Thanet Mind Seaside Project
Seaside Project by Arendse & Thanet Mind 2005
Overall dimensions approx 1.5x5.0 m, roti, gold leaf smalti and vitreous glass on MDF cut outs
Design by Arendse & Thanet Mind
Arendse recalls: “This 10 week project was made at the same time as the Tulip Project but with a different house belonging to Thanet Mind. As this center was located near the sea the users would like to make something with relation to that. Originally we decided to make an installation for the kitchen that had very high ceilings and a very tall and odd shaped wall left bare as it was not easy to put anything on it with a harmonious look as the outcome. Cut out shapes on at the most 3 chains seemed to be the way to go.
Also the kitchen wall was painted a pale orangy terracotta colour and since it was not an option to redecorate we had to choose a pallet that went with what was already there. Hence I suggested using this Roman pallet even though it proved difficult to withhold, because how could we make sea scenes without any blues and turquoises?!?
The first session everybody drew sea creatures, ships, boats, fish and fishermen. We looked at people’s contributions and the group decided on three different drawings they thought resembled the sea for them. To turn the drawings into shapes suitable for MDF cut outs I took them home and streamlined them and had 6 sets made of each. Could we manage them all within the time, that would be great; but could we only manage a few of them we would still be able to put something on the wall at the end of the project. The Thanet Mind users turned out to really enjoy making mosaics though, so we did the lot on time and on budget.
As the wall in the kitchen was so very tall and we didn’t have a ladder long enough for the job, it was decided on the day of the hanging to put the piece in the sitting room instead. Fortunately this method is very flexible so rather than 3 long strings we made 6 shorter ones. Because of some pipes on the middle of the wall one string had to go on another wall between two windows.
As you may make out from the above images we all had a great time making this Seaside Project and I do believe that we can all be quite proud of this achievement!”
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