Stephen has been exploring the Medway Estuary for over 30 years in his small boat Magwitch, journeying from a base in The Historic Dockyard in Chatham. His travels have inspired many artworks on paper, canvases recording the ebb and flow of the tide, photography and video that capture a unique engagement with the cultural environment of the river.
ARKhive is the vessel for two events recording and contextualising this body of work. ARKhive1: Tide Marks & ARKhive 2: The Seafort Project
ARKhive1: Tide Marks
Examines Stephen's work on the tidal Medway from 1994 to the present day, from Folly Point to Bedlams Bottom; including installations in Darnet Fort and the Royal Dockyard Church in Chatham, the home for his major Millennium Festival project to trace the last tide of 1999 along the tidal river. He worked with over a hundred local adults and the children of every primary school in Medway, who made 3000 vessels from the local clay. Huge canvas sheets from the river bed were exhibited in the windows of the church like muddy stained glass.
Stephen will share images of all these unique moments. A sound recording made on millennium eve in The Dockyard will be played (made for the project by Julian Coleman); objects collected from the river bed will be available to handle (including roman pottery); There will be a display of the ensuing artwork.
ARKhive2: The Seafort Project
In September 2005, Stephen lived alone for six weeks on the Searchlight Tower of the abandoned Mauncel Seaforts at Shivering Sands, five miles off the north Kent coast. He will tell this story using still images and video along with ephemera brought back from the forts to handle and examine. Signed copies of his book Seafort (including contributions by curator Sue Jones, writer Ian Hunt and author Rachel Lichenstein) will be available for sale at the discounted price of £10.00.
Complimentary tea and coffee provided at both events.
About the organiser
Stephen Turner’s practice is concerned with aspects of time and the relationship between transience and permanence. His work often involves spending long periods in odd abandoned places, noting changes in the complex relationship between people and the natural environment. His projects are rooted in research, which explore these themes in a variety of media (including photography, video and the written word as well as sculpture, drawing and design). In an age of hubris, he endeavours to provide a voice for mute nature – to be amanuensis to the tides, terns and turnstones and to offer a reminder that all life is interconnected.
“Shall I not have intelligence with the earth? Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself” HD Thoreau, Walden, 1854
Admitance is by ticket and numbers at each event are limited to 14 people. Advance Booking via Eventbrite is Essential.
Image: Stephen Turner, Time & Tide, 1999, Photographer unknown.
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