Vernacular Spectacular

Club Shepway Vernacular Spectacular

Club Shepway is a collective of emerging artists and writers based in Folkestone, Kent, led by Laura Mansfield, Niamh Sullivan, and Matt Rowe. During the summer of 2008, as part of the first Folkestone Triennial, they hosted Vernacular Spectacular, a vibrant fringe event that transformed the historic Leas Lift into an experimental art space exploring themes of history, regeneration, and community.

Key Fringe Highlights

• Focus: The Leas Lift—a Victorian funicular railway—became the centerpiece of this project, reimagined as a venue for exhibitions, performances, and interactive events.

• Artists Involved:

• Will Gould & Emily Hill: Botanical sculptures inspired by Victorian greenhouses.

• Amy Feneck: Camera obscura installations reflecting on the constructed nature of the British coastline.

• Joanna Brown: Horizon-focused Polaroid photography performances.

• Kayle Brandon & Lady Lucy: Community drawing workshops through the Drawing Exchange.

• Kieren Reed & Abigail Hunt: 40 Second Time Machine, an audio installation exploring time and space.

• David Rule: Narrative text pieces reflecting transient lift journeys.

• Souvenir Magazine (Samuel Carney & James Newton): Silent short films and a custom-designed magazine.

• Andrew Moran: A mechanical-inspired film piece referencing Victorian seaside amusements.

• Aether Flyer: Sound installations celebrating the imagined roots of modern music.

• Gerry Kelly: Experimental soundscapes created from lift recordings.

• Simon Kennedy: Audio work inspired by the sound of a Victorian carousel.

• Cathy Lomax & Alex Michon: L’Etranger, an audio-visual exploration of outsider narratives.

• Steve Hines: Customer Service Level Up Grade, a satirical commentary on modern travel experiences.

The Leas Lift Publication

To document the event, Matt Rowe produced and edited a series of photographs, which, combined with written narratives, became The Leas Lift Publication. This booklet preserved the creativity and legacy of the project, serving as a testament to the lift’s transformation into a cultural landmark.

Impact

Vernacular Spectacular complemented the Folkestone Triennial by engaging local and visiting artists in critical discussions about identity, heritage, and regeneration. The event celebrated Folkestone’s Victorian roots while imagining its future, leaving an indelible mark on the town’s cultural revival.