Room is continuing in its aim to bring art to the people. Initially commissioned by Art at the Centre, it is now being run as an independent artist’s studio and showcasing space for emerging and established artists based in North Kent.
During May, June and July of 2012 Room was positioned on the Faversham Recreation Ground, where it became home to a range of interesting art projects by Kent based artists. Kate Linforth, Nicola Barker and Hazel Stone & Kate Matthews are all presenting their individual and collaborative practises to the public. People who passed the space were able to see the artists at work, and where possible help contribute to the final artworks.
‘Fruiting Bodies’ by Kate Linforth
Kate Linforth uses wax to create mono-prints and small fungal/like sculptures that mimic our natural surroundings. Much of her work is inspired by Kent’s local landscape. Her practise encourages communities to look at organic forms as abstract sculptural objects. Her work drew attention to even the smallest flora and encouraged the visitors to the rec to have a renewed interest in their natural environment.
‘The Folding Room’ by Nicola Barker
Artist Nicola Barker took over Room with a performative installation piece entitled ‘The Folding Room’. The space was filled with a wealth of linen and other domestic fabrics, which was carefully presented within the space. Visitors were encouraged to donate folded piles of linen to The Folding Room included a personal diary of visitors’ thoughts about domestic work and repetition.The Folding Room was a domestic space of solitude, reflecting on the futility and repetition of folding, tidying and putting away.
‘Common Ground’ by Kate Matthews & Hazel Stone
‘Common Ground’ is a project which will draw out connections between the local residents of Faversham. Artists, Hazel Stone and Kate Matthews are working collaboratively during the residency to research the population of Faversham by devising original methods of data collection which will include interviewing on the street and door to door questioning. To begin with residents will be selected randomly on the basis of house number and door colour.
Participants will be asked a number of questions which will then be used to map common links between individuals living in the surrounding area and how they connect to one another in subtle and surprising ways. This project aims to produce new pathways into creative data analysis, how it is presented and original research methods.
Common Ground aims to create a sense of community for the local residents, prompt more dialogue and highlight unconsidered common ground. A limited edition certificate produced during the residency will be given to all participants