A series of public events involving local foods, their source, preparation and consumption, leading to a recipe book produced in collaboration with the situated knowledge of South Essex people.

Through public, cooking and eating workshops in Leigh-on-Sea, public will explore environmental change. Alongside these tastings, citizen science workshops will investigate the traces of waste disposal on the 'unnatural' nature research of Two Tree Island in Leigh-on-Sea.

The project is led by local Southend artists Fran Gallardo, YoHa and Andy Freeman with environmental chemist and food scientist Mark Scrimshaw.

The citizen science workshops will involve using digital and mobile technologies to investigate the legacy of generations of industrial use (and misuse) in the estuary landscape.

Public Events & Workshops:

Open Jamming at Leigh-on-Sea Maritime Festival. Come one, come all!

Date: Sunday 2nd August 2015, 10am to 5pm

Location: Victoria Wharf, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend

Booking: No booking required

Join local artists Fran Gallardo and YoHa at Leigh-on-Sea's annual Maritime Festival. You will find then somewhere among the sea shanties and Maldon oysters. Bring berries and edible flowers samples from your garden, park or elsewhere to create an 'Open Jamming' (please bring the postcode as well). PS: We would love to hear about your recipes using local ingredients

Fluids and Mud Science (citizen science workshop 1)

Date: Saturday 15 August, 10am to 5pm

Meeting Point: Fishermans Chapel, New Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend, SS9

Booking: please email admin@artscatalyst.org (please note these workshops are specifically for people local to Essex)
Investigate Two Tree Island in this day workshop led by Andy Freeman with Two Tree scientific expert Dr Mark Scrimshaw (Reader in Environmental Chemisty at Brunel University) to explore the use of scientific testing outdoors. Participants will learn about and make observations of a range of gases and contaminants found in the air and water in the Thames estuary using testing kits.

Wildlife and Not So Wild Life (citizen science workshop 2)

Date: Saturday 22 August, 10am to 5pm

Meeting Point: Fishermans Chapel, New Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend, SS9
Booking: please email admin@artscatalyst.org (please note these workshops are specifically for people local to Essex)
Andy Freeman and Mark Scrimshaw with local reserves manager Marc Outen (Essex Wild life Trust) lead this workshop, which will bring together wild life spotting, digital technologies and scientific testing of the elements. 

Public Tasting: Explore your Tongue
Date: Sunday 30 August 2015 (time to be confirmed depending on the tide)
Location: Belton Way Beach, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend

Fran Gallardo will lead an open air cooking experiment for using local ingredients (menu released on the day). Fran will present intriguing recipes that represent and re-imagine webs of connections between gastronomy and ecology within many environments: from human microbiomes, eels, fungi, geese, ships, landfills and human-made islands. 

Leigh Regatta: Chachacha with Local Ingredients

Date: Sunday 20th September 2015, 10am to 5pm

Location: Leigh-on-Sea (exact location announced soon)

Before Autumn sets in, Fran Gallardo will present one more chance for a tongue first exploration. Come and join us for a sensory undressing of the estuary! 

Artists Residency: Tongue First Research Centre

Date: January 2016 (exact dates announced soon)

Location: The Arts Catalyst, 74-76 Cromer Street, London WC1H 8DR

Fran Gallardo will lead a week long residency at the Arts Catalyst's Centre for Art, Science and Technology. Further details announced in September.

August - January