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St Lawrence's World War Two Bunker Officially OPENS To Islanders

The Bunker

The Second World War Bunker in St Lawrence is officially open for us to take part in a "creative pilgrimage" today (Saturday) and see the artwork that will be exhibited there.

In a bid to ‘unlock’ the arts scene on the Isle of Wight after the pandemic, the owners of the War Two bunker in St Lawrence are joining forces with Binnel Studios for a unique one-off event this Bank Holliday Weekend.

Artist Lisa and her husband and designer Linc finished renovating the Second World War site in 2017 and have taken the “unusual” decision to invite the public to the bunker’s pop-up gallery, for the first time.

Watch a video about The Bunker here...

The free ‘Binnel and Bunker Unlocked’ event will be a one-off exhibition across two venues showcasing the work of nine local artists.

The pop-up bunker gallery or what Lisa Traxler calls “the room of requirement” will showcase her slotted sculptures created in lockdown, inspired by the myths and history around the beautiful, brutalist architecture of the bunker, she said:

“[The lockdown] meant I really explored my work - probably more fully than I often get the chance to usually because the outdoor world was cut off for me….So once I had got over the initial shock of what was going on outside the door it was -how can I interpret this through a creative channel?”

Art that will feature in Binnel Studios includes work by:

Molly Atrill, Matthew Chambers, Jane Cox, David Firmstone, Sue Paraskeva, Amanda Wheeler and Celia Wilkinson.

To find the bunker continue on the A3055 past Ventnor Botanic Garden until you reach Old Park Road, you will pass The Bunker and can follow the signs to Binnel Studios.

You can come along from 29-31 August 11am-4pm daily.

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