It’s No Ordinary Town

It’s No Ordinary Town highlights a 12-month programme of work at Boojum&Snark, supported by Arts Council England. Pushing boundaries and shifting perceptions, the programme featured a range of projects from creating modern myths and reviving folklore to utopian dreaming. The year-long activity included artist residencies, the development of partnerships, and extensive public workshops designed to encourage creative writing and alternative printmaking techniques.

The programme started with CHUFFLE – a Tiger Tale , which created a new story about how Sandown Bay got her stripes. The story, which explores themes of loss and acceptance, was researched and written by Tracy Mikich in partnership with Anmarie Bowler, founder of Brevity, the Isle of Wight’s literary handbill, and poet Maggie Sawkins. It was illustrated by Teresa Grimaldi and printed by Tommy Brentnall. The story addresses complex subject matters, motivated by the idea of introducing loss and bereavement to children in a sensitive way to help them navigate the feelings that come with it. Chuffle was accompanied by an exhibition of artworks by unaccompanied children seeking asylum, a Brussels-based project, as well as thought-provoking images by award-winning photojournalist Giles Clarke.

Chuffle also gave the community opportunities for creative writing. Led by Anmarie Bowler of Brevity, a series of flash fiction workshops nurtured a new generation of myth-makers. Participants created their own stories, some of which will be performed at the Isle of Wight Literary Festival 2025.

The next artist residency took us into the high-strange world of folklore. The Sandown Clown, also known as All Colours Sam, is a spectacularly detailed and bizarre encounter that two children had in 1973 near the Sandown golf course. It was investigated by the British UFO Journal and featured in their 1978 issue. Since then, it has gained a following around the world; most recently, comedian Daisy May Cooper featured it in her book Hexy Witch and during a podcast with Adam Buxton but it remains relatively unknown in its hometown. To bring this UFO-folklore to life, artist Teresa Grimaldi co-created a giant puppet with the community that took part in the Sandown Carnival, parading with a curious assortment of characters from the sighting, including Fay, Unknown Boy, Workman 1 & 2, and Mr Y. Teresa also created a wonderfully strange installation called ‘Windowless Hut’ that could only be seen from a peephole at Boojum&Snark.

Sandown Survival , an artist residency with Tommy Brentnall, was the final instalment of the project. Inspired by Darwin’s On the Origin of Species , which he began whilst staying in Sandown, Tommy’s residency was all about imagining what Sandown could evolve into. Through workshops, open days, and drop-in sessions, Tommy gained many ideas and a sense of what people hoped and wished for. Participants produced vivid posters and news about everything from a jellyfish council to human banishment to the abandoned cargo ships permanently docked in the Bay. For Survival, Tommy also created a series of stunning pastel drawings that envision a future Sandown Hive community, working and living together in a state of blue-mind harmony.

As part of the project, Tommy and Anmarie Bowler also created the Sandown Tarot, a placemaking divination tool. This unique tarot deck features 24 cards with illustrations by Tommy and stories by Anmarie on the back.

Ultimately, It’s No Ordinary Town is a testament to what happens when we shift our perspective from what is lost to what can be created. Through myth-making, folklore, and collaborative dreaming, this exhibition demonstrates that Sandown’s revival is not just a hope for the future but a creative conversation happening right now, driven by its vibrant and resilient community.

About Boojum&Snark

Boojum&Snark is a creative arts space in Sandown, Isle of Wight, at the forefront of place-based cultural projects. Since its founding in 2019, it has provided a venue for community-led initiatives, innovative programmes, and cultural events. Dedicated to nurturing creativity and developing talent, the organisation focuses on collaborative work that shifts perceptions and contributes to the town’s conversations. So far, we’ve partnered with over 30 creative practitioners and offered opportunities to hundreds of people of all ages.

📷 https://www.quayarts.org/

📅 8–29 November 2025

📍 Clayden Gallery, Quay Arts, 15 Sea Street, Newport, IOW, PO30 5BD