No Parking

There are a lot of empty shops in Derby. This started happening around the time that they opened the Westfield shopping centre monstrosity, and has obviously continued with the economic downturn.

Last year, a collective of artists took over an empty shop and created an art gallery for two weeks. It was brilliant, especially getting to see the ancient wallpaper, and wandering around the four-storey building, finding artwork under stairs and in every nook and cranny.

Tonight was the opening of the second No Parking. It's in the same place, 2 Cheapside, Derby, opposite the Museum and Art Gallery. And this year, they're part of the Format festival, too.

There are four floors of artwork, but the stairs to the top two are very very steep. Tracey Meek, who very kindly drew us some pictures for Home, one of which became the limited edition print, had two rooms on the second floor brimming with amazing things.

Like...

and...

and the Houses of Lies...

and...

and my favourite...

and lots more.

I didn't take photos of anything else because there were too many people, but I plan on going back in the daytime and looking around again. Maybe I will sit in the chair next to the projection of the drinking ladies and wave at myself on the TV for a bit, and I will definitely write something on the 'writing on' wall.

The exhibition runs for the next two weeks, and is totally free. There is lots to look at, and it's great being so high up. The views across Derby from the top windows are fantastic. It's well worth a visit.