Salt marsh and sea water - a bit of psychogeography

Salt marsh and sea water - a bit of psychogeography 18/11/2021 0 Comments   from the series 'Salt, Water, Sky' I took a course recently in psychogeography with the Open College of the Arts. Psychogeography ?   I hear you ask.... what on earth is that? Not exactly what I thought it was, it turns out! I had visions of exploring my feelings and thoughts in relation to my photography, but it turns out to be a lot more complex than that. A lot more historical, political and sociological than I imagined. So first, let's get the definitions out of the way. First, from Guy Debord, who first described his urban explorations in 1955 as 'the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organised or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals' ​Hmmmmmm-  already the language is getting a bit heavy........ ​ Secondly, a little video from Will Self, who describes psychogeography as; 'a whole toybox full of playful, inventive strategies for exploring cities....just about anything that takes pedestrians off their predictable paths and jolts them into a new awareness of the urban landscape'. That is a bit more digestible.​ ,,  We were asked to wander, in an unplanned direction. To take note of what we saw, and to record using photographs, video, sound recordings or any other means that we chose.  I started the course in Vancouver, so wandered the suburban streets, turning alternately left and right as I descended towards the city. ​ North Vancouver streets I noticed a number of themes that grabbed my attention, but the most powerful was that of the local waterways and a consideration for the environment for local fish. ​ local school children create a river of dreams and learn about fish habitat. creating awareness of wastewater's impact on local fish habitat your waste water - my habitat..... It seems that even in the city I am drawn to themes around water, and seek out havens of tranquility. I strolled down mosquito creek, hidden between the suburban houses. ​ Reflections, Mosquito Creek, Vancouver ​I could have gone down the road of 'the naming of Canadian streets after men, battles and golf courses in England', but decided to leave that subject  well alone.  ​For another day perhaps....   And then suddenly, my trip was over, and I was back in the UK. Traditionally psychogeography is an offshoot of city wandering; getting out of one's comfort zone. But I do not thrive in cities, so I decided to continue my project on the banks of the River Rother in Rye. ​I chose a part of the river that I had never explored before; the salt marsh and river bank between Rye and Camber Sands. Salt marsh and the River Rother ​ ​I stuck to my theme of water quality, and then it all turned a bit murky...... I was delving into the muddy waters of plastic and sewage pollution of our rivers and beaches. ​I joined the Strandliners for a beach survey of microplastics. We found biobeads ( filtration beads discharged from sewage treatment plants by Southern Water) and nurdles ( the raw material for plastic production) in their hundreds. ​ thousands of biobeads on the beach at Camber Sands from sewage outages by Southern Water    All of these issues were having a neagtive effect on my psychological status. I discovered a new word to describe the problem 'Solastalgia' -  a form of emotional distress caused by environmental change. ​Going out with the Strandliners was a real help ; meeting like minded locals and feeling that  I was doing something positive made all the difference. I decided on a way forward for my project that would bring me out of the doom and gloom. I would look at the dark and light sides of my locality, for a project 'Shore - in darkness and light'. For the light side I would create colourful multiple exposure images from the salt marsh to convey the positive effects of nature. Salt, Water, Sky - multiple exposure from the salt marsh For the dark side, I created a series of images of the pollutants in the environment. ​Wet wipes, tampons, plastic toys and coffee cup lids. items washed up on the salt marsh ​    I supported Surfers against Sewage and wrote to my local MP about the environment bill and sewage outages. I got a feeble reply, saying that it was too expensive to stop storm overflows by water companies. But the tide of public opinion is turning and is really making a difference.  It has been an interesting experience looking at a locality from new perspectives. ​The language of psychogeography was a bit impenetrable, but I have found some new tools to express my thoughts on the landscape, and met some very interesting people, as far away as Australia. ​Now to decide what to do next............. a book perhaps.........

In a quiet place- an exhibition with haiku

For the last 2 weeks I have been involved in an exhibition 'In a quiet place' in Rye with two good friends, Ali Stump and Birgitta Wilson. They are both very talented printmakers.

We share a love of nature, of stillness and quiet, and of words.

So in the quiet times between customers, what better way to spend our time than by writing haiku about the works hanging on the gallery wall.

The format of a haiku is one of three lines, with five, seven and five syllables in that order.

Short and sweet.

A not too challenging way to pass time.


Starting with Conversation Piece 1 ...

Conversation Piece by Caroline Fraser

light on a small stream

dances across the water

speaking silently

and then for some bowls and jugs

upon the table

fine white china jug and bowl

remind me of home

prints by Ali Stump

'all is calm' by Birgitta Wilson

deep in the forest

branches coated thick with snow

lie quietly sleeping

Olive, my typewriter has typed out quite a few of our creations, but then decided to do her own thing....

olivetti type 5x7

She is a bit obsessional.... and enjoys patterns more than poems...


And then there are the sea wall stories.

sea wall stories and other works 

For these I have written a longer poem, which is going to get me started on making my next book.

I will share it when the book is ready, which might be a while. 

 sea wall story 2019

 sea wall story  2019

 It has been the quiet times, sitting in the gallery that have allowed new words to be written, and new ideas to form.

For that, and for the friendship that I share, I am truly grateful.

gallery view 'In a quiet place'

I will leave you with some words shared with me last week;

'The present is a magic time'.

And so it is.....

a red dot and a new dress

Having worked hard at my day job last week, I have some time off for good behaviour.

I have entered the artists' world that is Rye for a few days.

It is a colourful world.

I have had coffee, tea and lunch with my artist friends, and found time to inspect the Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition.

I liked what I found; a bright and breezy new space with its very own cone.

Everyone seems to agree that the new venue is a success. It feels light and airy, and has been hung beautifully.

I am in the 'subtle shades of grey and black' zone, artfully hung beneath a print by Fred Cuming RA.

In the colourful zone I particularly enjoyed the works of Matt Hardman on wood panels.

Matt Hardman at Rye

And downstairs small sketches from Dungeness  by Denise Franklin.

It is a varied and inspiring exhibition, and there are lots of red dots already.

I have one, as does Fred.

Which made me so happy that I went straight up the hill to Rye and spent my 'winnings' on a new dress.

Feast of delights - Christmas shopping in Rye

One week to go.

Lots of cards and small prints from me.

Lots of lovely food and arty gifts from everyone else.

Hope to see you at the School Creative Centre , Rye

confessions of a photographer ................ Pecha Kucha Rye 02

self portrait with grass © caroline fraser 2013

It's tonight

It's free

It will be fun

I will confess.

There will be grass

Pecha Kucha Rye 02

Hope to see you there.