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Time travel at the seaside

The Oyster Smack, owned by Geoff Gransden
The Oyster Smack, owned by Geoff Gransden

The stories of today will be preserved for generations to come at the Time Travel Tourist Information Centre.

It is a new exhibition led by artist Alexis K Johnson and her group AKarts, who are taking visitors on an adventure through Swalecliffe’s Neolithic age, Whitstable’s Oyster fishing and diving era and into the seaside of 1950s and 1960s Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Yet the focus of the installation at Whitstable’s Horsebridge Arts Centre will be the stories of people in the area today.

Graham and Derrick West from West Wheks, Whitstable
Graham and Derrick West from West Wheks, Whitstable

“Memories of today will be the history of tomorrow,” said Alexis. “Where we come from, what we do, think and experience is fascinating and, if shared, will become our legacy to future generations.”

Stories will be exhibited on a memory wall, which will grow and spread throughout the centre.

Memories come in the shape of family photos, objects, pieces of creative writing and video interviews with characters from the community, from local fisherman to barge owners.

Milla Morgan, three, gets help from her mother to make an I Love Whitstable postcard for the exhibition
Milla Morgan, three, gets help from her mother to make an I Love Whitstable postcard for the exhibition

The exhibition also features a recreation of Whistable harbour and a 1950s seaside scene with a Punch and Judy show.

AKarts is an arts organisation which gets the public to take part in creative experiences. Led by Alexis and filmmaker James Johnson their most notable works so far are Passport 2 Pimlico at the Tate Britain and Blue Train at the V&A Museum.

This exhibition runs from Saturday, January 12 to Sunday, January 27. Admission free. Call 01227 281174.

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