The Fish Wish Market Residency
ESTHER ROSE PARKES & KAREN LE ROY HARRIS TO BEGIN COMMUNITY PROJECT THAT WILL CULMINATE IN A NEW PUBLIC ARTWORK FOR THE CENTRAL MARKET
Left, Esther Rose Parkes, right, Karen Le Roy Harris.
ArtHouse Jersey, in partnership with Creative Island Partnership and Jersey Markets, are delighted to announce the artists who have been selected to take up a new residency following an Islandwide call-out at the end of last year. Artists Esther Rose Parkes and Karen Le Roy Harris were successful in applying to the Jersey Markets Residency, which will culminate in the creation and installation of a new unique public artwork for the Central Market. The opportunity includes exclusive use of a large unit in the Beresford Street Fish Market for a period of 12 weeks, with the temporary studio opening over a number of days across the week for the public to view the artistic process of making of the installation artwork take place.
THE VISION
Artists Esther Rose Parkes and Karen Le Roy Harris’ vision is to create a transformative installation for the Central Market that weaves together the past, present and future of the market through installation, sculpture, sound and community participation. At the heart of the process is the gathering of stories from the market’s diverse community; fishermen, florists, restaurateurs, farmers and visitors. These stories will shape a collaborative choir performance and soundscape, as well as inform the visual elements of the installation.
The final physical installation will be a layered, participatory artwork. Ropes knotted with community wishes will form a striking sculptural centerpiece around the fountain. Suspended above will be the origami fish, representing both the dreams of the community and the wishes of the sea creatures, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the natural world. The soundscape of collected stories will resonate within the space, creating an immersive experience of memory, connection, and aspiration.
The production of these works and the collation of stories and materials will take place over a number of engagement phases outlined over at arthousejersey.je and themovingartscollective.com over the coming weeks, and will offer plenty of opportunities for the community to contribute and collaborate with the artists on this piece.
People can now expect to see the artists working and transforming the space in the Fish Market, using furniture kindly donated by the charity CRY Jersey. From next Friday 24 January people can pop in and say hello, with the artists being there on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays thereafter. Workshops and activities will be announced in the coming weeks.
Artists Esther Rose Parkes and Karen le Roy Harris, said, “We’re really excited to take up this residency at the Fish Market, a place that holds so many memories and stories for the Island. We both have fond childhood memories of making wishes at the market's central fountain and we can’t wait to bring it to life in new ways through our project. Our project, Fish Wish, brings together the Fish Market and the Central Market, inviting the community to reimagine the fountain as a living, breathing centerpiece for shared hopes and collective creativity.
We’re especially looking forward to meeting the people who make the market such a special place—gathering their stories, weaving their wishes, and transforming their voices into a collaborative artwork. Together, we hope to create something that celebrates the market’s rich heritage while weaving in the voices, dreams, and hopes of the community today. There will be drop-in times with tea and coffee, as well as workshops, and we look forward to hearing your stories and creating something special together."
