How We Live In Essex Through the Seasons, Lelia Ferro

Jaywick Martello Tower, 3 – 16 June

Walk-in Story Book, Performances and Workshops

Step into an interdisciplinary world of poetry, sustainable textiles, illustrations, photography, performance, community collaborations, and workshops.

University of Essex PhD candidate Lelia Ferro has been researching How We Live in Essex Through the Seasons since 2018 through residencies, volunteering, interviews, and community projects.

This exhibition features Lelia’s poems, and writing collaborations with Tendring Community Writers, Jaywick Writers, Poetry Plus Manningtree, The Writers’ Company, and local school children. The poems have been responded to by up-and-coming local talent including photographer Dan Sceats, illustrator Louisa Charrington, textiles artist Clare Sams, and theatre director Sofia Bagge. It explores themes of heritage, locality, nature, and climate change.

From Monday 3rd June to Sunday 16th June 10am to 4pm come along and contribute your voice to the exhibition by writing a poem, or drawing a picture to hang it in the exhibition space for all to enjoy! Materials provided, just turn up. Children accompanied by an adult are very welcome.

A programme of free events and workshops is open to all throughout the duration of the exhibition. They include performances, a spoken word workshop with professional performers, an open mic evening, a coastal botanical illustrations workshop with Louisa, a sea and sky photography workshop with Dan, a netting and knotting plant fibres workshop with Clare, and local seasonal poetry workshops with Lelia.

The exhibition finale and spoken word evening will take place on Saturday 15th June 3.00-8.30pm.

Jaywick Martello Tower, The Promenade, Belsize Avenue, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 2LF
01255 822783

Free Events and Workshops

Wednesday 5 June, 11.00am – 1.00pm
How We Live in Essex Poetry Workshop with Lelia Ferro

Explore your relationship to Essex and the seasons through poetry, with exhibition poet Lelia Ferro.

Saturday 8 June, 12.00 – 2.00pm
Coastal Plant Botanical Drawing Workshop with Louisa Charrington

Learn about the plants that live on the Essex coast and have a go at drawing them yourself, with the exhibition illustrator Louisa Charrington.

Saturday 8 June, 3.00 – 3:30pm
Live Poetry Performance

Lelia Ferro’s poetry performed by professional actors at the atmospheric Martello Tower. Witness the poetry coming to life in a unique collaboration between Lelia Ferro, theatre director Sofia Bagge and fantastic actors.

Sunday 9 June, 2.00 – 4.00pm
Sea, Sky, and Landscape Photography Workshop with Dan Sceats

Learn photography techniques using the beautiful views from Jaywick Martello Tower with the exhibition professional photographer. If you don’t have a camera, just bring your mobile phone!

Wednesday 12 June, 11.00am – 1.00pm
Textiles Workshop with Clare Sams

Explore netting and knotting using sustainable plant fibres with exhibition textiles artist Clare Sams.

Saturday 15th June, 3.00 – 5.00pm
Poetry Performance Workshop with Sofia Bagge

Learn to lift the words off the page and sharpen your performance techniques in this fun and friendly workshop, hosted by theatre director Sofia Bagge and a professional actor. Why not bring along a poem of your own to the workshop and perform it shortly after at the spoken word evening!

Saturday 15th June, 6:30 – 7.00pm
Live Poetry Performance

Lelia Ferro’s poetry performed by professional actors at the atmospheric Martello Tower. Witness the poetry coming to life in a unique collaboration between Lelia Ferro, theatre director Sofia Bagge and fantastic actors.

Saturday 15th June, 7.00 – 8:30pm
Spoken Word Evening – Exhibition Finale
Featuring Boho Banter

Come and celebrate an evening of spoken word at the Jaywick Martello Tower by reading a poem of your own, or simply enjoying an evening of poetry . No need to book, just turn up and give your name!

Sunday 16th June, 11.00am – 1.00pm
How We Live in Essex Poetry Workshop with Lelia Ferro

Explore your relationship to Essex and the seasons through poetry, with exhibition poet Lelia Ferro.