Deptford X -citement

It's the annual Deptford X art festival again, and as ever there is a full programme of events and exhibitions. Dodging the showers and thunderstorms, I visited a diverse sample of them. 

My favourites were site-specific. Locally-based artist Sue Lawes has used both wild flowers and blue-and-white crockery in previous works. This year, she combines both by using china to create 'new "wild flowers" of Deptford' at the Creekside Discovery Centre. 

In the gallery of St Paul's Church, Pleonasmos also uses everyday objects in surprising ways. Charlotte Squire's piece is designed to reflect both the architecture of the church and the Anglo-Catholic rituals reiterated within it. 

Philippa Johnson's Outside In makes the shop window, rather than its contents, the focus. At first glance just another empty shop, this former opticians' has been transformed into an intricate artwork. 

Another building finding a new function is the former site of Tidemill School, now covered by Hew Locke's Gold Standard. The work involves painting onto old share certificates - this one from the Chinese Imperial Gold Loan. 

Deptford X often has pieces which use the whole area, and this year Heather Burrell has scattered her horses across local windows. They have Just Dropped In, a reference to the equestrian events happening a short walk away in Greenwich Park. 

The art festival continues until 12 August: full details are on its website. I would also recommend buying the programme - for just £1, it not only helps fund the event but also provides the information in a portable and, I think, easier-to-use format.