#TimeForTrees

“Throwing new light on familiar waters”

Dale Berning Sawa for Photomonitor

Worthing was once a thriving tourism resort. Now it conveys a sense of nostalgia and renewal.

The 6 trees on West Parade were shot on various lenses each month for a year (July 2017 - June 2018).

Taking these images was my meditation, my fix, my monthly puzzle. A Wabi Sabi of Photography.

A Live Arts Project captured in vain. The act of taking the images became more important than the result. The apparatus becomes secondary, the ‘mise en scène’ takes centre stage. #PostPhotography 

First shown at Holborn library as part of Morley College tutors “Questions of Worth” exhibition, the work was invited to “Seaside: Photographed” a group show curated by Val Williams & Karen Shepherdson at Turner Contemporary, Margate 25 May - 8 Sept. 2019. The palms also feature as chapter cover in the book published by Thames & Hudson.

Extracts of the work were selected and exhibited at Artists Atlantica, Fotonoviembre 2019, Tenerife | Spain.

The work is touring to the John Hansard Gallery, Southampton where a playlist was also put together by Turner Sims Concert Hall Manager Kevin Appleby:  https://www.turnersims.co.uk/news/seaside-photographed-a-musical-response/ and it’s showing at Newlyn Art Gallery Cornwall from Feb - June 2021.

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All images © Julia Horbaschk - strictly no re-use without permission. Please contact me for enquiries.

Worthing Palms June 2018. NE 8. Scattered clouds. 73%, 17°C, feels like 17°C.



Worthing Palms May 2018. No data. 

Worthing Palms April 2018. WNW 11. Passing Clouds. 85%. 8° feels like 5°

Worthing Palms March 2018. ESE 2. Good. Chance of rain 14%. 8°

Since carrying out the work I was awarded the Woodland Trust “Urban Trees” pack and specific trees have been planted across the town. Over the next years, community engagement will continue to bring life to the project, fostering well-being through art and tress.  The aim of the project is to create a long term body of work encompassing routine, mindfulness, community and play. 

Associated publications and reviews:

https://www.artrabbit.com/events/time-for-trees

https://fadmagazine.com/2019/05/21/seaside-photographed

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17514517.2019.1584442

https://fotonoviembre.org/mitos-del-futuro-proximo/atlantica-colectivas

https://www.1843magazine.com/culture/look-closer/the-masochistic-appeal-of-the-british-seaside

https://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/worthing-community-trees-planted-legacy-treasured-oak-campaign-1324830

October 2020: The Palms were ripped out by Worthing Councils Parks Department in October 2020 and new small trees of the same species replanted after a public outcry.

Follow the news here #WorthingPalms: https://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/people/worthing-trees-update-council-does-u-turn-and-agrees-replace-palms-3008686