A new art exhibition aims to help young people visualise the risks associated with swimming in unsupervised bodies of water.
The Bodies of Water Art Exhibition by South Hill Park Arts Centre and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is on display at Craft Coop in Princess Square, Bracknell, until Sept 2023.
The aim of the Bodies of Water exhibition is to promote an improved understanding of water as an unpredictable force of nature that can take lives.
The artwork has been produced as part of a project with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), in an effort to improve water safety education, following a number of devastating drownings in the county.
Staff from South Hill Park Arts Centre designed a project that would be co-created by local young people to deliver the message in a creative and exciting way.
The 200-year-old camera-less recording process known as ‘cyanotype’ was chosen to create the artwork. Cyanotype is known for its blue colour and has been imaginatively adapted to reflect meaningful messages about water safety.
Textile artist Hermione Thomson, was commissioned to work with year 10 Textiles students at King’s Academy Binfield.
Hermione organised a series of workshops to co-create the artwork, and the students visited Bracknell Fire Station to gain an in-depth understanding of the risks associated with our waterways and what equipment and training fire and rescue service staff use when called to incidents.
As a part of their work experience programme, Creative Media Production students from Bracknell and Wokingham College also took photographs and filmed the creation of the artwork at each stage of its development.
Dave Crease, group manager at RBFRS, said “We approached staff at South Hill Park Arts Centre as we wanted their expertise in how we could better engage with young people around the issue of water safety.
“As a fire and rescue service we have been called to a number of tragic incidents on Berkshire’s waterways, and we were keen to explore the use of art to illustrate the dangers of swimming in unsupervised bodies of water.”
Becky Jones, learning, participation and community engagement co-ordinator at South Hill Park Arts Centre, added: “It has been such a highlight for South Hill Park to design and produce this project, culminating in a truly poignant, engaging arts exhibition.
“We are delighted to have supported local school students to learn from such an excellent artist, working collaboratively to create thought-provoking prints. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this important project.”
Craft co-op director, Heidi Berry, said “We are really pleased to be able to display Bodies of Water at our new Craft Coop in Princess Square over the Summer holidays. It’s the perfect time to highlight the dangers of open water swimming. With thanks to South Hill Park for facilitating this for us, and of course, the collaboration between Textile Artist Hermione Thomson, GCSE students at King’s Academy Binfield and Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service”.
The exhibition is free to attend.
