‘Feel Our Voice’ By Kezia Cole
How to get there
- Section: 11 – Chilham to Canterbury
- Nearest postcode: CT4 8BA
- What 3 words: ///oval.rhino.inches
- Where to start? Chilham Village or Chartham
- What to expect: Picture postcard rural Kent. Orchards and farmhouses, Hop Bines and Oast Houses with views across the Stour Valley as you head towards Canterbury.
Full route: This sculpture is on section 11 of the North Downs Way from Chilham to Canterbury 7.2 miles (11.6km) for more details, visit the North Downs Way website.
In a hurry?
Chilham Station is 1.9 miles away and Selling station is 2 miles away.
Take your time…
Head to Canterbury and enjoy a historic, narrated boat tour of the city, explore the villages of Chartham and Chilham, cycle or walk along the Great Stour River on the Stour Valley Way.
Make a day of it
- Eat & drink: Badger’s Hill Farm & Cidery, The White horse in Chilham, The Local or Artichoke in Chartham serve fabulous food and drink,
- Explore: The wealth of woodland including Blean Woods National Nature Reserve, Perry Wood take the trail to the Pulpitt for the best views and go deeper into the ancient Forest of King’s Wood.
- Travelling with Mini-Explorers? Search out some leaves in the woods and try leaf printing, a simple splatter of paint and you can turn a leaf into a beautiful piece of art.
The story behind the sculpture
Starting from the artist’s own short pilgrimage to the site, exploring the walk through psychogeographical techniques to map the sensory journey, Kezia also explored how visitors experience rest and contemplation. Creating a bench made from laser-cut/CNC router-cut slices of wood from recycled apple crates from local Rickard’s farm, that formed the “ribs” of the work, which were slid onto a spine to hold the sectioned pieces together.
The parametric design enables light to filter through the piece and creates a visual ripple as the visitor walks past ensuring the work sits within and gently interacts with the view itself, the contours of the bench mirror words spoken by local people, words that they would say to someone sitting on the bench whilst looking at the panoramic view of farmland, orchards, Farmhouses & Oast Houses, fruit crops, hop bines and the Stour Valley.
About the artist
Kezia’s work is based in participatory practice with communities to co-create live audience experiences. She is currently exploring how the ephemeral experiences shared within participatory work can be translated, transmuted and transformed into solid and lasting forms. Her practice is playful, collaborative and responsive to the needs of the groups she develops work with.
Nearby experiences
Other points of interest
- Chilham Castle
- No Man’s Orchard
- Bigbury Fort
