School notice board for the River Crouch Festival project Artist Residency at Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School, Week #3 with fellow artist and collaborator, Alan Hockett.
Following our planning sessions for the River Crouch Celebrations, Alan and I are back at Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School to bring our ideas to life. What we hadn't planned for was the ferocious wind that accompanied our school 'outing'. The children however were excited and despite the extreme conditions they were unperturbed and entered into the spirit of the day with their usual enthusiasm, good humour and exemplary behaviour.
Following our planning sessions for the River Crouch Celebrations, Alan and I are back at Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School to bring our ideas to life. What we hadn't planned for was the ferocious wind that accompanied our school 'outing'. The children however were excited and despite the extreme conditions they were unperturbed and entered into the spirit of the day with their usual enthusiasm, good humour and exemplary behaviour.
We set off from school, the children with their maps on clipboards in hand and an army of clearly well-organised and experienced parent helpers. Our walk took us through the streets of Burnham and on through the park, familiar territory for them. Chatting with our allocated groups en-route we heard all sorts of stories and observations from them, happily sharing anecdotes and experiences as we walked.
Our brief to Eagle and Chameleon classes was to collect a small object that we could later cast, it was to be no bigger than you could hold in the palm of your hand - logs and boulders strictly not allowed! Collecting began as soon as we left the school gate and eagerly placed into coat pockets and rucksacks.
Windswept, we reached the river and walked along the bank past the moored yachts and houseboats to the beach, known locally as the 'man-made beach'. Many had been there before but a number hadn't. Sketching the view across to Wallasea and plenty of beach-combing yielded a great variety of objects, a few excited squeals and somewhat muddy shoes!
Our brief to Eagle and Chameleon classes was to collect a small object that we could later cast, it was to be no bigger than you could hold in the palm of your hand - logs and boulders strictly not allowed! Collecting began as soon as we left the school gate and eagerly placed into coat pockets and rucksacks.
Windswept, we reached the river and walked along the bank past the moored yachts and houseboats to the beach, known locally as the 'man-made beach'. Many had been there before but a number hadn't. Sketching the view across to Wallasea and plenty of beach-combing yielded a great variety of objects, a few excited squeals and somewhat muddy shoes!
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Then a wind-blown walk along the promenade to the eastern end of the town's river front to the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club where we were greeted by Wendy, long-time member and veritable 'expert', who enthralled the children and adults alike with the history of the club's building and its activities. With some trepidation Wendy guided the children to the Trophy Room on the upper deck for a thoughtfully prepared talk on the club's prized collection. The children asked thoughtful and interested questions which Wendy answered most informatively. A somewhat relieved-sounding Wendy complimented the children on their exceptionally good behaviour and we bid her farewell and headed back along the river front for the return walk to school.
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An eventful, interesting and thought provoking day all round and next week we'll be solving our very own, real-life 'River Crossing Puzzle'!
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