Bodies of Water – Swim Wild, Write Free (Part 1) – at Conham River Park

An artist residency and collaborative exhibition space with events and workshops hosted by Fra Beecher

Join Fra Beecher for an afternoon of writing in response to the river, with an invitation to swim too!

Writing prompts and exercises will be shared, but will not be mandatory. There will also be an invitation to share what you create during the workshop. You are also invited to perform during part 2 of the workshop, on 14th August, and/or display your writing in the exhibition at The Launderette.

Fra will wait at Conham River Park, with a blanket and a sign. After introductions and a few warm up exercises we will then set off for a walk along the river footpath, to the ferry crossing steps (opposite to Beeses).

Writing materials will be available, but please feel free to bring you own.

Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, with a minimum charge of £3.

headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/conham-river-park/sat-9-aug-swim-wild-write-free-part-1–135063#e135063

Fra Beecher is an artist and life model, and co-founder of United Models Life Drawing CIC. Her creative practice is informed by her modelling work and the weekly life drawing sessions she facilitates in Bristol. Through her projects, including Body of Work (2018-2020), Fra challenges the misconception that female life models are passive objects.

As a longstanding wild swimmer, Fra has begun to explore the physical, emotional and psychological experience of swimming in the River Avon through photography, writing, drawing and sculpture.

This residency and exhibition is an opportunity to experiment, and reflect, making new work and collaborating with artists, writers and fellow swimmers. Through a series of creative workshops, attendees will have the opportunity to share their own personal connections to bodies of water, which will become part of the works on display.

Entry requirements: no age restrictions (under 18s to be accompanied by an adult over 21yrs, 1:1 ratio)

Events schedule:

• Wednesday 6^th August – Life Drawing – 7-9pm
• Thursday 7^th August – Opening Night – 6-9pm
• Saturday 9^th August – Swim Wild, Write Free (Part 1) – Conham River Park – 2-4pm
• Sunday 10^th August – Creative Collage – 2-4pm
• Tuesday 12^th August – Life Drawing – 7-9pm
• Thursday 14^th August Swim Wild, Write Free (Part 2) – 7-9pm
• Friday 15^th August Evening Closing Event – 6-9pm
• Saturday 16^th August Daytime Closing Event – 12-6pm