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Flyer for WASHED UP | photography exhibition highlighting the Ocean Plastics crisis (the leaf is plastic!)

Exhibiting Washed Up as part of JAM on the Marsh festival afforded privileged access to the medieval churches of Kent’s Romney Marsh. But creating a photography exhibition in a unique venue can bring with it a unique set of challenges.

a glimpse of the Marsh from the clock tower at St.George’s Ivychurch, ‘The Cathedral of the Marsh’
Looking up at the ceiling below the clock tower

Firstly, how to hang an exhibition in a Grade I listed building without causing any damage to the walls? An existing church banner showed a way to achieve this that would also be sympathetic to the space.

This cloth banner sparked an idea on how to hang the exhibition

The next challenge was to find a suitable lightweight fabric on which to print the exhibition. The fabric also needed to respect the exhibition’s environmental message – highlighting the Ocean Plastics crisis.

Exhibition printing experts Genesis Imaging helped by sourcing a fabric light enough to hang and, more importantly, made from recycled Ocean Plastics! This shows how materials can be reused and play a part in a circular economy.

Prints ready for hanging in the South Aisle

Showing the exhibition during the long days of summer, allowed the artwork to be viewed in daylight and without using any electricity. The high ceilings and pale walls allow natural light to flood the aisles, creating atmosphere and adding to the viewing experience. The spaces between each of the windows created a natural gallery which informed the final print size.

Colour matched visitor

In keeping with the spirit of recycling, the exhibition is now available for loan. For details please message me here. If you missed the exhibition there is a virtual walk around here.

Packing up the exhibition at the end of the festival

My sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the exhibition happen:

Edward & Sarah Armitage, John Frederick Hudson and Claudia Ott, thank you for welcoming me into the JAM on the Marsh family and creating the opportunity to further highlight the Ocean Plastics crisis by showing Washed Up to a wider audience.

Thank you to all the visitors from far and near who took time to view the work and stay and chat. I enjoyed your company and conversations and value friendships rekindled and new friendships made. Especially church wardens Margaret, Celia and Ellan for accommodating the exhibition at beautiful St.George’s Ivychurch.

Celia and Ed helping out at the exhibition hanging

Delphine’s Sewing Corner for her generosity of time and attention to detail in stitching the artwork (and altering my dress!) Ann-Louise Barton for last minute takeover of print sales. Geoff Waring’s initial encouragement in creating the work. The team at BBC South East. The exceptional colour prints were created by Bernie, Deep and the team at Genesis Imaging on Innotech fabric.

Sarah being interviewed by the BBC
Deep at Genesis Imaging
Stitching the artwork
Print and postcard sales

Lance Dally for always supporting my ventures, not forgetting his terrifying balancing act at the exhibition hanging! Ann Carrig, my mother, thank you for always encouraging me to follow my dreams, and brava for finding a dress that matched the photography!

For more information on the Ocean Plastics crisis and what we can do about it, take a look at Litter Picking Watch Romney Marsh and Surfers Against Sewage

As always thank you for subscribing to my blog, your support is greatly appreciated.

Wendy x

© Piers Golden

“I was attracted by the man-made flotsam and jetsam of sea-worn metal and brightly coloured plastics. There was once so much of it that if the mood took me I could choose objects by theme or colour.”

WASHED UP is a free photography exhibition showing as part of this year’s JAM on the Marsh, a multi-arts festival taking place on Kent’s atmospheric Romney Marsh. The exhibition is a comment on our culture of waste and aims to draw the observer in with a compilation of discarded objects including plastic lighters, bottles, gun cartridges and fishing paraphernalia, all found and washed up on beaches from Dymchurch to Dungeness. Bringing attention to a significant topic of our time and providing an example of human impact on nature.

The exhibition can be seen at St. George’s Church Ivychurch from 4 – 16 July. I will be giving a free artist talk on Friday 7th July, discussing aspects of my creative practice and inspiration behind the artworks. There will also be opportunity to purchase limited edition prints and art postcards. The talk will take place at 6pm in the South Aisle and you are all warmly invited.

More information about the festival is available here.