Between August 2023 and November 2024, Dana was as artist in residence with Pier Projects, working on Views from Convalescent Hill, a community-led research and creative project exploring the heritage of wellbeing, rest, and care in Felixstowe.

Through oral histories and research drawn from archives, objects and residents, Views from Convalescent Hill aims to uncover and share personal stories and memories of Felixstowe as a spa town and place for convalescence, whilst considering what ‘health’ means to people today.

After a research period at the Suffolk Archives in Ipswich and meetings with various stakeholders, Dana facilitated workshops with eight local creative collaborators. These participants, who had all witnessed changes in health services over decades and cared for parents, partners, children, and community members, found shared connections through these experiences. The workshops explored health in relation to convalescence, community, rest, the sea, mental wellbeing, and the NHS, while addressing topics like the stigma around rest and the impact of neoliberalism on collective wellbeing. One example Elaine Aston, a creative collaborator, mentioned was the Community Listening Service—a listening station once set up at Felixstowe Library. It provided a safe, supportive space where individuals could share their stories with trained volunteers. Like many other services, it no longer exists due to funding cuts.

ALL EARS: A Community Listening Station emerged as a direct response to these discussions, offering a restful space where anyone could be heard. This performative installation took place in public spaces, including Felixstowe Library, the former site of the listening service.

Envisioning the act of listening as a form of care, ALL EARS welcomed passers-by to talk about anything in a non-judgemental setting. The station was adorned with hand-written banners with messages about community-based health, and the playful dress worn by Dana was also presented in the Views From Convalescent Hill exhibition at the Felixstowe Museum. 

Works commissioned for Views from Convalescent Hill included a custom-made dress, a short publication, ALL EARS, a series of performative listening sessions for passers-by, and an ALL EARS poster.

The project was supported by:

Commissioner: Pier Projects Curator: Natalie Pace Producer: Laura Davison Partners: Felixstowe Museum, Felixstowe Library, Suffolk Archives, FOPWA ALL EARS concept inspiration: Elaine Aston Creative Collaborators: Cherrie Stevens, Deborah Martin-King, Elaine Aston, Janet Fink, Jill Adam, Lara Ding, Maggi Rutterford, Vicky Burling Photo credits: Sylwia Dylewska, Natalie Pace, Laura Davison, Dana Olărescu