Estuary Anthology – Stephen Turner: ARKhive
26 June & 29 June
ARKhive records and contextualises artist Stephen Turner’s work along the River Medway estuary in two events at The Historic Dockyard Chatham as part of the Estuary Anthology, a showcase of independently produced creative activities taking place during Estuary 2025.
Stephen Turner has been exploring the Medway Estuary for over 30 years in his small boat Magwitch, journeying from his base in the Historic Dockyard in Chatham. His travels have inspired many artworks on paper, canvases recording the ebb and flow of the tide, photography and video that capture a unique engagement with the river.
During the Estuary Anthology Stephen Turner will host two ARKhive events at his Dockyard studio where he will speak about these unique experiences.
ARKhive1: Tide Marks – Thursday 26 June
Work on the tidal river from 1994 to the present-day including installations in Darnet Fort and the Royal Dockyard Church in Chatham – a major project to trace the Millennial Tide along the tidal River Medway with a hundred adults and the children of every primary school in Medway, who made boats from Medway clay. Huge canvas sheets from the river bed were exhibited in the windows of the Royal Dockyard Church like muddy stained glass.
Images will be shared of all these events; highlights of a sound recording of millennium eve will be played, artefacts collected from the river bed will be available to handle (including roman pottery), artwork from 1994 – 2025 will be displayed.
There will be an opportunity afterward to visit the Lightship LV21 moored in the Dockyard.
The event takes place on Thursday June 26, 2025 from 6-8pm
ARKhive2: The Seafort Project – Sunday 29 June
Stephen Turner lived alone for six weeks on the abandoned Mauncel Seaforts at Shivering Sands five miles off the north Kent coast in September 2005. He will tell this story using still images and video along with ephemera from the forts to handle and examine.
Signed copies of his book Seafort (including contributions by curator Sue Jones, writer Ian Hunt and author Rachel Lichenstein) will be available for sale at the discounted price of £10.00
The event takes place on Sunday June 29th from 2pm -4pm
| Cost? | £5.00 per event. There is a limited capacity of 14 people at each event. Tea / Coffee will be provided |
| Where? | Stephen Turner’s Studio Top Floor, House Carpenters Shop (opposite the Joiners Shop) The Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TW CONTACT: Tel. 07887 552225 stephen@stephenturner.org.uk |
VERY SADLY THERE IS NO WHEELCHAIR ACCESS.
The Estuary Anthology shines a spotlight on independently produced creative activities during Estuary 2025, offering artists, arts organisations and creative businesses an opportunity to showcase work within an internationally recognised festival. Imagined as a compilation of exhibitions, events, activities, gigs and more taking place across the Thames Estuary from 21-29 June 2025.
