Look About: Transmission is a screen-based work featuring film, animation and sound works inspired by Jon’s mapping of Cultural Olympiad and Accentuate events in the South East. Transmission is evolving as it gathers data at each exhibition location, growing and metamorphosing to eventually comprise 128 Fragments – printed artwork which uses geological metaphors to produce visual diaries, and digital films/animations inspired by geological and other correlated themes gathered throughout the journey.

Opening times:

Thu 19 – Sun 22 April 11am-4pm
Thu 26 – Sun 29 April 11am-4pm
Mon 30 Apr – Wed 2 May 11am-4pm

Accompanying events:

Mon 30 Apr – Wed 2 May Artist Jon Adams in residence aboard LV21
Tue 1 May 1-3pm & Wed 2nd 1-3pm FREE drop-in workshops
Wed 2 May 6-8.30pm Meet the Artist

Look About is part of Accentuate, the London 2012 Legacy Programme for the South East. Accentuate has been funded by Legacy Trust UK, creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK, SEEDA and the Regional Cultural Agencies.

Read more about Look About: http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/faculties/cci/air/projects/lookabout/

Please note

The renovation of the vessel is an ongoing process and as such some areas are not accessible.

Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel. Wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes. Please contact LV21 if you want to discuss any access issues.

Free parking available on site. For directions to Light Vessel 21 please visit our contact page.

Please note that toilet facilities available onsite only during 30 April – 2 May

The Haven of Elsewhere | Charlotte Smith

Charlotte’s site-specific installation is an exploration into the qualities of the space of the horizon line through a porthole, specifically the space between the sea and the sky, where light plays a fundamental role.

Should I let it go? | Martin Trowbridge

Martin’s work on display looks at the river–land margins and specifically the movement of clay into the water to become silt/mud. The work on show is a duplicate of a clay boat that was released at Gillingham Pier to float away into the River Medway.

Open Sat 17 & Sun 18 March
Free entry 11am – 4pm

Charlotte and Martin are members of the New Kent Creatives who will be exhibiting ‘The Voices In Our Heads’ at Eastgate House, Rochester.

Please note

The renovation of the vessel is an ongoing process and as such some areas are not accessible.

Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel. Wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes. Please contact LV21 if you want to discuss any access issues.

Free parking available on site. For directions to Light Vessel 21 please visit our contact page.

Capacity is limited so be sure to book as soon as you can. Tickets are available either through TEA Concerts direct or via this link.

Support comes from Pity Party + Stuart Turner.

I Taught You How To Dance – Darren Hayman

Please note, this is an over 18s event only. A licensed bar will be provided.

Please wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes on board and note that the vessel is a restoration work in progress and access is limited.

Mon 24 October 11am-5pm
chART Medway with artist Wendy Daws

Help us create a giant sea-chart collage of River Medway – mapping out local landmarks, your favourite spots to visit and other places of interest along the river. Personalised signage buoys for participants to make and take away. All materials provided but participants are encouraged to bring in suitable found objects and materials to add to the collage.

Wed 26 October 11am-5pm
Look Out with artist Wendy Daws

Join Wendy to build magical Under Water and Above the Surface Worlds inside the ship, featuring glow in the dark river creatures, plants, birds and other wildlife. Get inspiration for your work by finding out what sounds and sights lurk beneath the surface of River Medway using a hydrophone and an underwater camera, and look through binoculars to spot local sea birds. Stick creatures and rod puppets for participants to make and take away after the workshop. All materials provided.

Wed 26 & Thu 27 October 11am-5pm
Soldering and Morse Code Fun with Colin Turner

Drop-in to meet our resident radio guru Colin and learn the art of soldering and secrets of morse code with him. All materials provided.

These workshops operate on a first come first served basis and are suitable for all ages and abilities but please note that children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel.

Wed 26 October 8pm – midnight
Fl’utter-ance with artist Jane Pitt

Join artist Jane Pitt onboard LV21 for the first ever Night Time Fl’utter-ance. Absorb the night sounds as the Medway tide ebbs and the wading birds come in to feed; devise a sound poem together with Jane vocalising phonic descriptions of the local bird calls (i.e. krreearr kek kekekek = Black Headed Gull) and other unique surrounding sounds.

