Engaging with the Intertidal workshops are inviting people to actively engage with the stretches of mud and water of Benfleet and Two Tree Island through mudwalks and boat journeys to witness at close-hand migration, changes in tidal flows and flora, concepts of waste and building community in times of ecological crisis.
The intertidal zone
The intertidal zone is a dynamic environment, constantly changing due to the tides. These tides flow with sediments and silt, mixing fresh and salt water, forming life, and shaping matter. This interplay creates mudflats, creeks, and salt marshes, which are vital habitats for wildfowl, cockles, lugworms, shrimp, and many other species. It is a space of in-betweenness, of both knowability and unknowability.
Experiential Engagement
Experiencing the intertidal zone requires various efforts and practices. Walking along the mudflats, for instance, differs significantly from walking on dry land. The mud can suck you down, necessitating specific boots, mud pattens, and a stick. When the waters flood, navigating the flows requires a boat. Engaging with the intertidal zone involves a strict coupling between humans and ‘technical objects’.
Building Awareness
By being there. participants can experience the estuary’s in-betweenness, building awareness of its diversity and complex material existence. The aim is to deepen peoples’ engagement with the Thames Estuary's dynamic environment fostering a sense of place, belonging, and care as well as enhancing both cultural and environmental awareness. The workshops will explore the intertidal zone during different seasons, inviting participants to pay attention to, notice, and document their experience and the changes that might occur. Embodied experiential encounters with this unique landscape offer participants an opportunity to think about what it means to live with the rhythms of the more-than-human world in times of ecological crisis.
This project is part of Gerolamo Gnecchi’s PhD in Arts and Computational Technology at Goldsmiths University of London, funded by CHASE – Consortium of Humanities and the Arts of South East England. The PhD explores what ‘Thinking with Tides’ might signify, engaging with the tides of the Thames Estuary. To do so, Gerolamo has been in conversation with fishers, sailors, and boat clubs – including Benfleet Yacht Club.
Purpose and Impact
The primary purpose of applying for this grant is to further embed the research with Castle Point-based artists interested in participating in the Estuary Festival. The project aims to expand collaboration with the Estuary Festival, contributing to its legacy, and fostering conversations between boat communities, such as Benfleet Yacht Club, and local artists. In other words, Engaging with the Intertidal Zone is a project that combines environmental education, artistic expression, and community engagement.
If you are interested in joining future activities, please contact [email protected]
'Engaging with the Intertidal Zone' is led by Estuary Festival resident artist/researcher Gero Gnecchi and funded by Castle Point Borough Council UKSPF Community Grant.
