PASW Regional Newsletter: Autumn 2002
Current Projects - Bideford Quay Public Art Commission
Bideford Quayside is in the midst of a major transformation and thanks to the enlighted thinking of the Environment Agency this transformation will include wonderful and magical high quality artworks that will animate our journey along the quay. Following a selection process, Exeter based artist Lesley Kerman has been commissioned to produce artworks that will be integrated into the Flood Defence Wall. The work Lesley proposed entitled 'Secrets of Bideford' is a series of transparent resin blocks containing articles which exemplify the life and history of Bideford, both actual and mythological. The objects embedded in the resin have been gathered by the artist following an extensive period of research. In addition a small exhibition of the designs for the proposed artworks held at the Burton Art Gallery included a request for people to suggest and donate objects that might be included in the blocks. Without wanting to give the whole game away, if you travel to Bideford in the future and walk along the quay you will be drawn into exploring anything from a stickleback to a locally famous Hockings ice cream cone suspended in resin. The blocks, six in total will be built into the structure of the defence wall allowing light to pass through them and at night will be lit by fibre optic light. They are currently under construction and will be installed on site by the end of 2002.
From my point of view, with this scheme being part of a wider regeneration scheme for Bideford, I hope that by realising these extraordinary artworks we will demonstrate just what is possible when you integrate the creative minds of artists into the regeneration of our built environments and therefore encourage further opportunities for artists to be involved in the planning and regeneration of our towns and cities.
Lisa Harty, Project Manager, on behalf of the Environment Agency
e.mail : [email protected]