Art on the Grassy Knoll
I love art, I love it with a passion, especially street furniture art. So I was excited to the point of goosebumps when I heard that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council were going to start installing artworks around town. Bravo TWBC!
The site selected for the first of these new works is known as the "Grassy Knoll" and is a small, grassed mound on the north side of Grosvenor bridge before the entrance to Grosvenor and Hilbert Park.
Sculpture proposal for The Grassy Knoll. Copyright: Richard Perry 2011.
Richard Perry's concept (above) seems to be the most fitting. He has looked at the surrounding area and has been inspired by the "extraordinary iron oxide colour" of the spring water in the park. His concept showed a great amount of attention has been paid to the surroundings of the sculpture and to me is the most appealing. It sits well in the space. I personally feel, at 3.5m high, it could do with another couple of metres in height to make it really powerfully stand out.
8 out of 10.
Sculpture proposal for The Grassy Knoll. Copyright: Tony Stallard 2011.
Tony Stallard's proposal (above) is aiming at being a "direct reference to the water supply for which Tunbridge Wells is famous", alas his use of a Greek Rython to hold such water shows that he has missed the mark on getting the feel of Tunbridge Wells in an art piece. As for it glowing orange at night, a bold idea which I commend him for but it still doesn't make up for it being wildly out of place in Tunbridge Wells.
5 out of 10.
Sculpture proposal for The Grassy Knoll. Copyright: We Made That 2011.
We Made That's proposal (above) looks on first appearances like a building has been demolished leaving the empty staircase which has then been graffitied. How completely un-Tunbridge Wellian is that?! Sorry, We Made That, but your "Civic Stop" would not be a "robust and characterful local stone ‘stoop’ to create opportunities for public meeting and friendly conversation", it would be an eyesore.
0 out of 10.
Wow, that was very unlike me. You can tell how passionate I am about this subject can't you! The final selection will be made by March 2012 and the Grassy Knoll, which is the first stop on the walk from the town centre to Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, will be the first installation of many. Also, there will be many posts about this walk to Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in the coming months so stay tuned for those.
But, don't listen to me. Do you usually? Use the power of your mouse by heading to the Council's website and undertaking a survey. There you can choose your favourite from the shortlist and give feedback on them all. Please, I really want you to help by taking part in this process and showing how much we want public art around town. Go now and then come back and tell me what you think.
What would I put? Well, that I will share in another post.
So, what do you think? Which one did you choose?
David (Oddly),
I don't believe there is any restriction on what the art piece can be, although there are limitations on where it can be placed.
I like to see the donation as a gift rather than a 'bung'. The site needed to be developed anyway so TWBC might as well take anything on offer. I'm sure it is all above board!!
I too like Louise's work but something of any scale might just break the budget.
And I don't think it's too late to comment. Follow Chris's link...
”Comment left by Dave Barnett on February, 06 2012
”Ive seen Louises work before and I really like it.
It would be good to see one of those busts about thirty feet high, it would certainly fit better than a Greek urn.
Comment left by Anke on February, 05 2012
Not often I look over my shoulder, but stumbled across some art by a local(ish - Wadhurst) artist online I thought interesting...
Now a life-size (i.e.) 'Mother and child at drinking fountain' something along the lines of these would fulfil the criteria of 'spring water' and 'philanthropy' (what better expression of a love of humanity than a mother's love/caring for child?), be totally suited to a park entrance and classical but with a modern twist. :D
https://twitter.com/#!/Louise_Giblin/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FF8lf3eql
Sadly, the size might be a problem for the site developers, as it seems the grant was a bung around planning permission and they will probably want something that's a highly visible selling point for the flats.
Anyhoo, just a thought, even if too late :D
”Comment left by oddlyactive on February, 05 2012
Thanks, Myf. When I say un-Tunbridge Wellian I mean it doesnt fit, its too grungy, it would fit in Brighton, we need something more old fashioned. Anyway, it looks like Im in the minority though.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 31 2012
I like the third option. It made me cringe when you wrote it's "un-Tunbridge Wellian". What is that suppose to mean? I think it would look great in wood, and anything to focus on the youth of the area is a good thing.
