The Listening Project in partnership with ceramic artist Julia Ellen Lancaster, uses wild clay dug directly from Copt Point, Folkestone and spots of geological interest on the Kent coast. The project engages residents of Folkestone with this natural resource material for creative expression. Inspired by the sound mirrors or the ‘listening ears of Kent’ as they are better known, a series of large-scale concrete structures dotted along the coastline, first built between 1928-30, the sound mirrors were part of Britain’s national defence strategy, designed to pick up the sound of approaching enemy aircraft. They quickly became redundant as technology developed. The Listening Project reframes the idea of listening as an embrace as opposed to a defence and asks participants to reflect on their experiences over the last year during the world-wide pandemic, encouraging us to reframe our thinking and listen to the unheard voices highlighting inequality, expressed through small sculptures made from the wild clay. The project will culminate in an exhibition of work made by the people of Folkestone. Lancaster’s practice is influenced by ongoing research and ideas of future museums and what future generations will learn about their past.
Dates | What |
Friday 13th August 4 - 6pm | Free Clay collection open to public from Urban Room |
Saturday 14th August 2 - 4pm | Free Clay collection open to public from Urban Room |
Sunday 15th August 2 - 3pm | Public return made pieces to Urban Room |
Tuesday 17th August 1 - 2pm | Public return made pieces to Urban Room |
Saturday 28th August - 11th September 2021 | Final exhibition of work opens @urbanroomfolkestone |
