Estuary, Beacon and Hadleigh-in-Place

Estuary, Beacon and Hadleigh-in-Place are elements of a research based project examining the landscape of the Thames Estuary from Tower Bridge to Southend-on-Sea. I am an instigator and contributor to this ongoing project and work with arts coordinator Ben Eastop. The significance of the project is to produce a timely creative record of the estuarine landscape in anticipation of a period of change. The principle agent of change is the construction of the deep sea container port at Shellhaven, Essex. Estuary brought together a multi-disciplinary group of creative practitioners to undertake a five-day barge trip from Tower Bridge to the estuary mouth. The intention was to experience, discuss and initiate works in relation to the estuarine environment. Attitudes and approaches to work were shaped by rigorous structured debate throughout the journey. Beacon was a project working with Year 6 school children from Hadleigh Junior School, Essex to reveal their understandings and relationship to the landscape of the Thames estaury. I collaborated with BBC Essex producer Ian Wyatt and sound engineer John Cameron McIntosh to produce an hour long radio programme delivered entirely by the children from their own scripts broadcast to coincide with Olympic mountain-biking event held at Hadleigh. Hadleigh in Place was based at ACAVA studios, Hadleigh and involved practitioners Rachel Lichtenstein, writer, Mat Do, Damein Green, Simon Callery, Sue Robinson, artists. My aspect of the project involved working with geologists from the Essex Rock & Mineral Society to devise and deliver public walks and to produce a photographic text and image based artwork. The significance of this work was in revealing common areas of interest in current thinking in art and geology.