fæthm: explorations in co-curation with the River Dôn 13-16 March 2025

fæthm: explorations in co-curation with the River Dôn

Upper Gallery at Kelham Island Museum and The River Dôn 

Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th March 2025

Free entry

Opening times

Thurs: 10-4

Fri: 10-4

Sat: 10-4

Sun: 11-4

Our entanglement with the more-than-human deepens as we iteratively explore co-curation with the River Dôn. In a partnership between Sheffield Hallam University and The River Dôn Project, Amy Carter Gordon presents a series of premieres from artist-researchers and partners to exhibit a data-driven public art installation in the river, a slow radio experience, experimental images, visual essaying, a live water quality lab and an interactive interface. Together, through exchanges in knowledge, research and innovation we fæthm the unquantifiable depths of the Dôn with the rights of nature as our praxis.

 

fæthm: (Old English) ‘something which embraces’, ‘outstretched arms’. A unit of length to measure the depth of water. To understand after much thought. 

 

Artist-researchers: Prof. David Cotterrell, Joanne Lee, Joanna Rucklidge, Dr. Rose Butler 

Contributors: Wild Medicine podcast, Civicast (National Civic Impact Accelerator), Opus Independents, Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield City Kayak Club 

Curator and producer: Amy Carter Gordon 

Creative producer: Lauren McConnell

 

Visitor information, including how to get to Kelham Island Museum and accessibility information can be found here.

We want our events to be as inclusive as possible. If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact us.

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Artworks:

Wherever the river may take us / wherever it wants us to go 

By Joanne Lee

 

A work developed through the repeated visual and temporal essaying of the River Dôn and its tributaries, which considers slow cyclical processes and sudden periods of transition.

 

Artist talks: Saturday at 11:30am / Sunday at 3:30pm

 

 

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Drink It In

By Joanna Rucklidge

 

A series of experimental images inspired by visiting a short stretch of the River Dôn. The prints and drawings represent the juxtaposition of indiscernible riverfly larvae within the water and the abundant littered plastic on the riverbank.

 

Artist talks: Saturday at 10:30am / Sunday at 2:30pm

 

 

 

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BIDE

By Prof. David Cotterrell

 

 

Witness the slow melodrama of a boat in distress at the Kelham Island weir. BIDE, based on the traditional Yorkshire Coble, is a public artwork presented as a boat – a delicate indicator of abstracted vulnerability.

 

Artist talks: Saturday at 1:30pm / Sunday at 12:30pm

 

 

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Ground Truths

By Dr. Rose Butler & Rob Gawthrop

 

A series of large-scale photographs alongside 16mm experimental film capture traces of silt, fig leaves, hemlock, and remnants of a NYE rave along the river’s edge, while phenols from the fig leaves create images of themselves.

16mm film works are made in collaboration with Rob Gawthrop with camera and sound support from Dominic Green and Tommy Spence Arnold.

 

Artist talks: Saturday at 12:30pm / Sunday at 1:30pm

 

 

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Activities:

Water Quality Live Lab

Workshop facilitators: Assoc Prof. Melissa Lacey & Ruth Franklin, Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre

Dates: Friday 14 (PM), Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 March

 

 

Experience hands-on water quality research and learn about the state of our rivers. Explore microbiology and chemistry by testing water from all five of Sheffield’s rivers to tackle river pollution challenges.

 

 

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River Dôn Project – Engagement Platform

Facilitated by Opus Independents

The Engagement Platform is an interactive, digital interface, designed to help us better understand our relationship with nature. The beginning of our journey into surfacing, visualising and sensing the interwoven and interdependent ecosystems that make up the water catchments we are all a part of. 

Talks: Saturday at 2:30pm / Sunday at 11:30am

 

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Wild Medicine x Civicast River Dôn special edition podcast

Creators: Sophie Toes and AliMakavelli in partnership with the National Civic Impact Accelerator and The River Dôn Project, featuring Sheffield Hallam artist-researchers and guests.

 

Wild Medicine ‘slow radio’ podcast is a sonically-soothing ambient experience to encourage a sense of connectedness to the River Dôn through spoken word, field recordings and organic textures for mental wellbeing.

Listen here

 

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