16th May 2018 Dreamland Margate today announces the third of its artist commissions for the Mural-by-the-Sea project at the amusement park.
‘Save Yourselves’, an image constructed at the original mouth of Margate’s ‘lost pier’ by Emma Gibson of Open School East in Margate in collaboration with photographer Rollo Hollins, will go on display to the public from Saturday 26th May until Sunday 15th July.
The artwork captures a site that was originally the beginning of the vast 1,100-foot wooden jetty that brought Margate huge prosperity over 100 years – launching SS steam ship cruises, housing an octagonal pier-head and pavilion, as well as a lifeboat station.
Gibson’s artwork will feature a horseshoe lifebuoy that reads ‘Save Yourselves’, serving as a metaphor for the fair-weather favour of seaside towns. 40 years ago, the pier was severely damaged during a storm, eventually grew old and was dismantled. Locals salvaged the wood and pieces of the jetty still exist all over Margate.
Emma Gibson, Artist at Open School East said: “The piece is reflective of seaside townsfolk and life. Time and time again we save ourselves through reinvention, resilience and the ever-turning tides of favour. On a personal note the message is about survival, but the ring’s horseshoe shape also symbolises hope and acknowledges more widely that we also save each other – not to mention those who save lives at sea. I’m honoured to have my artwork on display in such an iconic but also historically relevant site in terms of reinvention as Dreamland. I look forward to sharing this important story about Margate with the park’s visitors and the local community, mapping out a life before our time.”
Rebecca Ellis, Senior Creative Producer at Dreamland Margate said: “Mural-by-the-Sea has been a fantastic success so far; not only for Dreamland but for artists from local studios and soon to be, nationally. We always strive to give people new and exciting reasons to visit Dreamland and providing artists with commission opportunities continues to support this.
“The artwork that follows ‘Save Yourselves’ will be the first one to come to Dreamland outside of Margate, as we will work with Spike Island in Bristol. This will be followed by an exciting nationwide open call for the final artwork. Anyone can enter an idea to potentially have their work displayed at Dreamland, it’s a hugely exciting project for all involved!”
‘Save Yourselves’ by Emma Gibson will be available to view during Dreamland’s opening dates and hours between 25th May to 16th July. It is included with park entry.
