Some:when (work in progress)

NEW BLOG RELEASED please have a look to: http://some-when.co.uk/

Some:when – celebrating cohesion through the watery heritage of the Somerset Moors and Levels

Some:when is a collaborative public art project conceived in response to the floods on the Somerset Moors and Levels. It is led by artists Jethro Brice and Seila Fernandez Arconada, together with individuals and community groups affected by the floods. We would like to invite your input and participation – we are keen to ensure the project really supports and contributes to the needs and views of local people and communities!

The aim of the project is to support and amplify the remarkable resilience of Somerset communities in responding creatively to the floods. While the Media have often presented the floods as a matter of division and controversy, we have been struck by the voices from the ground which have worked to develop shared responses to the crisis.

Working with local groups in and around Langport, we will create a replica of the traditional Somerset Flatner from reclaimed materials, sourced in the immediate environment. Designed as a practical and affordable solution for navigating life in a changeable environment, this characteristic Somerset boat is an iconic local design that represents the centrality of both water and human ingenuity in shaping the history of life on the levels.

The boat will be fitted out with a bright and decorative sail compiled from the collected stories of children and young people affected by the floods. Through creative, participatory workshops they will be encouraged to share and reflect on their experiences and articulate a vision of Somerset’s future.

Local groups are invited to accompany the Flatner on a triumphant journey from Langport to Bridgwater on the outgoing tide. We will liaise with both local and national press and charities and national organisations to raise the profile of the event and present a refreshingly positive story that better represents the joint voices of the Levels.

As artists who work with people and nature, we have experience working with communities to address social and environmental issues through creative collaboration. We both have a long-standing interest in the Somerset Moors and Levels, and we have been following conversations on twitter, facebook and in the local press, as well as the formation of the 2030 vision statement from the Levels and Moors Task Force. We believe it is important to make visible the strong voices of Somerset people, working together to respond to the challenges of flooding.