‘February 5th 2004’ is a ceramic installation that commemorates the deaths of 23 cockle pickers in the sands of Morecambe Bay.

The piece is made up of 23 ceramic forms each constructed from red earthenware clay moulded on to individual plaster casts taken from the ripples and depressions in the sands of Morecambe Bay.

On the side of each form is screenprinted the name (in English) of one of the cocklers lost on that night, the same name in Chinese, written by Chun-Chao Chiu, a Taiwanese artist and calligrapher, and a quotation from the newspaper reports

of the tragedy. Some of the forms have sections of the newspaper reports printed onto the moulded area of the clay.

I envisage that the forms will be displayed amongst sand and cockleshells stretching out in a line reminiscent of stepping stones. It will be accompanied by an audio recording of sounds from the Bay at night and displayed in a low light.

The work is intended as a metaphorical pathway to the families and communities in China that lost people in the tragedy.

It expresses the way that we, the communities of Morecambe Bay, are linked to them by the events of this night. It is about the universal urge to be adventurous, to improve life and to provide for a family that leads men and women to travel so far a field in search of work and prosperity, and it is about those who misled them and imperilled their lives.

Finally it is about the overpowering forces of nature that to some degree still rule our lives despite the sophistication of modern society.

I was brought up in Morecambe with family roots

that go far back into the history of the town and the fishing industry.
The Bay has always been important and meaningful to me, from early childhood memories of jumping on the sand till it turned to jelly and warnings not to roam too far out, to the incomparable beauty of the sands and sky in fine (or foul) weather.

I have lived all my life within a few miles of the Bay apart from two years spent teaching in Thailand during the time of the Vietnam war. The connection between the Far East and my home environment makes the Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy of great significance to me.

NEWS:

The installation happened over the weekend of September 29th and 30th as part of the FRED event. For details follow this link

A film is currently being made by Alex McErlain and Stephen Yates from Manchester Metropolitan University about the February 5th project. More details to follow.

The piece was shortlisted for the Coast exhibition. A selected exhibition of work from UK artists, in all media, on the theme of 'Coast'. A chance to look at the many different interpretations inspired by that narrow border of land next to the sea.
Rhyl Library, Museum And Arts Centre -Saturday 9th June - Saturday 14th July

for comments and further information click here to contact Victoria Eden