyres in the front yard. It is the most surreal farce that could only have happened at the Hive. I can’t watch it without crying with laughter, but I’ll save that for the movie!!
Lyrically Challenged: https://vimeo.com/137891275
Congo Benefit: https://vimeo.com/136262669
Watch Welcome To The Hive Fleur's film about the Hive's first year.
Another memory comes from a very busy weekend in which we hosted lots of events including an alcohol-free party from 1-7am from the Passing Clouds family, called the Love Lounge. Somehow, we were all forced into a selection of ball gowns and prince outfits (not the artist formerly known as). That night I was trying to find a place for a quick nap when someone thrust a poem into my hand and asked for my opinion. I sat down for a minute and didn’t move until I came to about twenty minutes later to find I’d been draped fast asleep across the concrete steps in a silver ball gown with a silver dish of frankincense in one hand and poetry in the other. Very surreal. The next event was supposed to start at 10am – the Hive was acting as a drop off point for donations for Calais refugees. However, people were turning up from 7am – we had no chance to change clothes either, and so people must have thought we were a total bunch of hippies!! People were so generous at that event – it was heart-warming. We even had Natalie Bennet from the Green Party on the stairs helping to form a chain gang to pass clothes, blankets and tents up the stairs. We were also able to put together a package for a homeless man who had been sleeping in our neighbour’s garden, which had new shoes, socks, jumpers and toiletries.
I have a lot of happy memories from the Hive – and I’ve seen some fantastic talent pass through the building. Some of my favourites were the young dance group at Lyrically Challenged who bossed it, and some of the excellent poets at the Congolese poetry night, which raised awareness of Fairphones, the first ethical mobile phone. Their poetry made me cry. Fortunately, I have some footage of these events. I also have footage of Carlos’ legendary great erection of a totem pole made from old tyres in the front yard. It is the most surreal farce that could only have happened at the Hive. I can’t watch it without crying with laughter, but I’ll save that for the movie!!
Lyrically Challenged: https://vimeo.com/137891275
Congo Benefit: https://vimeo.com/136262669
Watch Welcome To The Hive Fleur's film about the Hive's first year.