THE 'ICONS OF RAMSGATE' PROJECT
COMMUNITY PROJECT, WORKSHOPS AND FINAL EXHIBITION AT THE WOODEN BOX GALLERY, RAMSGATE
OCT/NOV 2023
My first Arts Council funded proposal, the Icons of Ramsgate project sought to elevate the stories of the people of Ramsgate. Creating artwork with the community, workshops were held with East Kent Mencap, Pie Factory Youth Centre and a women's social group The Screaming Mary's. Participants made icons of themselves celebrating all that makes them unique.
I then asked the people of the town to nominate someone they thought deserved celebrating. I picked four people at random from these to turn into works of art. They included a greengrocer, three sisters who run a fish and chip shop, a volunteer and town council member, and a musician and museum owner.
'Icons of Ramsgate is a project that seeks to elevate the stories of every one of us. The work was made in a series of community workshops led by artist Carson Parkin-Fairley, with each person creating an icon of themselves. An ode to all they love.
An act of self-appreciation, the icons celebrate everything that makes you unique, with each image or symbol used pertaining to a story from their life. I hope after viewing it you can agree, we are all icons.'
The Bağdaş Sisters’ icon combines the lives of three exuberant humans into one. The sisters have strong family ties, centring the icon on their love of their close relations.
With unique and fascinating lives, we see their interests collide in this icon, celebrating them both individually, and as a whole, with their shared symbols sitting beneath them.
Sam’s icon focuses on his love of sound, music and engineering. The icon has nods to his past, BMXing around Peterborough Brick Pits, and his current of running a museum in Ramsgate. Many references to his synth museum, his love of planes and cars, engineering, and schematics, can be found within the shrine. I also felt the need for this icon to make sound, because Sam is so ignited by the audible, hence the addition of the Hurdy-gurdy.
Maxine is a woman who many rely on, a fixer of sorts – someone you might come to for help – so I decorated her back panel with a symbol of community and love, in the style of mosaics (a hobby she used to enjoy).
It’s clear she is a woman encompassed by humans that adore her, so her icon centres on her love of these people; she sits surrounded in an aura of family and friends. Symbols used pertain to her hobbies and interests, many of which have been an avenue for the social interaction she loves.
John’s icon used over 78 family photos and symbols to create a picture of his life. A man, I thought, felt held by the universe, he sits surrounded by the cosmos (with ships from his favourite show; Star Wars). His love of blues music, and electric guitars in particular, are represented alongside wonderful family photos and historical images of his family greengrocer business.
Ben celebrated Pokémon with this wonderful icon, championing the cartoon game and his extensive collection of official merchandise. A colourful window into an avid fan’s mind. His jam-packed composition means you’re always finding something new within the collage.
Notes from the artist: "It's been exciting to be able to use my images in a different format in the college. I'm a Pokémon fan. I've been collecting plushies, figurines, etc (collectable physical items) all my life since the year 1999. Also I've showcased my collection on my blog since 2018. You can find it here: dragon--n93.tumblr.com
Pokémon Lucario (the main centre image) is holding a berry so, Lucario doesn't get hungry inside the frame."
Max explored his love of creativity with adventurous sculptures of Beetlejuice’s sandworm, a toadstool, a Highland cow, and the Piranha plant from Super Mario. It features reference to some of his favourite films, treasured holiday memories, pets, and animals. Above him, sit scans of some of his detailed illustrations.
Deidre echoed her love of radiant jewellery with the decoration on her frame. She celebrated both her past with old photos and her present work, with Screaming Alley, as ‘Deidre on the door’. Her use of symbols nodded to her love of gardening and crafting.
Stella chose to use most of her symbols on the outside of her frame, making it feel incredibly 3D. She used a combination of photos of herself and her favourite places to create this joyful exploration of all that she loves.
Notes from the artist: ‘I love living in Ramsgate, it feels like I'm on holiday all the time, there is a great community which you can see in the icons. I have been privileged to have tried many different activities here and being part of many groups, of which I am truly thankful and grateful. I am very grateful to be part of the Icons of Ramsgate!‘
The images within Lynn’s collage feature some of her favourite tv shows, comic books, albums, and films. The elderflower that makes up her crown is a flower she loves. Her frame is peppered with her own, very stylistic, drawings.
