The arrival of the prestigious Turner Prize in Eastbourne attracted worldwide attention and drew thousands of visitors to see the work of four artists at the Towner gallery.
But beyond the whirl of activity and the televised prize ceremony, there have been projects involving the people of Eastbourne running quietly in the background.
One of these involves pockets of calm in the shape of meditation pods in libraries.
These safe, cocoon-like spaces, with bean bags to relax on and headphones connected to calming sounds, appeared in Eastbourne and Hastings libraries as a sanctuary from everyday life.
The pods were devised by young people working with Eastbourne-based artist Sophie Wright, pictured top in Hastings library, as part of the wider ‘Eastbourne Alive’ project linked to the Turner.
The project is aimed at involving residents in workshops and public art across the town.
Sophie said: “Being part of Eastbourne Alive has been wonderful – working with the others has been like a virtual hug.
“It has been absolutely wonderful to have the Turner in our town. Eastbourne Alive has connected so many people in the local economy.
“The best thing for me was seeing these pods created from young people’s ideas and then the community interacting with them.”
The meditation pod workshops Sophie, above, ran at Leaf Hall Community Centre, Seaside, Eastbourne, involved 16 to 24-year-old young people dealing with mental health issues who designed the pods.
They came up with the soundscapes and chose the pod materials, which are all compostable.
The themes were taken from East Sussex County Council’s ‘Make Your Mark’ youth cabinet initiative.
The Crystal Cave, which was at Eastbourne library earlier this year, was linked to jobs and opportunities and the Brain Cave, which has just finished at Hastings library, was linked to education and learning.
The final pod – the Hollow Tree – relates to the environment and will be installed at a location in the area yet to be announced.
Sophie, 30, who lives in Upperton, Eastbourne, said more than 1,000 people visited the Crystal Cave in Eastbourne library.
It was particularly popular with people who wanted to avoid over-stimulation and those on the autistic spectrum.
Sophie weaves meditation practice into art and used this approach in the workshops.
“It’s about creating mindful work that helps people grow and develop, find strategies to cope and build resilience”
sophie wright
She said: “It was a collaborative process and really lovely – it was relaxed, with people dropping in. They were a little unsure at first but then they got into it.
“They loved that there was meaning behind it and they had a reason to come every week. You could see they were proud of making something and helping others too – it made them feel a valued part of society. One young person has gone back into full-time work and another is going to university.
“This is due to their interaction with the community and the help it gave their confidence. I have loved it – it has been really worthwhile and I have grown as an artist so much.”
All the materials used in the pods are recycled offcuts or plant matter. For example, lime hemp plaster was used over hay to create the effect of a brain.
In a link to the Turner Prize, Sophie also used plywood which had been used in welding the pipes in Ghislaine Leung’s entry, an installation on the ground floor of the Towner gallery, pictured above.
Sophie started meditating when she was only 13. A doctor told her that to combat the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) she suffered from, she should do two things every day: eat a square of dark chocolate and meditate.
The meditation helped her find ways to manage the condition. She said: “It feels like weights are on your arms and legs. It was about finding another way to build resilience.”
The CFS cleared up when she moved to Cornwall to study for a degree in Fine Arts in Falmouth. She had previously studied at art college in Eastbourne.
Sophie reflected on the process of creating the pods: “I think with the Arts, people often question why you should spend money on them.
“But it’s about creating mindful work that helps people grow and develop, find strategies to cope and build resilience.
“It’s been lovely to create large sculptures which are used where people go and are not just created to put in art galleries.”
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What an amazing project that not just connects communities but creates a space of calm and contemplation. Is the installation on display in Eastbourne in May?