A Refracted View (2021)
By
Elspeth Billie Penfold
Description: a glass sphere showing the refracted image of its surroundings. Image credit: Melody June Böttle.
We have started an electronic journal, to share in our storytelling. This is a project sharing local stories created with artists , friends and the members of East Kent Mencap.
We will consider where we live, how we live and how we might live. These stories will be brought to life through A Refracted View.
So, why refracted? An image becomes refracted when light travelling in waves hits a solid obstacle this slows down its progress. Its natural inclination is to. find the next shortest route which is diagonally across the object to project the image. The easiest example of this is to half fill a glass with water and to stand a pencil in it and then to look at it sideways . The pencil will appear fractured just above the water line.
Image description: a wooden pencil placed in a clear water glass. The pencil appears fractured above the waterline.
Our project A Refracted View presents different perspectives, new ways of looking at things. Our ambition is to disrupt socially constructed ideas of normality , excellence and productivity, through a focus on sustainability, environmental and social practice. We will enact creativities that move accessibility beyond how people navigate space, recognising that universal access gives us a vital aesthetic that enriches all of our lives.
How do we intend to do this ? We are bringing together local artists and the members of the EKM Scrapstore in Ramsgate to co-create experiences that engage with our immediate surroundings. We will trigger ideas through walking and thinking through craft. We have plans, we will share these with you. You can listen as these evolve through our co-creation. We hope to tinker with our imaginations to create new approaches working together and engaging with our environment. Our materials will be people ( our artists and the Ekm members), places (Margate , Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Whitstable and Tankerton) and their stories crafted through a creative deck of walking prompts and flags signalling new directions and possibilities.\
Image description: an outdoor scene showing the shoreline at the coast. There is a pebbled beach and water at low tide.
What does refracted mean to you ? We would love to know. Please send us images or a short text, you can find out more by checking out postings on
Facebook @ThreadandWord
Instagram @a_refracted_view
You can also listen here our podcast which will be updated as the project develops: https://anchor.fm/refracted-view
A Refracted View is a Project delivered through Amy Johnson and Thread and Word artists for @estuary2021 funded by @margatebookie.
Image description: an exhibition poster for A Refracted View. The Images shows the sun setting over the sea, and people seated on benches watching. The text reads: ‘A Refracted View: an exhibition in two Kent locations, Margate and Ramsgate. Bringing you creative responses engaging with environmental and social sustainability.’