Meghan decorated her frame in an abstract pattern using colours she loves. The images are a collection of all of her favourite things and interests, she made 3D sculptures of some of the birds she likes, and there are scans of drawings and paintings of her own.
Angela chose to evoke her bubbly and joyful disposition through neon colours on the frame, with black included as a nod to one’s shadow. Her sculptural elements took the form of a baton (for twirling), a Nando’s chicken, the character Gizmo, sunflowers and a reference to motorbikes.
Notes from the artist: ‘My work was inspired by my whole life and what has made me today. This is a reminder that even on the dark days you can shine bright.’
Lara explored a life in performance in her icon. She sits centre-stage, with added tasselling around the edge of her frame for theatrical effect. A shrine to all she loves it features some of her favourite female icons, alongside a plethora of photos from her past.
Nicola’s icon centered on all the animals she cherishes in her life. She made incredible little sculptures of her tortoise, bird, frog, fish, and dog, and decorated the frame with their names. The shrine is a joyous celebration of her life, friends, pets and hobbies.
Notes from the artist: ‘I have included all my animals and my friends who have all made my life good.’
Penny explored some of her favourite memories, music, films and places in her collage. The outside frame is adorned in 3D sculptures symbolising meaningful moments, and the back of her frame is painted with a beautiful peacock pattern, a symbol that held importance for her.
Stephen celebrated his past and his current in his icon. He made miniature sculptures honouring the fact he is a prize vegetable grower, and his love of gardening. His frame is sunnily decorated with his favourite colours, and letters from his name.
Notes from the artist: ‘I did a good job! And Carson did a good job too! And Hetty!’
Tina’s icon celebrates her colourful life through imagery of some of her favourite places, like the salt lakes in Spain, Margate sunsets and camping in the UK, alongside some family photos and some of her favourite things.
Notes from the artist: ‘The things that have brought me happiness throughout the years.’
Sydney chose to explore some the things she loves best in this icon, there are symbols that represent her passion for music and horse riding. It features some of her favourite colours, and references to her favourite TV shows and books, all combined in this vibrant artwork.
Notes from the artist: ‘The project made me feel valued and at one with art.’
Patrick celebrated his travels and personal collections of stamps and coins in his icon. He chose both old and current photos for his central icon figure and celebrated his love of music through his use of symbols.
Notes from the artist: ‘My work is about my travels and my stamp, coin and postcard collection, and my family.’
Rosie chose to honour her life via a selection of her family photos, favourite places and things to do. She chose to decorate her frame in colours she loves, and made sculptural elements in the form of gold bands representing her marriage, and a tv set.
Notes from the artist: ‘It has made me more confident in creating my artwork. I included lots of my favourite things and memories of where I have come from and places and things I love, like cars and fairgrounds.’
Nicola chose to celebrate her past within her icon, and other places that have held importance to her. You can see nods to her Bavarian heritage via her pretzel and beer sculptures, and a selection of family photos.
Notes from the artist: ‘I wouldn't be an icon without my family. I enjoy doing my favourite things with my nearest and dearest, some of which can be seen in my ICON.’
Nikita chose to celebrate their life with images of friends in their icon, pictures of their rats and references to their favourite tv shows, characters and flowers. They sit on a backdrop of Jamaican beaches, a nod to their heritage and somewhere they’d like to visit in the future. A playful expression of self which jumps out from the frame with all the 3D elements they’ve used.
Michelle’s ode to her 55th year is a beautiful one. She used collage and sculptural elements of a mushroom and boxing glove to represent stories from her life. She decorated the frame in polka dots in a nod to an artist she loves, Yayoi Kusama.
Notes from the artist: ‘Inspired by family, friends and living my best life in beautiful Ramsgate.’
Molly’s icon centered around her relationship with the stage and her love of musical theatre. She sits centre stage with lighting rigs pointed at her, ready to perform. She’s surrounded by some of her favourite musical productions that’s she’s seen.
Milly chose to focus on some of her favourite memories which included waltzing in the garden, time with family and friends, and Heathers The Musical. Her frame is wonderfully decorated with her drawings, a croquet mallet and a magical witch’s hat.
Instead of picking a chosen central icon image, Helen chose a photo of her iris. She’s surrounded by loved ones and on a backdrop of some of her favourite artworks and memories.
Notes from the artist: ‘This is me’