Explore the estuary - indoors!

April 27, 2015 by Joanna Harrison

Tuesday 28th April 2015

Now is the chance to get fully immersed in the Thames Estuary without needing to put even a toe in the water!

Southend’s Beecroft Art Gallery is hosting a series of exhibitions until Saturday 27th June, which all celebrate the ever-changing seaside landscape.

Alan Hockett’s ‘Drawing from Light’ is a collection of the pinhole photographic images he took whilst investigating the Essex coastline.

Meanwhile, Mark Bradford’s group of pictures called ‘Tide’ beautifully capture the lure of the Thames Estuary – especially for artists.

This exhibition also relates the gallery’s display of images about the acclaimed project to probe the findings from the shipwreck of the HMS London – which sank at the Nore off Southend in 1665.

The shipwreck has inspired another work being shown in the gallery, situated in the former Southend Central Library building in Victoria Avenue, Southend.

This is Nastassja Simensky’s film, ‘Colloquy’ documenting the event where she and a string quartet chartered a local fishing boat, and performed an original piece of stringed music directly above the site of the wreck.

The Council’s Head of Culture, Nick Harris said: “The Thames Estuary is a vital feature of Southend and is a source of endless fascination.

“We hope as many people as possible will come along to the Beecroft Art Gallery to enjoy all these varied artworks which may offer a fresh new view on our familiar surroundings.

“We are especially pleased to have an extra special focus on the London Shipwreck project.
This community archaeology scheme to uncover the secrets of the historic vessel, HMS London, is now on the shortlist for a major national award.

“The campaign, run by Southend Museums Service, enlisted local people to help with finds including the sorting and preventive conservation of artefacts from the long-forgotten wreck of the London.

“It has reached the shortlist for the prestigious Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence in the category of ‘Project with a Limited Budget’.

“We are privileged to have reached these national finals despite hot competition, and are up against some other very strong contenders.

“The overall winner will be announced at a ceremony in London tomorrow, Wednesday 29th April.”