”Interesting comments too.
I always find your blog interesting.
Comment left by Myf on January, 31 2012
”Looks like I was wrong doesnt it. Perhaps the steps will win after all.
Comment left by Anke on January, 28 2012
oooh, lovely to see the steps pulling out to the head of the field... I thought I was going to be the only one!
”Comment left by oddlyactive on January, 27 2012
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Anne. Nice to hear from you.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 27 2012
It all shows it's a matter of taste, because I find the last idea very intriguing because of its community links. Everyday graffiti and messages have a different resonance with the passing of time, look how fascinating we find the words on High Rocks. The 'Greek urn' to me seemed rather pompous.
”Comment left by Anne on January, 27 2012
Thanks for your valued input, Julia. Much appreciated.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 23 2012
I have just completed the survey, and there is an option to say none of the above, which is what I have done. I don't want to see a giant phallus or a lazy piece of rubbish masquerading as a tribute to the spring. The stairs are brilliant - function and form - but really invite vandalism (chalk words, no problem, but what about scratched in ones?) and, as another commentator pointed out, will be rapidly monopolised by one group.
”Comment left by Julia W on January, 23 2012
More comments now from 11-yr-old daughter: "The vessel, what will happen when it rains? Is there a drain in the bottom - but will water gush out like a fountain + turn grassy knoll to mud? Stoop: Go and get some stairs from an old building and save money - it's not ON grassy knoll, it doesn't have any influence from park in it. It's not sculpture, we should have a duck or something we actually have in the park." I'm looking forward to seeing the display at out Open Morning next Sat....
”Comment left by C Gray on January, 20 2012
As an additional comment, there are two philanthropists who gave us the land: Mayor John Stone-Wigg gave the Grosvenor Rec. to the local community in 1889 when this was the industrial working area of the town. This part is built on the former Calverley waterworks, and is fed by Jackswood Spring. The Hilbert grounds were given in 1931 by Cllr E.J. Strange, whose grandfather set up the Calverley waterworks, and Cllr Strange also gave the town Cadogan Playing Fields in St Johns Rd. So the park is very influenced by spring water and our benefactors.
”Comment left by C Gray on January, 19 2012
”Thanks, Dave, an important point to add there.
Comment left by Anke on January, 19 2012
Kate,
As a representative of the Friends of Grosvenor & Hilbert Park I have a bit of background information that may help.
The money for this project is not really TWBCs. As I understand it the money for these art projects was provided by the developers of the new builds around the park and has to be spent on art in fairly specific locations. But presumably TWBC did ask for this contribution as part of the planning process.
There is other, similarly sourced, money available for doing up the park. This is currently being used as seed capital to raise a substantial amount from the Hertitage Lottery Fund. Used on it's own this money would restore the Upper Lake, with Lottery funding it can also rebuild the cafe, develop the wetlands area and make general improvements across the park.
More information is available on our website and facebook page.
http://www.fogh.org.uk/
As to the quality of these pieces I have commented earlier...
”Comment left by Dave Barnett on January, 19 2012
Thanks for your contribution, Caroline. Much appreciated.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 18 2012
I have submitted my thoughts on the survey to the council. In addition , now that I have had time to reflect,I would like to say that the bird statue outside the care home on the bridge near the park is far superior to any of these submissions. At least it is fluid, reflects the life that is in the park and does not resemble a lump of stone or wood or metal that looks like someone has dumped it.
”Comment left by caroline auckland on January, 18 2012
The third idea is terrible. To be honest the other 2 aren't great. Best I suppose is top one but how long is that going to remain without ppl carving on it or spraying graffitti on?! Sadly not long I suspect.
Why do the council want to spend money on this? Why not invest it in doing up the park and some beautiful sculpture or fountain inside?
