Contributors & Credits
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Beach of Dreams, it was a huge feat of collaboration to complete this creative walk.
Story Map Read Kevin’s Blog The Sea People Beach of Dreams main page
Dream Team
Ali Pretty – Artistic Director
This pioneering place-making model has been replicated internationally in various forms in Ethiopia, Chile and India. Her most ambitious project was Silk River, commissioned by the British Council as part of the UK/India year of Culture in 2017.
Ali worked with a team of artists to curate and produce 500 individually designed silk pennants for Beach of Dreams, the first edition of an evolving national artwork. Kinetika works on hand-woven Murshidabad silk.
“Beach of Dreams offers the opportunity to extend my practice by learning how to use natural dyes challenging the aesthetic of my own silk work. Producing 500 individual silk pennants, to carry the dreams of 500 participants for 500 miles will push the boundaries of the walking, talking and making model that I’ve been developing for the last 8 years, which has at its’ heart the voice of the local community.”
Ali Pretty
Kevin Rushby – Writer
Kevin Rushby is Guardian Travel’s ‘Explorer’ and a contributor to the Saturday Review. He is the author of four acclaimed travel books, including Hunting Pirate Heaven, an investigation of 17th century pirate utopias in the Indian Ocean. His most recent book is Paradise, an historical account of human searching for perfection over the centuries. Kevin collaborated with Ali on Silk River, writing a daily blog of the entire journey.
Kevin walked all 500 miles of Beach of Dreams 2021 and captured the narrative as it unfolded in a regular blog.
“This is a time of emergencies and crises and humans always think more clearly when walking. It is when walking that lost treasures are spotted, and their value and meaning understood. Walking brings contact with people and time to talk. The range and scope of people that will be drawn into Beach of Dreams is immense: scientists and artists, old and young, expert and amateur, all manner of people will make contact, fostering new ideas, opinions and partnerships.
In this context, and in these times, Beach of Dreams feels like the right thing to do. It is a walk that will bring vitality and colour to thousands of people, forging new connections and relationships that will develop hope and inspiration when most needed.”
Kevin Rushby
Nabil Ali – Visual Artist
Nabil Ali has developed a working methodology using plant matter as the primary process material, allowing him to explore the environment to produce Art. He grows and collects his materials forming an intimate relationship with the creative process to understand the boundaries of the materials used.
For Beach of Dreams Nabil created an evocative installation – The Sea People.
Special thanks for supporting the Sea People exhibition go to:
- Scott Lawrence (Tendring District Council)
- Indi Sandhu and Jo Nancarrow (Essex Cultural Diversity Project)
- Christine Berton, Maximiliano Nicolic and volunteers (Essex Wildlife Trust Naze Discovery Centre)
- Michelle and Emma at the Naze Tower
- David Eagle and family
- Sara Hayes
- Rob Rutter
- Matt Lloyd
- Sarah Ballard
This installation was supported by Essex Cultural Diversity Project, read more on their website
Nabil Ali with Ali Pretty
“From the weeds of the sea that covers the eastern coast of Essex, wrapped around spiral shells, fish bones and old weathered wood which tell the hidden stories of the depths of the North Sea, natural materials are scattered across the stony beaches waiting to be found and made into abstract forms of Sea People, with their distant voices heard in the blowing tidal winds that travel along the crashing waves.”
Nabil Ali
Production
Produced by Kinetika
Artistic Director: Ali Pretty
Production Manager: Alex Lingford
Production Coordinator: Sarah Ballard
Business Manager: Donna Plakhtienko
Design Studio Manager/ Flag installations: Matt Lloyd
Website/ Social Media: Edwina Rigby
T100 Festival Project Manager: Katie Beadle
Media/ Documentation
Media support and film: Rosa Production
Audio interviews: John Offord
Film: John-Martin White
Film: Fotis Begklis
Photography & video shorts: Mike Johnston
Photography: Mark Massey
Creative Content
Artistic Director: Ali Pretty
Blog writer: Kevin Rushby
Installation artist: Nabil Ali
Natural dye specialist: Rob Jones, Romor Designs
Activity pack design: Mark Massey
Scientific advisors: Cefas
Silk Pennant Artists:
Ali Pretty
Lisa Meehan
Jacci Todd
Margaret Hall
Lesley Robinson
Sarah Doyle
Kara Thompson
Shannon Topliss
Genevieve Rudd
Sally Chinea
Hazel Huber
Walks
Route Planner: Peter Aylmer
Ferry Master: Colin Saunders
Walk reccies: Members of the LDWA
Drivers
Rose & Terrance Hibbert
Geraint Pugh
Gary Richens
Walk Leaders
Graham Mullender
Lesley Robinson
Stephen Green
Sally Chinea
Hazel Huber
Harry Barclay
Joan Bullivant
Phil Easteal
Jack Kent
Keith Turpin
Colin Saunders
Geraint Pugh
Gary Richens
Funders
Essex Council
Essex Path to Prosperity
Coastal Communities Fund
Thurrock Council (T100)
The National Lottery Community Fund (T100)
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (English Heritage’s Shout Out Loud programme)
Essex Cultural Diversity Project (The Sea People)
Arts Council England (Storymap)
Partners
Cefas
First Light Festival, Lowestoft
Harwich Festival of the Arts
T100: Walking, Talking & Making Festival, Thurrock
LDWA – Long Distance Walkers Association
InspiralLondon
Visit Essex
Estuary Festival
Essex Book Festival – Radical Walks Programme
Read Kevin’s Blog Story Map The Sea People Beach of Dreams main page