In 2019 I worked with Groundwork South to consult with the public on a new public art commission. The idea of this was to allow the community of Ebbsfleet to have tangible input into the brief for the artwork, taking into account their desires and needs for new public art in their area. I was asked to lead a workshop to share examples of a range of public art, gather opinion and input from residents, and investigate some of the motivating factors behind their suggestions.
The workshop was split into three parts: Talking, Walking and Making. I displayed a range of examples of different types of public art, from sound, projection and performance spaces to sculpture, seating and shelters. It was important to me to raise residents’ awareness of the huge scope of public art, and the possibilities that were available to them. We then took a walk to the proposed site for the new artwork: a lakeside location developed from the site of a historic chalk quarry. We took the time to try and visualise a space which reflected the history of the site, the natural landscape and had a functionality for the community such as a meeting place or performance space. Once back at the community centre, I prepared materials for participants to reflect on our visit and conversations by drawing and making; specifically I chose chalks and plaster bandage, materials both with a strong link to the area’s industrial heritage.
Read my report on the workshop here
Architectural duo FleaFolly Architects, whose work I presented as one of the examples in the workshop, have subsequently been commissioned to produce two public artworks for lakeside locations in Ebbsfleet.