Over the last months, the School has put together an extraordinary and ambitious project – its Confluence – the River Sid and Its Tributaries, which brings people, ideas, knowledge and action together to protect, conserve and enhance the river and its tributaries. [And there are some great photos of schools at work on the banks of the Sid from earlier in the summer…]
Here’s the poster and just-released press release about the new Confluence – The River Sid and Its Tributaries exhibition at the Riverside Art Space in the Sensory Garden, Sidmouth – and linked twin installations in Sidmouth’s unique telephone box art spaces, Market Square.
A new Riverside Art Space Community Art Exhibition Opens
The River Sid and Its Tributaries – Where art and nature meet – love your river!
Residents and visitors are invited to view a new free public art display which tells the story of our river. The exhibition in the Riverside Art Space in the Sensory Garden is located at the end of the Ham in Sidmouth and is the third art exhibition to be presented in the outdoor art space, this year. The work is displayed on five ‘gabion’ baskets in the garden and the building at the location which connects people, place art and nature.
The River Sid is the life blood of the valley. A place for connection, reflection and play. A water course that sustains life, flowing from it’s source in Crowpits Covert, the shortest river in Devon at just over six miles long, it has five tributaries: The Roncombe, Lincombe, Snodbrook, Burscombe and Woolbrook.
This community art exhibition results from the collaborative efforts of more than 90 children aged 8 and 9 from Sidmouth and Sidbury Primary Schools, 23 participants from the Sid Valley Memory Café, 86 young attendees of the Sidmouth Science Festival, and 20 local residents who participated in our public workshops.
Artists Chloe Farrant, Steve McCracken and Coco Hodgkinson used crayon resist art, view finding, illustration and painting as the mediums to create hundreds of individual artworks of fish, birds, otters and invertebrates that are sustained by the river. The project explored the challenges it faces from barriers to fish migration, to pollution, erosion, invasive species and the impacts of climate change.
Angela Thompson, who runs the Sid Valley Memory Café said; “ I’m very proud that the Memory Café played its part in doing these lovely pictures. Steve, and Chloe and Coco came along and did some wonderful pictures with people who had never painted before, it was a really good experience for them.”
The artworks have been united through collage, highlighting the river’s unique heritage and biodiversity, and sit alongside memories and stories shared through the workshops, connecting deeply with the natural world around us, no matter our age.
In partnership with The River Sid Catchment Group, who with others, are working to restore the river’s ecological balance, Year 5’s took part in a series of discovery workshops including visiting the river to learn about the species being monitored to check the health of the river and to be inspired by the colours, shapes and textures of the river.
“I think its an absolutely incredible explosion of colour and creativity. I love the way that it links so well to the River Sid, which is such an important, ecological resource and such an important part of our valley.” Cllr Hilary Nelson, Chair of Sidmouth Town Council.
Simultaneous linked installations are now on show in Sidmouth’s historic twin red telephone boxes, repurposed as community art spaces by Sidmouth School of Art in the Market Square.
Sidmouth’s unique micro museums present “Riverfly” in the Micro Musuem of Antiquities: An installation with invertebrates as if viewed through a magnifying glass, invites us to view through the lens of community scientists. The ‘petri dish art’ illustrated by children and young people of Sidmouth includes mayflies, caddis flies and stoneflies – important indicators of our river’s health. The scene depicted reminds us of the vital work of the River Sid Catchment Group and their Riverfly Monitoring work to record these creatures who depend on clean water.
Whilst “Opening The Sid” in the Micro Museum of Contemporary Art displays a collage of artwork created by children of Sidmouth and Sidbury Primary School and the Sid Valley Memory Cafe. Following the river’s flow, through the valley to the sea, the work shows habitat for fish, birds, mammals, invertebrates and plants, the lifeblood of the valley. The work highlights the work of The River Sid Catchment Group and others to open the Sid to help migratory species like salmon and eels, to move freely.
Art and Nature connect here, valuing this special place and reminding us “our river, our responsibility.”
The project is in partnership with Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub and jointly funded by Potburys of Sidmouth, The Arts Society Sidmouth, Devon County Council Locality Fund (Cllrs Stuart Hughes and Denise Bickley), South West Water, Creative East Devon Fund, the Sid Valley Memory Café and the Norman Family Charitable Trust.
More information including a digital exhibition of the artwork can be viewed here Confluence – the River Sid and Its Tributaries | Sidmouth School Of Art
More information about the telephone box installations Opening the Sid and Riverfly | Sidmouth School Of Art
Supporting Art and Culture in the community…
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Donations to support Sidmouth School of Arts work can be made via SSA’s website Donate | Sidmouth School Of Art (sidmouthart.org).
Sidmouth School of Art is about creativity and wellbeing through art and culture. Co-founder David Shrigley, OBE: “Art is about discovering what something means to you and expressing what you think and feel.”
Encouraging and engaging with art and our creative selves is a path to wellbeing and happiness.
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