The resulting playful utterances will be recorded and posted online as a unique lyrical response to LV21 and its locality, describing the sense and experience of being there.

Fl-utter-ances by Jane Pitt

Warm drinks and refreshments will be served.

Fl’utter-ances is a public participatory sound artwork. For more info on Jane’s work please visit http://janepitt.co.uk/blogs/flutterances/.

Sat 29 October 6-8.30pm
Estuary Book Launch and Film Event

Join local writer/photographer Dave Wise for a film screening and the launch of his photographic (digital/pinhole/solargraph) books that focus on the Medway Estuary, and recent travels in India and Sri Lanka. Refreshments served.

Mon 24 – Sun 30 October 11am-4pm
MV08 by artist Stephen Turner

Step in to one of the cabins to see Stephen Turner’s MV08, a surveillance inspired installation with footage from Moonview, a 2008 commission by the North Kent Local Authority Arts Partnership.

The week’s activities are all free of charge but donations towards the ongoing restoration and future community activities are welcomed.

Please wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes on board and note that the vessel is a restoration work in progress and access is limited. Please contact us if you want to discuss any access issues in more detail.

Free parking available on site.

See you there ShipMates!

To ensure you are first in line for future tickets be sure to sign up to the groups/pages to find out about the next exclusive offers – more info coming soon.

Free Activities Schedule

A River Medway Manifesto

Thu 22nd Sept, 3-5.30pm
Booking is essential as places are limited.
To book phone 01634 338319 or email arts@medway.gov.uk

MV08 unveiling

Thu 22nd Sept, 6-8pm
Booking is essential as places are limited.
To book phone 01634 338319 or email arts@medway.gov.uk

Additional MV08 opening times:
Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm
25 Sept, 1-2 Oct, 8-9 Oct, 15-16 Oct, 22-30 Oct

Rochester Gallery Workshop

Sat 15 Oct, 12.30 – 3.30pm
Create and record a phonic sound collage and river map with artist Jane Pitt, taking sonic inspiration from the exhibition Sedimental. Suitable for ages 12-years-old and over. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.
www.soundings.posterous.com

About Sedimental

Sedimental is a journey of (re)discovery for artist Stephen Turner; an exploration of significance in nature and a reflection on how this can be incorporated into his work.  The exhibition, off-site installation, workshop and public events present layers of meanings surrounding the Medway estuary, which have been a continual fascination to Turner during a 16-year association with the river.

For Turner, the Medway estuary reconnects people in our ever increasing urban lives to the pulsing heart of nature. He examines threads interweaving geology with history, flora with fauna, hydrology and river archaeology, purity with contamination and other such contrasts that make being beside this stretch of tidal water an enlightening and enriching experience.

The estuary’s rich story, animated by people and defined by place over time is the subject of Turner’s intimate conversation and impetus for connection, using the oldest and newest technologies – the muddy clay itself and digital audio and video in collaboration with the river, its histories and its people.

Please note

The renovation of the vessel is an ongoing process and as such some areas are not accessible.

Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel. Wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes. Please contact LV21 if you want to discuss any access issues.

Free parking available on site. For directions to Light Vessel 21 please visit our contact page.

The Seaside Sisters will be making the most of LV21′s fascinating space with seaside themed sets, exhibiting their work with theatrical waves, a floral clock and Punch and Judy inspired displays. There will be lots of activities and craft workshops for children and adults to join, and a shop selling Seaside Sisters crafts and vintage UK souvenirs.

On bank holiday Monday we will be joined by Nick Brown of the rare vinyl record shop Intoxica, for a surf and nautical themed DJ set. You may also catch a glimpse of the enchanting mermaid aka soprano Sophia Brumfitt who will be luring us deep into the ship with her beautiful voice.

Come and join in the fun!

For more information about the Seaside Sisters visit their website.

Workshop Details and Opening Times

Exhibition, pop-up shop, activities & a chance to explore this stunning lightship.
Bank Holiday Mon 29th Aug – Sat 3rd Sept, 11am – 5pm.
Free entry.

