An Art ‘Venture on the Kent and Sussex Coast

Just prior to the end of an industrious first half term, a creative and culture hungry mix of Year 11, Lower and Upper Sixth students boarded a minibus for a short art ‘venture, exploring the Kent and Sussex coast – first stop Folkestone.

In a relatively short time Folkestone has become a major art hub with an eclectic mix of small galleries, designer-maker shops and a plethora of quirky cafes. The ‘Creative Quarter’ would be the party’s first stop for the weekend, but almost immediately the group headed straight for the beach for a similarly unique fish shack, serving freshly caught fish and amazing oysters. “Let the adventure begin” signalled Head of Art, Mark Wood, outlining a packed itinerary for the weekend ahead.

Once a fashionable destination for the rich and famous, Folkestone is no stranger to welcoming visitors, yet like so many coastal resorts of the Edwardian era, its grandeur faded as society flew further afield with the popularity of affordable air travel. Coupled with the onset of two world wars, the town swiftly lost it’s appeal with many of the impressive, luxurious hotels and villas being left empty and falling into disrepair.

Fast forward 70 years and the town began to reinvent itself, celebrating its glorious past while building a sustainable and forward-thinking future. Its heart beat has been kick started by artists, architects and designers with a new ambition – the Creative Quarter was born and with it came the Triennial Art Exhibition in 2008. Every three years since, international artists, writers, performers and film makers have flocked to the event, each time increasing the creative footprint and growing the art trail throughout the harbour, beach and clifftop promenade.

After a well-earned rest, the first day of activities started early; heading straight to the Quarterhouse, an arts theatre and creative hub, right at the centre of the arts trail. Students were welcomed into the gothic, cathedral-like interior of the cafe area upstairs and presented with the challenge of creating a sky ladder, in response to a quote and artwork by artist, Yoko Ono.

‘Let your imagination climb the ladder to the sky’ prompted the first set of drawings and thoughts about arriving in a new place, something which Folkestone is accustomed to as a gateway to newcomers from the nearby European coast. “This place will bookend our time in Folkestone”, announced Mark Wood “as we will be back again this evening to take in two short documentaries about roller-skating and skateboarding – it’s the annual film festival this weekend.” A good sign of things to come as the group packed their sketchbooks and headed, camera-ready, to another of the town’s highlights – F51 – Europe’s only multilevel skatepark and climbing wall.

“This place is cool, I had no idea the town would be like this.” commented Year 11 student, Tom. At each level the building unveiled itself to be exactly that, but also somewhere that was architecturally unique and aesthetically satisfying. “It makes you want to draw its curves,” mentioned another student, as they sat poised on the edge of the smooth, organic ramps and bowls.

While many wanted to return and try out the skating themselves, the art venture diverted attention and headed to waves and lines of a different nature on the smaller, sandier beach east of the harbour. This time the group revelled in the opportunity to draw on a vast scale, as they left their thoughts and marks in the sand for others to enjoy and the tide to gradually destroy.

Taking inspiration from the surrounding landscape was high on the agenda as we were watched on by the ‘Folkestone Mermaid’ perched atop the coastal rocks, by British sculptor Cornelia Parker.

Walking out east, the group came across numerous other artworks as part of the Triennial trail, from Mark Schmitz’ large scale ‘Siren’ at the furthest point, to Richard Woods’ comical ‘floating bungalow’ in the harbour.

Continuing their art venture west towards a lowering sun, students paused for reflection at Lubaina Humid’s Victorian jelly mould formed into a beach pavilion, recalling the once distant import of sugar to the UK.

At the end of the trail the group took in Richard Wentworth’s equally poignant ‘Ledge’, a sleek, tall white architectural piece, featuring a stranded Inuit figure, accompanied by a seal, several metres above a pool of blackness on the floor. Without direct reference to Folkestone itself, the piece did make connection with the adjacent white cliffs seen along the headland, while the stark reminder of the effects of climate change were clear, as the black pool mirrored a growing oil spillage heading towards the sea.

As dusk fell there was just enough time to stop once more at the elegant memory of a past heyday, soon to be revived, one of the UK’s first coastal funicular railways dated 1885, halted as though mid journey, making its way to the grand squares and hotels situated along the Leas promenade high above the industry of Folkestone’s harbour and station platform.

The day was perfectly rounded off back at the Quaterhouse with documentary screenings of upbeat tales of rollerblading and Olympic skateboarding dreams, before heading for supper at the legendary Big Boys diner.

“Quite a day!” commented an energised Deborah Ince, from Textiles, “…captured perfectly. Tomorrow will be when the photography challenges begin…” continued fellow Art Teacher, Chloe Tibbatts, excited to visit the vast nothingness of the sublime Dungeness the next morning.

At 10.30am the heavens opened as the group drove the long, straight road toward the Dungeness lighthouse, past a number of small, shack like galleries and studios and the eerie carcasses of old fishing boats hauled to the beach for their final resting place. If anything, the short-lived torrential downpour, only added to the sheer drama of the place, as the group pulled up at the end of line meeting point, greeted by the estate grounds keeper, Owen. Outlining the past history and events at Dungeness, his enthusiasm brought the sun out and the Art Department were once again, eager to get going on the next challenge.

This time, “It’s psychogeography”, announced Chloe, encouraging students to let their feelings about the place dictate where they walked and what they photographed. While this sounded strange at first, a steep climb to the top of the lighthouse, soon saw the group, photographing their own unique journeys and observations. Dungeness soon worked its magic as everyone found inspiration in both the vast openness of the place, but also the tiniest detail of its fragile, unparalleled natural environment. Noticing a lone sign outside one of the small artist studios backing the shingle beach, it read ‘Today’s Special – Dungeness is not bleak’. The contrasting shapes, textures and artefacts will surely inspire future work!

The group’s final stop saw them arrive at the quintessentially British eccentricity of Charleston House, nestled beneath the south downs as the sun set. The home and now gallery of two of the Bloomsbury groups most celebrated and renowned artists – Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, the entire house gave new parameters to what a gallery can be, as they were guided through each room, almost as though the pair had just popped out, leaving us to marvel at decorative colours and patterns adorning walls, tables and textiles throughout.

As the students found out about their lives (and loves), they were also blown away by some of the collections amidst their own artworks, from the likes of Picasso, Derain and Delacroix to the equally impressive ceramics by Venessa’s son Quintin Bell, an Old Leightonian, no less, along with older sibling Julian Bell who also enjoyed some of his formative years at Leighton Park.

A fitting ended to a remarkable weekend, providing plentiful food for thought as well as fresh photos, drawings and inspiration for the dark weeks of autumn and winter ahead of us. Already Marcus from Year 11 has said how eager he is to return, saying “there’s just so much more to see”, despite having shot 100s of photos! Meanwhile Ella in the Lower Sixth, was quite literally ‘bowled over’ by the multi storey skatepark and is sure to return with wheels at the ready!