The Findings
Langney Shopping Centre
Saturday 16 December, 10.00am to 4.00pm, free drop-in
A broken brick, a lump of earth, mud between your fingers, clay squeezed. Could be something, could be nothing. Rubbish, treasure, now, then. A little deeper, brushed, cleaned, sorted, found. A piece of pottery in my hand, about 3500 years old. Time is wild. Value. The same hands holding the same objects thousands of years apart.
Join us for a series of free drop-in workshops & activities inside Unit 12 at Langney Shopping Centre. These activities are part of The Findings, a project by artist Verity-Jane Keefe who is making new public artwork in Langney & Shinewater.
During this session, work with Verity and cast some of the objects which have been found – whether natural or man made – in the soils of Langney and Shinewater. We will be using finds from archaeological digs and objects from Eastbourne’s recycling centre and casting them using alginate and plaster. It’s an activity anyone can have a go with, but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Further workshops will be taking place on:
Wednesday 24 January
Saturday 10 February
Wednesday 21 February
Saturday 9 March
Wednesday 20 March
More information coming soon
As well as passers-by popping in we are working with groups such as Langney Men’s Shed, Eastbourne Archaeological Society, Shinewater Court and local primary schools to take part in some of the processes involved in the making of the public artwork. Using the bronze age history of the area as a starting point, we are thinking about fragments and time as a way to steer conversation, engagement activity and final artworks.
In October and November we carried out two archaeological digs in Shinewater and in Langney, collecting objects to work with to explore the above. We also visited the local recycling centre, collecting objects from the local area as reverse archaeology. This material will be used in each workshop activity, which feeds into the design of the public artworks Verity will install in Spring 2024.
The Findings is commissioned by Towner Eastbourne. For any questions, please contact programme@townereastbourne.org.uk
