The Social’s very own version of the free-to-download-and-display-do-it-yourself-international-exhibition from Cold War Steve – ‘You, Me and Cold War Steve’. 23 pandemic era masterpieces free to view in the upstairs bar! We are super-proud to have hosted the very first CWS exhibition back in 2018 and no less happy to get involved once again and display these fantastic new works in London.

Last year before the great plague hit our shores Cold War Steve enlisted the help of many of you to stage a truly ambitious and international exhibition of the people. With almost 100 locations around the world from Falkirk to The Falklands, You, Me and Cold War Steve was free to download and exhibit for anyone that wanted to get involved. Old libraries, pubs, garden centres, colleges and hospitals were all set to take part in perhaps the world’s biggest communal art exhibition.

Then Covid 19 happened, marking yet another somersault in this epoch of super-history. Everything changed, more unquestionable certainties thrown out of the window of the speeding car like satsuma peel, including the very fundamentals of human nature itself, social interaction. The ability to assemble together and celebrate or mark an important life event, a birth, a death, or to just get pissed down the pub or at a Christmas party totally shelved until the virus was beaten. So the exhibitions were of course one by one cancelled.

During the last year we couldn’t stop thinking about the importance of being together, now that it was impossible – and this in part led to the film ‘Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World’ (and exhibition of the same name) happening last summer. The need for humans to be together in a physical sense, to share in a moment of joy, appreciation of artwork, a night of dancing, talking, cheering, mourning and crying all of sudden looked vital. At the very essence of what it is to be human and be happy, or at least feeling something, anything at all.

At this point we should pay tribute to Tutu’s Ethiopian Table in Reading who at the start of the year got in touch to let us know that they were still planing to host their exhibition. Like the Euros or The Olympics, ‘You, Me and Cold War Steve 2020’ was still going to happen in their little Cafe in Reading in 2021. And so it did yesterday, finally launched on the railings by Palmer Park outside Tutu’s. The idea of creating a 2021 edition of ‘You, Me and Cold War Steve’ had been floating about for a little while but the determination and love of Tutu’s to get the pictures up a year and half later and reception in the local community and online for this small act of bringing people back together struck a chord over here in the CWS Office. Was properly emotional actually.

So today we’re delighted to announce You, Me and Cold War Steve – The International Exhibition of the People 2021! A brand new set of 23 free-to-download-and-exhibit artworks. We encourage you to get involved, find a space that is accessible for all in your local area, could be your local boozer, a newsagent or the wall of a chip shop. Anywhere where people can gather safely, share a moment together and enjoy the artwork. Literally do it for yourselves (DIY) and your local community, do it for Cold War Steve, do it for Tutu’s!