Kinetika: Dartford

Building on 2017’s Silk River legacy, which connected communities along the lower Thames Estuary, Kinetika, led by lead artist Ali Pretty, continued to work with Silk River artists from five communities – Barking & Dagenham, Dartford, Purfleet, Gravesham and Southend – to create five silk batik banners, one for each community. The artists drew up a longlist of inspirational local women, past, present and future, either working in their communities or in the public eye across a range of professions. The public were invited to vote on social media to select the women who would be represented on the final banners.

The inspirational women who appear on the five banners encompass a huge range of experiences, occupations, backgrounds and talents, ranging from a nineteenth century physical-education-for-women champion to a 16-year-old Youth Mayor.

Kinetika is a women-led company specialising in high quality community projects. Through a variety of workshops and programmes Kinetika aims to nurture new artistic talent and engage communities, raising aspirations and building a sense of place.

Dartford:

This banner features the following inspirational women:

Mme Osterberg was a pioneering founder for women's physical education at Dartford College and introduced netball to the UK. Images of the game were used alongside her portrait to represent her spirit and her revolutionary approach to the establishment.

Cllr Patsy Thurlow holds the Arts Portfolio for Dartford Cabinet and one of her personal achievements over the last 20 years includes her work with young people. This banner includes a portrait of her and a marquee to illustrate the annual Dartford festival and Skate Park, with skate-boarders.

The 'What if...? Gallery' in Dartford highlighted the work of Anne Graves and Ruth Howard, who have volunteered for 13 years to present community art workshops.

“It was an empowering process, to bring so many local women artists together, and collectively discover the powerful line of Estuary women we come from, and simultaneously to look towards the younger generation who are making the most of the opportunities living and working along The Thames Creative Corridor offers to them.”
Kinetika’s Creative Director, Ali Pretty.

Kinetika is a women-led company specialising in high quality community projects. Through a variety of workshops and programmes Kinetika aims to nurture new artistic talent and engage communities, raising aspirations and building a sense of place.