Two Jersey artists will be based in the markets for three months to create a new public artwork inspired by childhood memories of throwing a coin in the fountain and making a wish.
Esther Rose Parkes and Karen Le Roy Harris have been selected for the market residency, and have aptly renamed it the 'Fish Wish Residency.'
They will have exclusive use of a large space in the Beresford Street Fish Market for 12 weeks.
The temporary studio will be open to the public for people to watch the pair at work on their installation.
Their vision is to create a piece of public art for the Central Market that brings together stories of the historic landmark through sculpture, sound and input from the community.
They will gather anecdotes from the market’s diverse community - fishermen, florists, restaurateurs, farmers and visitors - which will shape a collaborative choir performance and soundscape, as well as inform the visual elements of the installation.
The final piece will be a centrepiece of ropes 'knitted with community wishes' suspended above the fountain.
Esther and Karen told us: "We’re really excited to take up this residency at the Fish Market, a place that holds so many memories and stories for the island.
"We both have fond childhood memories of making wishes at the market's central fountain and we can’t wait to bring it to life in new ways through our project.
Esther said: "We are going to be collecting people's wishes and people's stories, they are going to be woven into this final installation."
Islanders can expect to see the artists working and transforming the space in the Fish Market using furniture kindly donated by the charity CRY Jersey.
From Friday 24 January people can pop in and say hello, with the artists being there on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays thereafter. Workshops and activities will be announced in the coming weeks
The residency is ArtHouse Jersey, in partnership with Creative Island Partnership and Jersey Markets.
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