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The artist combing beaches after the winter storms Somerset: The artist combing beaches after storms
(17 days later)
The artist's studio is filled with catalogued driftwood he has found.The artist's studio is filled with catalogued driftwood he has found.
It's Friday and most people in the UK and Ireland are battening down the hatches and hoping to stay safe from Storm Éowyn.It's Friday and most people in the UK and Ireland are battening down the hatches and hoping to stay safe from Storm Éowyn.
But one artist from West Coker, Somerset, where the storm is far from its strongest, is waiting by the window for the moment it is safe to go out again.But one artist from West Coker, Somerset, where the storm is far from its strongest, is waiting by the window for the moment it is safe to go out again.
Care worker Dan Wakeman makes driftwood sculptures and the storms provide him with his biggest opportunity, to beach comb for fresh materials.Care worker Dan Wakeman makes driftwood sculptures and the storms provide him with his biggest opportunity, to beach comb for fresh materials.
"I collect whatever nature brings in on the tide - wood, scrap metal, and I'll collect and dispose of rubbish, too," he said."I collect whatever nature brings in on the tide - wood, scrap metal, and I'll collect and dispose of rubbish, too," he said.
Dan Wakeman's work helps him with his own mental healthDan Wakeman's work helps him with his own mental health
Straight after a storm, he rushes to the Dorset or North Somerset coast to see what he can find.Straight after a storm, he rushes to the Dorset or North Somerset coast to see what he can find.
"A bigger storm will bring you more material than high winds and bring it from further away," he said."A bigger storm will bring you more material than high winds and bring it from further away," he said.
"In the bigger storms some of the wood that comes in will have been floating on the surface of the ocean for many years."In the bigger storms some of the wood that comes in will have been floating on the surface of the ocean for many years.
"I look at it when I get home and see how it talks to me - it brings a lot of joy.""I look at it when I get home and see how it talks to me - it brings a lot of joy."
Dan Wakeman often goes to the Dorset coast after a stormDan Wakeman often goes to the Dorset coast after a storm
There is also a therapeutic element to Dan's beach-combing.There is also a therapeutic element to Dan's beach-combing.
Getting out into nature, thinking about the raw material of the wood and how it could feature in his artwork helped him recover after losing his father.Getting out into nature, thinking about the raw material of the wood and how it could feature in his artwork helped him recover after losing his father.
"I'm enjoying the walk and I'm enjoying what I'm finding, and I get an energy buzz from that and feeling connected to the materials," he said."I'm enjoying the walk and I'm enjoying what I'm finding, and I get an energy buzz from that and feeling connected to the materials," he said.
Dan started cataloguing the wood he finds and sorting it for later use, so there is provenance to each piece, to make the work more meaningful to him.Dan started cataloguing the wood he finds and sorting it for later use, so there is provenance to each piece, to make the work more meaningful to him.
He has named it Project Driftwood.He has named it Project Driftwood.
"I might find a piece then not use it for up to a year, but when I pick the piece of wood up again I remember that thought and feeling."I might find a piece then not use it for up to a year, but when I pick the piece of wood up again I remember that thought and feeling.
"That's important""That's important"
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