Saturday 01 June – Sunday 30 June
Open 12:00-16:00 Friday – Sunday
Late Night Opening: Fri 28 Jun, 17:00-19:00
Open Studio
Throughout June, Fourth Wall will become a dynamic, evolving Open Studio space for two Folkestone based artists: Danny Kitchener and Sarah Lloyd. Both artists have a strong interest in the links between mental health and the artistic process.
Endings & Beginnings will see them both working on their own projects across the month. However the conversations and crossovers between the two will be very much a part of the creative process. For Danny, the closure of a mental health hospital is the starting point for his explorations. Whilst Sarah is working on a commission for a brand new mental health hospital for children and young people.
About the Work
Danny will be creating a studio environment that chronicles the journey of the closure of an inpatient mental health hospital. This exhibition invites viewers to witness the profound impact of institutional closure on the lives of patients, staff, and the broader community through a collection of photographs, artefacts, and personal narratives. He will conduct reflexive case studies and art exercises reflecting on the work that took place, the unfinished work, and its personal and wider impact.
Through photographs taken during the closure of the therapies and education building and the tender collection of materials left behind, his research seeks to illuminate the stories behind bureaucratic decisions, revealing the emotional complexities of loss, adaptation, and healing. This studio exploration is not just a documentation of closure; it is a testament to the strength of individuals navigating through times of uncertainty and change. This body of work aims to create a space for collective reflection, understanding, and solidarity by inviting others to share their stories. It calls attention to the systemic challenges facing mental health services and advocates for a more compassionate and resilient approach to mental health care.
For Endings & Beginnings, Sarah will be using Fourth Wall Folkestone to create work for the new Pears Maudsley Centre. This new hospital is aiming to change the story on mental health and help transform the lives of children and young people. This commission sees Sarah create a series of 3D artworks which will be integrated into the architecture of the new centre.
This project has involved facilitating creative research workshops across multiple locations including the Science Museum for children and young people. The project will culminate with the creation of 3D artworks (informed by the workshops) within 5 display units across 3 floors of the hospital. Sarah will be using this Open Studio time to play with materials and make these artworks.
For more information about the new Pears Maudsley Centre please visit: https://slam.nhs.uk/pearsmaudsleycentre
About the Artists
Danny Kitchener is an accredited Art Psychotherapist. He has professional experience in forensic, rehabilitation, and memory services. Currently he is working as a bereavement practitioner for the charity Chums. Danny has facilitated a variety of workshops for people with diverse mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs, both one-to-one and in groups of varying sizes. He is interested in exploring the intersection of art, art therapy, and museum spaces. In particular how these spaces can be used to address community mental health challenges. He has curated and exhibited works that explore these themes at the Coultard Gallery, the Beany Museum, and Fourth Wall Folkestone.
Sarah Lloyd is an artist researcher and social activist specialising in public engagement with a focus on mental health. She is also the founder of Fourth Wall Folkestone CIC. Sarah is passionate about learning through making, and how creative practice can be understood as a form of research. She believes in crossing the boundaries between academia and creative practice using cross-disciplinary ways of working.
Sarah is currently Theme Public Advisor for Co-Production within ARC KSS and a public advisor within healthcare. She advocates for co-production and public involvement in research.
She has worked with various organisations that are leaders in the field of mental health such as Bethlem Gallery, Shape Arts, Outside In, Artistic UK and Maudsley Charity. Over 100 pieces of her artwork can be found within the Wellcome Collection. She has had work published with the Psychologist, the British Medical Journal, and the Lancet Journal of Psychiatry for whom she was the cover artist in 2018.
Schedule
Endings & Beginnings will be open 12:00-16:00 on these days:
Sat 01 Jun – Danny
Sun 02 Jun – Danny
Fri 07 Jun – Danny & Sarah
Sat 08 Jun – Danny
Sun 09 Jun – Sarah
Fri 14 Jun – Danny & Sarah
Sat 15 Jun – Danny
Sun 16 Jun – Sarah
Fri 21 Jun – Danny & Sarah
Sat 22 Jun – Sarah
Sun 23 Jun – Danny
Fri 28 Jun – Danny & Sarah
Sat 29 Jun – Sarah
Sun 30 Jun – Danny
Please note, that the artists may be using the studio on other times / days of the week. The space will only be open to the public on the days listed above.