With limited resources and infinite imagination, Gerry Dalton devoted over thirty years of his life to create what has become known as ‘Gerry’s Pompeii.’ An intensely private person, Gerry worked mostly in secret and often at night, to transform his social housing flat into a total work of art. His miniature interiors, vast collection of carefully re-labelled figurines and bold Napoleonic battle scenes, spilled out onto a small garden; a devotional shrine with an army of over 100 concrete sculptures depicting his heroes of the past. Queen Maeve and Buddha were part of the brave brigade that kept guard over a 50-metre stretch of the canal-bank with lines of topiary and a glittering wall of found and assembled embellishments. Although Gerry was well known by his neighbours and a thoughtful and caring presence on his street, the full extent of his work was only uncovered after his death in 2019. Despite hundreds of local, national and international supporters coming together to try to save this exceptional visionary world, Gerry’s home was sadly transferred back to Genesis Notting Hill housing association during the pandemic in 2020, and the work inside was removed. What remains is the extraordinary 50-metre long sculpture garden on the bank of the Grand Union canal, which is situated behind Gerry’s former home and visible from the towpath by Meanwhile Gardens opposite. Honouring the artistic legacy Gerry Dalton, our mission is to preserve his canal-side sculpture garden as a vital community landmark. We foster creativity and inclusivity through a dynamic arts programme that engages our local communities, inspires and creates memorable experiences for everyone. We are currently raising funds to support an inaugural canal-procession for the end of September 2025 and which will include workshops with many of the community groups we’re working with. We would love your support to help us not only preserve Gerry's garden but also to help us to create and deliver meaningful and unusual gatherings to inspire, empower and enable people to create and experience art when they might otherwise feel excluded.
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Total raised so far £3,525
+ est. £652.50
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33Fundraisers
0For over 30 years, Gerard ‘Gerry’ Dalton (1935-2019) worked privately, creating hundreds of artworks and transforming his unassuming ground floor flat, garden and the adjoining bank of the Grand Union canal into an extraordinary and singular visionary environment. This was the parallel world of an intensely private extrovert. Although Gerry was well known by his neighbours and was a loving presence on his street, the full extent of his work was only uncovered following his death in 2019. Following an incredible campaign to save this exceptional Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art), Gerry’s home was transferred back to Genesis Notting Hill Housing association in 2020. Whilst this is an extremely sad loss, we are working to maintain the extensive 50-metre long mural with hand-hewn topiary and the 50 sculptures that Gerry created on the canal bank. This public artwork can currently only be viewed from Meanwhile Gardens on the opposite side of the canal with occasionally specially organised tours thanks to Gerry's incredible neighbours Nick & Alison.
Gerry’s Pompeii is an ambitious new charity that is building on Gerry’s legacy by working closely with its local community and wide range of supporters. We are protecting and upholding what remains of Gerry’s work on the bank of the Grand Union canal and working to create public access to this incredible and important cultural resource. Our work to save Gerry's Pompeii revealed the high level of creative community energy and a need for a centralised visual arts space in the local area. Our long-term vision is to fill this gap and we are currently developing a playful programme that will involve a wide range of activities such as: boat tours, processions, alternative happenings and antics that are delivered in Gerry’s spirit… watch this space!
We need your help to support our inaugural canal-procession.... 'Gerry’s Gongoozling: A Canal Parade,' a free one-day, collaborative event that will transform the Grand Union canal into a spectacular floating parade. Inspired by Gerry Dalton's work, the event will invite artists, boaters and local communities to co-create new sculptures, interactive artworks and performances, displayed on canal boats that will act as moving plinths and stages. Alongside interventions on towpaths and bridges, the boats will present newly commissioned sculptural and performance work along a parade route from Lisson Grove to Gerry’s Pompeii, turning the canal into an interactive platform for art for everyone to participate in.
Central to the event are community workshops that foster collaboration and participation. Using Gerry Dalton’s work as a starting point, five contemporary artists will collaborate with five local groups to co-create artworks for the parade, using sculpture, performance and visual art. The workshops, held at community hubs and schools are designed to empower participants from diverse backgrounds, offering opportunities for skill-sharing, confidence-building and meaningful engagement.
