I am delighted to introduce IN-SITE Public Realm Commission 2015. I have been commissioned along with five other artists from a range of disciplines to create a brand new piece of work in 2015. The six artists involved have been paired up to create work in collaboration. The three final works will be installed, or presented, between June-August 2015 within an area of regeneration along the riverfront between Chatham and Rochester. Each work will collaborate the different artists mediums and will be created in response to the site and the surrounding area.

I have been paired with illustrator and textile artist, Nicola Flower. Although our practices are extremely different, we are both interested in collaborating visual arts, textiles and movement. You can view some of Nicola’s beautiful work on her WEBSITE. Drawing on her own life and experiences, Nicola creates work that is both bold and intimate. Her work takes a number of different forms; illustration, textiles, found objects, installations and performance art to name just a few. I am really excited to incorporate elements of her unique work into my own practice!

Nicola also has an abundance of skill working within the outreach and community engagement sectors. She has worked on a number of projects where the process of creation involves marginalised and vulnerable groups of people. These projects have an immeasurable impact on the people involved and creates work that is personal and holds the stories of the participants.

The Collaborative Project

At this point the project is very much in the planning and research stages. A few weeks ago, Nicola and I visited the site to spend time in the landscape. The area along the river, and the river itself, have a sense of bleak beauty. Like something forgotten and neglected, the river seems to hold the memories of past lives. Walking along the riverside, it is eerily quiet; yet you can imagine the hustle and bustle that would have surrounded the Pier many years ago. Below are a series of photographs taken from our walk along the site between Chatham and Rochester.

During this research period we intend on collecting stories from local residents from all walks of life to use as inspiration for our work. We hope to gather stories that are unique to the community and its residents and engage with the public on a personal level.

Due to its collaborative nature, IN-SITE is also a fantastic opportunity for myself and Nicola to develop our individual artistic practices, whilst also developing a brand new practice within our collaborative relationship. For this reason myself and Nicola will be ‘Skill Swapping’ next Monday- dancing and drawing by the River Medway…watch this space…