Collection: SNAKES & ADDERS (2025)
'The Artist fella, by the piano.....'
What better way to celebrate the year of the Woodsnake than to kick off with the Snakes & Adders Collection (2025) aboard the dollarsandart retrospective during our 8th year aboard the Qe2 as the 16th Collection gets underway....
The team at open minded OTBE who make the magic happen in the Heart of the Qe2 The Theatre by Qe2 and kindly cordoned off the area above (caution - wet paint & a talkative Artist) for Jim Wheat to paint the start of the 16th Dollarsandart collection - Snakes & Adders.
'Best put a bit of cardboard down, Jim'
All of this collection was created on site, live around the Theatre in late 2025, spilling over into early 2026 - perfectly timed as the year of the Woodsnake started on 29th January 2025 and concluded 16th February 2026.....
There's nothing quite like engaging with the weekend theatre crowds!
Rewind it back a decades and a half back to 2011 when Snake Eyes, Penny wise was created and finally showcased in 2013 at The Dubai Dollar Project where vulnerable dollar signs starting to develop into Snake like forms - a shedding of the skin, if you will....
With a few cracking fundraisers delivered aboard in association with The Theatre by Qe2 including The Queens platinum jubilee and the Kings coronation...
& my friend at Morgan Cars launching in the UAE raising money for a great cause...
The highlight being this AED 80,000 piece that went under the hammer....
Back to Jan 2025 - Snakes & Adders kicked off with a first for Dollarsandart - a creation on a circular canvas, to celebrate the circle of life as it were...
It was an interesting one to frame - it had a Captain America feel to it - let's not go there!
Then onto early snake like slithery steps with an initial 'nod' to the oldest drinking establishment in Dubai, The Golden Lion*.....
*Qe2 first sailed in 1969 with the Golden Lion in full effect.
Dubai, UAE formed 1971 - the same year as old(er) Jim Wheat, that dollarsandart chap.
.....that soon developed into the ever evolving cycle of life, with Green on Gold in full effect with the ever present triangle of influence of Time, Money & Energy - what a balancing act it is...
As part of our 'Engage, Create & Facilitate' model you never know who you'll meet around The Theatre by Qe2 - it's great when people rock up and start immersing themselves in the work it always gives the Artist a stronger sense of community and belonging, however transient it might be.......
With Paul Wallis & Lionel Laulhé from the Granite MENA Leadership team with their completed 'Brandscape' celebrating their journey so far.
Guests from the Tolani Majlis, Nad Al Sheba where part of the collection will sit alongside one of the oldest and prolific currency collections in the world.*
*Disclaimer - I was exhausted in the above! Too many Qe2 show arounds, too much emotion if there's such a thing but we keep going.
Not forgetting the one & only Clinton Baptiste with his sell out tour...
All 20 of the Clinton Baptiste 'Disruptives' selling out on the Saturday night....
'I'm getting the word.....'
All this whilst making room for The Universe Boss 333 Mr Chris Gayle aboard.....
We are going to need a bigger boat....!
The completed Snakes & Adders Collection was uploaded just before the year of the Woodsnake concluded 16th February 2026 the majority of which are now showcased aboard....
One of the highlights of the Snakes & adders collection was being commissioned by Seven Stars Legal - what a cracking business for the great cause that is social impact...
