This Saturday the 6th of November sees a group of artists who have been selected by United Creatives to exhibit and feature their work at the D-Day Story Museum to deliver an impressive artistic plan for the coastline to coincide with the Southsea Coastal Scheme we have in place right now. The work involved consists of new flood defences along 4.5km of seafront and stretches from Old Portsmouth right up to Eastney.
The exhibition this wknd is the start of a goal to exhibit a wide range of art that will showcase the local talent we have in the city as well as enhance the extensive work happening with the Southsea Coastal Scheme.
Called 'A Collaborative Arts Plan for Southsea and Portsmouth' Its aim will be to put as many local artists on the map and engage with the public along the shoreline path. Having a vision to install artworks along the seafront of Southsea and Portsmouth allows for the artists themselves to promote their art and tell a story of the city that will delight our visitors and locals.
Artists involved will range from street art with the likes of Fark FK and My Dog Sighs to photography from Karl Bailey. There will be artisans involved from Alice Hume and Kim Edith (both Hotwall Studio residents) to Jacqui Mair who covers mixed-media illustrations and the project has been nicknamed Ocean's 20 to represent the 20 artists chosen to be part of the exhibition.
Speaking to United Creatives they said “To date we have identified an impressive and diverse community of artists practicing in the ‘island city’ that work in a range of disciplines that span street art and social documentary photography to arts practices that have strong ties to the areas proud naval history which dates back to the time of Henry VIII. Examples of these arts and cultural practices are macrame, knotting and tattoo art, all of which are kept alive today, but which need support in order that they may be celebrated nationally.
Beyond artists working in art mediums with links to the historic and nearby dockyard, home to iconic ships such as the Mary Rose and Nelsons Victory, there is also a wealth of contemporary creatives working and making a living from painting, street art, embroidery, projection, augmented reality, land and stone artworks, photography, and perhaps most uniquely, braille art. Whilst the majority of practising artists can be seen as emerging this is supported by a core of more established practitioners working across the UK and abroad but not necessarily in their home town. This is something we would like the opportunity to change.”
Here is a list of artists involved in the exhibition and part of the United Creatives project. Pop along to the D-Day Story museum in Southsea from the 6th November until the 13th November and enjoy Portsmouth's array of local talented artists we are so lucky to have here. Go and support them by viewing their work and get involved in the coastal scheme that is progressing to enhance our city and protect us for years to come.
1. Clarke Reynolds
Braille art as a wave-like wall mural using beautiful ceramic glazed tiles or tactile studs.
2. Roo Abrook
Street art made permanent. Mixed media collage portraits as permanent full colour lavastone.
3. Heinrich & Palmer
A large scale projected installation promoting the Mary Rose Museum or HMS Victory.
4. Alice Hume
Giant woven macramé paving and marine grade steel space dividers. Craft sourced from history.
5. My Dog Sighs
A ‘parkour parklet’ providing a space and canvas for local street art and a gateway into the creative sector.
6. Samo White
Vibrant illustrated portraits can be brought to life using a colourful selection of hard wearing materials.
7. Kim Edith
Embroidery based illustrations can decorate a variety of surfaces such as seawalls or sustainable timber.
8. Jacqui Mair
Mixed media illustrations can form engaging wall murals and a semi-permanent ‘flock of deckchairs’.
9. Fark FK
Much loved street art can be taken into three dimensions to create colourful children’s playground equipment.
10. Connor Tyler
Celebrating naval tattoo heritage with a ‘tattoo walk’ set along the frontage in hard alloy brass or bronze.
11. Karl Bailey
A permanent outdoor photographic gallery that celebrates local area culture, people and businesses.
12. John Ainsworth
Working with the Solent Oyster Restoration Project and local education to create a water play feature design.
13. Pete Codling
A multi-disciplinary artist savvy to working outdoors with an impressive range of materials.
14. Steve Dodd
Fine art impressionist paintings as ceramic glazed tiles, full colour lavastone or outdoor gallery prints.
15. Matthew Watson
Representing the forms and patterns of local marine life through wet rubber moulded concrete.
16. Celia Clarke
Poetry made permanent. Literary work set along the frontages providing pause for thought.
17. Barry John Hobs
Sourcing of found objects and materials to create visuals signatures and assets for environmental branding.
18. Jessa Speed
A marine themed mural created in collaboration with the residents of Portsmouth and Southsea.
19. Matt Wingett
Referencing the folk tales and ancient mysteries of the local area through long-term excerpts.
20. Amber Elliot
Celebrating naval tattoo heritages with a ‘tattoo walk’ set along the frontages in hard alloy brass or bronze.
Writers and artists were invited to submit their work for consideration in the exhibition in September 2021.
You can find out more about the coastal scheme and the progress of the work involved here.
FEATURED IMAGE – Clarke Reynolds
