A Friday on the canal

On Friday Ella, Kembhi, Kristina and Rohanie took part in a workshop led by artist Phil Duckworth (Juneau Projects). We worked on board the boat whilst making its way from Birmingham to Ocker Hill (approx 8 miles in total).

With us there was also Kate, Phil and Steve (who looked after the boat).

We had all met each other at past events and had taken part in discussions and workshops at Ikon – it was great to get together and start working on IYP’s project together.

We took a seat on the boat and we started talking about ourselves, our experiences and our point of view on art. Then we looked around us, we could see the surrounding canal and the changing landscape and were able to take inspiration for our personal paintings: we painted animals and flora.

During the travel we had to pass through a total of seven locks which we learn how to open together. For me this was a totally new experience…I have never opened a lock before on the Black Country’s canal!

It was nice because we had the possibility to do something new, to make work in a new environment and also had time to walk along the waterside and observe nature and the landscape.

We arrived in Ocker Hill at roughly 6pm and then we returned to Birmingham city centre in a taxi.

The journey took us 4 hours by the boat and a mere 20 minutes by taxi… very funny!

Giulia Sassi