Mon 29th, 2 – 5pm -  Print Your Own Souvenir Tea Towels £15
Sat 3rd, 12 – 3pm – Print Gocco Cards & Notebooks £25 Details & booking

All week drop in workshops:

Make LV21 Souvenir Pennants, £4, or free if you donate the pennant to the ship
Make Fabric Brooches, £3
Signal Flags Treasure Hunt, free. Decode all the flag signals on the ship and win a prize.
Play the Human Fruit Machine, 50p for three plays
Holiday Memories Bunting, free. Add stories of trips and souvenirs past to a line of bunting.
Floral Seaside Town Sign, free. Recycle plastic bags into pretty flowers for the floral sign.

Facebook event: click here!

Please note

Please be aware that some areas of the lightship will not be accessible as the renovation of the vessel is an ongoing process. Donations to help the preservation of this historic vessel are of course welcomed.

Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel. Wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes. Please contact LV21 if you want to discuss any access issues.

Free parking available on site. For directions to Light Vessel 21 please visit our contact page.

About The ILLW

The basic objective of the ILLW event is “to promote public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and their need for preservation and restoration, and at the same time to promote amateur radio and to foster International goodwill.” During the weekend our resident radio expert Colin Turner will be transmitting and communicating with other lighthouses and lightships around the world. LV21′s call sign is GB2LV if you want to join in and get in touch.

Many other lighthouses and places of associated interest will be open to the public over the weekend, and there will be special events at lighthouses and light vessels both at home and abroad. For a full list of participants please visit the ILLW website. Additionally, The Association of Lighthouse Keepers also provides a forum for everyone interested in lighthouses, lightships and maritime aids to navigation. Despite its name, being a lighthouse keeper is not a requirement for joining the Association, although a number of serving and former keepers are members. Whatever your interest in lighthouses and lighships, you can join the ALK.

More about Siren Signal

Steve McPherson’s Siren Signal sound sculptures are based on childhood memories of the constant and stationary Tongue Light Vessel (LV1) on the north Kent horizon, and its mournful warning when sea fogs transformed the world. The three soundscapes of Siren Signal will reverberate through the spaces of LV21 echoing both Steve’s and the ship’s pasts.

Steve has also designed and produced a limited edition paper model of LV21 which will be available to purchase over the weekend (stock allowing – only 100 limited edition). Simply cut out, fold and glue your very own LV21 model.

LV21 is open to the public for the whole weekend, giving you the unique opportunity to both explore and experience the sound pieces and lightship at the same time.

Tours are free and will be operated on a first come, first served basis. (We hope to be able to show all visitors around the vessel but cannot guarantee access if demand exceeds our capacity).

Tours will be available between 11am-4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Please note

Please be aware that some areas of the lightship will not be accessible as the renovation of the vessel is an ongoing  process. Donations to help the preservation of this historic vessel are of course welcomed.

Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel. Wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes. Please contact LV21 if you want to discuss any access issues.

Free parking available on site. For directions to Light Vessel 21 please visit our contact page.

The renovation of LV21 continues and it’s great to see the ship fully illuminated with all the reinstalled portholes and windows now replaced. We’re continuing to work both internally and externally on the renovation. You can find out more about our up and coming events and open days via our June’11 Newsletter.

Thanks to Simon Cowell for his technical skills and Britannia Refined Metals
of Northfleet for donating a supply of spare bulbs.

Opening times: 11am -4pm Sat & Sun – FREE Admission

Lead artist Jon Adams comments “This year’s audacious aim for ‘Dysarticulate 2′ is to ‘engage’ artists and audiences, creating and planting ‘paper flags’ recycled from book pages. This is one of a series of ‘in sync’ public ‘emplacement’ events where the scale of their showing in the landscape continues the dialogue and conversations reflecting the real issues around disability, our fragility and the nature of public art.”

The LV21 crew invites you on board to contribute to the creation of this unique National and International temporary public artwork by helping to ‘dress up’ the 40-metre lightship with flags and bunting made on the day from recycled book pages.

Dysarticulate 2 lead artist Jon Adams is Artist in Residence at the University of Portsmouth.
The project is also supported by Purple Door and the New Theatre Royal Portsmouth.

Please note

Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult at all times aboard the vessel.

Wear suitable flat, non-slip shoes. The vessel is a restoration work in progress and access is limited. Please contact LV21 if you want to discuss any access issues.

Free parking available on site. For directions to Light Vessel 21 please visit our contact page.