Visitors passing by Boojum and Snark in Sandown may have noticed something unusual. One of the windows has been covered with corrugated paper, leaving only a small peephole for the curious.
Peering through reveals a new installation titled Windowless Hut by artist Teresa Grimaldi. The work forms part of the Arts Council England-supported Sandown Rocks project.
A story from local folklore
The installation draws inspiration from the so-called Sandown Clown sighting of the 1970s.
Teresa has based the piece on the accounts of the two children at the heart of the story, Fay and the boy known only as “Unknown Boy”.
Teresa says,
“Fay and the Unknown Boy have almost become a sideshow in the world of the Sandown Clown. But what if Sam is the one who is a sideshow in their world?”
The Sandown Clown tale
The Sandown Clown story comes from a 1973 account where two children reported meeting a tall, oddly dressed figure called “All Colours Sam” near Sandown. They described him as part clown, part alien, living in a hut with no windows.
Although the tale has since circulated worldwide in UFO and folklore communities, it has remained surprisingly little known on the Island itself.
Exploring the unexpected
The title Windowless Hut refers to the strange metallic hut described in the original account. The project seeks to bring this unusual piece of local folklore back into the public spotlight.
Tracy Mikich from Boojum & Snark added,
“From mythmaking, to clowning around, to utopian dreaming, Boojum&Snark is showing that revival is not found in conformity, but in breaking new ground.”
The installation follows Sandown Clown – The Evidence, an evening of community detective work at the SCHQ unit led by Detective Inspector T and Superintendent T (aka the Slow Ponies). It was a great night of Sandown Clown sleuthing and you can still see the Evidence Board of findings at Boojum & Snark.
Peep while you can
The installation will remain on display at Boojum & Snark until 10th September 2025.
After that, Windowless Hut will move on, only to reappear in a new setting elsewhere.
