Our Work

Arcadia Revisited is a new collaborative arts project by artists David Cotterrell and Alex Murdin which aims to explore the ‘essence’ of Jaywick – the social, cultural, historical and environmental elements that contribute to a ‘sense of place’. Drawing on the ancient Greek concept of ‘arcadia’ as an idyllic vision of the wilderness, Arcadia Revisited looks again at the original utopian vision that led to the creation of holiday communities such as Jaywick. During  summer 2008, Cotterrell and Murdin spent time in Jaywick working with local people to develop a creative project which investigates what this ‘arcadian’ vision means today and what it could mean in the future. Using both high and low technologies to record people’s thoughts, feelings and experiences of Jaywick, their work will go on to inform future developments of coastal areas, which needs to start with the people who live there.

International artist David Cotterrell is exploring what makes ‘a place’. Using the technology commonly used in flight simulators and gaming technology, David has developed a new interactive digital map of Jaywick. Visitors to the tower were invited to add their views, memories, photos, voices and other information about Jaywick onto the map. By collecting information on the social, heritage and environmental aspects of Jaywick, David aimed to capture the valuable, but ultimately anecdotal information that is rarely recorded. This new map of Jaywick will create a new resource which shows the essential complexities and characteristics that make ‘a place’, creating a living archive for all to use.
Read more about David Cotterrell >>

Alex Murdin, who is based on the Devon coast, has had a long fascination with the UK coastline and all its possibilities. Alex spent time in Jaywick at the height of the summer speaking and meeting with local people exploring what brings people to the coast. As a result of this research Alex has created the Jaywick Tourist Board Jaywick, wicked! hosted on a new website www.jaywicked.org. This is a tourist board with a difference, it will focus on the ordinary places of Jaywick, and asks people to promote their favourite sites. The Tourist Board will also host a series of audio and written tours about the everyday aspects of Jaywick, and encourage Jaywick’s residents to make tours too – a DIY tourism of the people, by the people, for the people, about the people. The tours will be available to borrow from the Martello Tower and can be downloaded onto a mobile phone from a landline or from the website www.jaywicked.org.
Read more Alex Murdin  >>

Arcadia Revisited was curated and developed by Haring Woods Studio in partnership with Essex County Council.