Landscape Workshop; Arts Meridian

Although I have included this workshop under the umbrella of Arts Meridian, Sadly this has ceased to function in its old guise due to a failure to secure Arts Council funding for the project.  However, two spin-spin off projects have emerged like a phoenix from the fire: one is the project A Day in the Life (see other blogs) and the other is this landscape project, like a day in the life, based on the coast at Cleethorpes.  Hopefully, both will culminate in exhibitions.

Yesterday's landscape workshop began at The Discovery Centre, Cleethorpes where Linda Ingam (Arts Meridian) explained the plan for the day and her method of working as a landscape artist.  We also discussed her inspirations which include paths, Robert Macfarlane and Rebecca Solnit.  With these inspirations I am already in tune with Linda and it is interesting to hear how she works with them as an artist rather than as a photographer.  We also looked at some of her work and found objects - she is big on collection objects when out and about and working with them in her studio.  I was reminded of the work that I did in PWDP when one of my assignments was on flotsam and jetsam found on the shoreline and the way I photographed them both on location and in the studio back at home.

Following Lind's introduction it was time to head out onto the beach.  The brief was to take notes, sketches (photography experiments in my case), collect found objects, take video clips.  It was a beautiful day with some attractive clouds building.  It was low tide but there had been some recent big spring tides with plenty being washed up onto the highest strand line.  The group moved quite quickly and all too soon it was time to head back to the library (after a fish and chip lunch) for feedback.  Once in the warm and comfort of the library we discussed what we had all seen and done and reflected on further steps forward.  It is early days but one way I see of working forward is to produce an av show with my own sound recording as I have done for my Shul project.

Some of my images from the day are included below:-