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My Heart Belongs to Hastings

Date uploaded: September 17, 2012

My Heart Belongs to Hastings

Strange Cargo's new public artwork - My Heart Belongs to Hastings - will be unveiled at 12noon on Sunday 23rd September 2012 on the promenade opposite Warrior Square at St. Leonards in Hastings.

The new interactive artwork has been constructed from reclaimed greenheart groyne timbers from nearby Pevensey Bay and  is intended to become a destination for people to leave a lasting and very personal souvenir of their time in Hastings. The artwork will grow as thousands of padlocks are attached to the sculpture's mooring rings by local people and visitors. Inspired by the global Love Locks phenomenon, the decorated padlocks will represent love tokens, mementoes and simple reminders of time spent in this creatively blossoming seaside town with its sunshine, southerly breezes and constantly changing seas and skies.

To begin the process, local people have been working with Strange Cargo to personalise hundreds of padlocks, so please come along and add yours to the work (extra padlocks will be available at the launch).

The artwork has has been commissioned for the 2012 Coastal Currents festival and funded by Arts Council England and Hastings Borough Council with support from Creative Coast and the Environment Agency.  The permanent sculpture on the seafront is intended to be enjoyed and contributed to by everyone.

There is a free talk at 5pm on Saturday 22nd September by Strange Cargo's Artistic Director Brigitte Orasinski, to accompany the launch of the work at the Stade Hall in Hastings. There will be an opportunity to decorate a padlock.

To book a place please email: [email protected].