Community

Image: Alex Murdin, Immersion, 2008

Image: David Cotterrell, Images from a mapping project in Bristol, 2007

Arcadia Revisited is a new collaborative arts project by artists David Cotterrell and Alex Murdin which aims to explore the ‘essence’ of Jaywick – the social, cultural, historical and environmental elements that contribute to a ‘sense of place’. Drawing on the ancient Greek concept of ‘arcadia’ as an idyllic vision of the wilderness, Arcadia Revisited looks again at the original utopian vision that led to the creation of holiday communities such as Jaywick. During this summer, Cotterrell and Murdin are working with the people of Jaywick to develop a creative project which investigates what this ‘arcadian’ vision means today and what it could mean in the future. This vision will be shared with the professionals of Essex County Council and Tendring District Council.

International artist David Cotterrell is specifically exploring how to capture the ‘sense of place’ of Jaywick. By working with the community and other collaborators, David is developing a new way of ‘mapping’ Jaywick, finding a way to make all of the valuable perspectives he encounters tangible and useful. Having spent time learning how to use the same software used in aviation simulators, David will be using this immersive environment software to develop interactive maps of Jaywick where local people are invited and encouraged to contribute their views, memories, photos, voices and other information. For the first time this information will be made available to professionals at Essex and Tendring Councils and aims to form a two way communication.

Alex Murdin, who is based on the Devon coast, has long shown an enthusiastic fascination with the UK coastline and all its possibilities. Alex is spending time in Jaywick at the height of the summer creatively exploring coastal leisure and tourism, both that which is present and what may be possible for the future. He has been speaking and meeting with local people and is exploring Jaywick's cultural profile within the Sunshine Coast of Tendring in Essex, and how the threat of coastal erosion and flood risk may alter that profile. His work will conclude by exploring the possibility of creating unique leisure opportunities that can raise awareness of Jaywick's natural habitats for local and regional audiences.

Arcadia Revisited is curated and developed by Landscape+Arts Network Services, a not for profit organisation working in the arts and environment arenas to develop and manage new opportunities where arts led initiatives can make a positive and dramatic impact on the quality of life and the sustainable future of our environment, in partnership with Essex County Council.

Arcadia Revisited will result in an interactive exhibition at Jaywick Martello Tower in October 2008, which will immediately communicate David and Alex’s work to a local and regional audience, and the project will also be published online.