William Blake Imagination Photo Booth

This project was inspired by the epic poetry of William Blake, whose seaside cottage still stands just to the east of Bognor Regis Butlins. The West Sussex seaside was the setting and inspiration for much of Blake’s work. In his famous poem 'Jerusalem' Blake wrote, "In Felpham I heard and saw the Visions of Albion". Blake had a high regard for the imagination, and the 'unseen' for him was far more important and real than what could be seen.

In honour of the great poet, with the sea and the night sky as a backdrop, the 'Imagination Photo Booth' was an interactive photo-portrait event. Members of the public had the opportunity to create their own photo-portraits using painting-with-light technique. Teams on the beach helped participants use lights and torches to draw anything they could imagine and then photographers finished the pictures by taking the participants’ photo. Hence the 'imagination photo booth'—for this experience was about taking photos of things that can be imagined or envisioned rather than what is there to be seen.

City to Sea hosted the William Blake Imagination Photo Booth, a participatory art project inspired by the epic poetry of William Blake on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, 2013,

Click here for images
Click here for Press Release
Click here for Portrait Exhibition

Credits:

Dan Clark
Set Design and Installation
07799 700285

Malc Garda & Bob Lock
Projections and AV
www.sound-impression.com

Fiona Mills
Photography
www.fionamillsart.com

Andrew Whyte
Photography
www.LongExposures.co.uk

A City to Sea event made possible by Butlins, Goldsmiths, University of London, Arun District Council and Bognor Pier Leisure Ltd.

The Big Blake Project
For more information about William Blake's association with the area and details about the William Blake Trail in Felpham and Bognor Regis visit www.thebigblakeproject.org.uk