September 2024
The Two Rivers
I am sitting looking over the Thames Estuary in Leigh-on-Sea as I write this blog on a misty September morning. The sky pearlized white, and through the mist, seaweed greens and milky white-water ways. The tide is out.
Twist and Turns like a River
This week I go into my final year of my BA in Fine Art at University Centre South Essex, Southend. My initial proposal for my degree dissertation concerned Louise Bourgeois, her contribution to feminism, and her pioneering, introspective, extraordinary artwork that is uncomfortable and emotional. It has been extremely rewarding reading about Bourgeois, but I have had this nagging feeling that I needed to change my subject to something more personal.
My Place and Space
One of my favourite places is the Thames Estuary, specifically Joscelyne’s Beach behind Chalkwell Station, where I swim high tides, gaze upon the wide skies, take in the colours of the sea/river and connect to people and the wildlife of brackish water and small sand beach.
The Thames River has attracted creatives historical and contemporary, for multiple reasons. I decided to spend my summer gathering information about these artists, their work, and their inspiration. After visiting La Creuse in June, I also thought it would be Interesting to compare with the artists inspired by the river Creuse, knowing Claude Monet historically travelled to paint both rivers. It happens there is going to be an exhibition of Monet’s Thames paintings at the Courtauld Gallery, London, this Autumn.
Green and Blue
I am not going to write about my whole research! That would be quite ridiculous! I do want to share some of the amazing people, that I have met and have contributed to the information I have collected. I came across the first of these characters but did not speak to her, as she was too far away on the mud testing green seagrasses.
Alice Malcom-Mckay
On the 11th of July, walking from The Crowstone in Chalkwell, to Leigh Wharf Beach, along the Cinder Path that runs adjacent to the railway track, I noticed Alice Malcom-Mckay of the University of Essex, testing the seagrasses rooted in the silt and mud. Finding out she was a 3rd year PhD student, I acquired her contact and went home to google her and seagrasses. This led me to find out about Blue Carbon. Already passionate about art communicating our climate crises, I emailed for her opinion about artists highlighting scientific issues. This moment was pivotal to deciding to bring an environmental element to my research. The Thames has the potential to play its part in slowing down the earth’s existential threat. Alice answered my research question, and I am so grateful to her and passionate scientists out there that care so much about the planet. Essex Wildlife Trust has lots of information about seagrasses and blue carbon, I recommend you check this out.
Alison Bournes
Leigh on Sea is famous for its annual Leigh Art Trail and this year I was so excited to see that Alison Bournes, a ceramics artist was exhibiting her wonderous, slightly macabre, pottery sculptures. She generously gave her time to talk to me about her practice and welcomed me to email her for my research. Her artistic connection to the Estuary are her exquisite shoes inspired by the Thames Estuary London Shipwreck of 1665, a tragedy that took the lives of over 300 people aboard the vessel recorded by the famous diarist Samual Peeps. Rivers are the place of many stories, folk and real, these connect us humans together, over periods of time. You can check Alison Bournes out on her Instagram page: tin_roof_studio_essex. Her work is amazing!
Susan Allen
Another artist I spoke to at the Leigh Art Trail, and emailed for my research, is the incredibly talented Susan Allen. A master of life drawing and landscapes. For this year’s Trail, she had painted the Gypsy Bridge which connects the cliffs to the cinder path, over the railway line, by the Estuary in Leigh-On-Sea – a favourite landmark of locals. In these paintings, acrylic on board, she captures the different light and colours of the sea river at different tide times. Looking at her paintings in Two Tree Gallery you can she has used the subject matter of the waterside area in multiple paintings, so I was fascinated to find out why this place is such an inspiration for her. I think she is one of the best artists to capture the colour of the light on the water of the Thames. I recommend you check her out on Instagram: susan_allen_smith
Marjorie Méa
In La Creuse, France, the rivers play a significant role in the environmental stability of the area. The water’s importance and beauty are a draw for many contemporary artists. I was lucky enough to meet and interview Marjorie in her house and studio. She works with subjects like time, nature and memory, and the importance of documenting the ordinary and the real. Collecting a record of the rivers, collecting prints of water. Her English is better than my French, which I am always embarrassed about, I was honoured to chat with her, a passionate Artist, who I feel really puts her own self into her art, and you can find her work on Instagram: marjoriemea.m
Bernard Teboul
Teboul is a fascinating artist who has retired to La Creuse, inspired by the area, especially the animals, as these are the inspiration for his paintings. A more traditional artist but with a radical subject matter of animal extinction, he said he needed to document species in his work. It was amazing to see his studio and hear how the River Creuse has its influence. You can check out his painting on Instagram: bernardalbertteboul
Jana Winderen and Tony Myatt
I have not met or emailed these artists, I visited The River a sound installation in the National History Museum, London and this amazing audio feast was so good I wanted to add them to my blog.
These are just a hand full of the people from my summer researching. Now autumn is upon us, I can reflect on a rich summer of soaking up art! I would like to thank them and all the other Artists I have emailed and spoken to so far for my dissertation, and I intend to speak to more!!!
24th September 2024.