FISH 

Rye Bay, 2003–04

A commission by Coastal Currents for Stephen Turner to spent time with the fishing community of Rye, going to sea on the trawler My Jane, keddle netting with Jimper Sutton and researching the histories of fishing and boatbuilding that have shaped the town.

The resulting installation brought together photographs, paintings, found material and objects drawn from Rye's fishing culture as well as fish fossils. At its centre was a large stained-glass window, almost four metres wide, made from individual diamonds of glass leaded into a lattice by the artist. The glass was painted with his unique medium made from the heads, tails and innards of fish discarded on the dockside as the catch was prepared for sale.

The pattern echoes the diamond-paned windows found throughout Rye's buildings and churches evoking the form of fishing nets ,as a quiet reminder of how deeply the activity is woven into the identity of the town.

Three ghostly illuminated fish created using light and further fish remains were also shown as well as field notes and photo documentation. A further room in the exhibition was curated by Stephen Turner with releated paintings, drawings, sculpture and historical implements drawn from The Towner Art Gallery, Hastings Museum, Rye Castle Museum, Bexhill Museum and the collection of artist Terry Flower.