Oh, and why don't the council save money and ask local schools for designs etc. Get the local community involved? If there is to be something there, the ppl who have to look at it every day should have a say. There we go - I've had my say now! :-)
”Comment left by Kate on January, 18 2012
Thanks, Steve, it was rather a short shortlist I have to agree.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 18 2012
I agree with Richard and so I suppose my response to the survey would be 'None of the above'!
But they didn't ask that question, unfortunately.... not very helpful, I know but sometimes life's like that?
”Comment left by steve on January, 18 2012
Oh - forgot to say... if the remit was 'philanthropists and spring water' they could perhaps build a huge water feature and name it after David Salomons, the Victorian Philanthropist. We've already got something a bit like that in Tunbridge Wells, but unfortunately it's owned now by Canterbury University, so we'll have to start again from scratch!
”Comment left by oddlyactive on January, 18 2012
Personally, I rather like the We Made That proposal, and think it ideally suited to Grosvenor rec... it has some of the symmetry of the 'zig-zag bridge' spanning the railway lines between the park and (lower) Upper Grosvenor Road, and is also 'functional' - which I think community art should be, or at least aspire to be.
I think many people have a very romanticised idea of Tunbridge Wells and what 'fits', but it isn't just about the Pantiles and the 'Village', and there's very little art or anything else that reflects the other side of the coin, especially in a way that is in any way positive. As a scruffy little bugger from the Kahnsil Estate at the boggy end of town who walked every day to primary skool through Grosvenor rec, played there every summer (when I wasn't off playing in the woods that is now North Farm) and went to the satellite yoof club there to play table tennis and drink Tizer I think the staircase has far more historical relevance and resonance than either the giant nob in the top pic or the daft ice cream cone celebrating a rusty puddle on the other side of town that already gets wayyyy too much attention when considering its significance today.
Erm... I'll just get me coat! :D
”Comment left by oddlyactive on January, 18 2012
Having read the pre-briefing, I know these artists were told the themes in our park were spring water and philanthropists... and if you look at the websites for all 3 artists, they've just pulled something out of their set of designs and said "That'll do, give me the money". Our lovely park is worth more than this; none of these are local artists - why was the brief not set locally to people who know the area? There is space on the offical form to ask for art please, but not any of these three...
”Comment left by C Gray on January, 17 2012
Good plan Chris!
Wonder if QR codes would work?
”Comment left by Dave Barnett on January, 17 2012
Sounds like were thinking along the same lines, Dave. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 17 2012
Thanks for this comment, David. Much appreciated. As for the chalk marks, perhaps I could put my URL on it for history :)
”Comment left by Anke on January, 17 2012
Personally I'm not keen on any of them!
The first just looks a little too simple, a bit more height might make if more of a statement!
The second is just not right! It could have worked with a different vessel. Not sure why he chose a Greek urn. It's a shame as I showed Tony around the park when he was first short-listed (wonder what I said to trigger this).
And I have concerns over who would be attracted to the third option. Given it's 'hidden' location it could easily become a no-go area at night! I appreciate that the young need somewhere to gather I'm just not sure this is the right place. If this is a real need then it should be built into the lottery funded plans for the park.
This third concept could work in a different format here. Plaster the underpass wall with sandstone and carve the comments on that.
”Comment left by Dave Barnett on January, 17 2012
Totall agree with you, the first one is the best, not quite sure it's right but if I had to choose it would be that. The Civic stop is just awful - can you really see any other 'residents' other than the local 'yoot' hanging around on it? Who would censor the comments left in chalk, as I'd imagine there would be quite a few people looking to sneak things through!
”Comment left by David on January, 17 2012
A brilliant balanced comment, Kate, thank you kindly for leaving it.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 17 2012
Don't like the first two at all. However, the third, Civic Stop is growing on me and if you ask TW youth (and I sincerely hope TWBC will ask them as there are far too many opinions from the upper middle class TW types for my liking), that they will like and appreciate the empty steps. It's a park for kids and teenagers and almost reflects the lack and need of sitting space for them. Sorry, but your comment "How un-Tunbridge-Wellsian is that" made me snigger, empty staircases seem to be a theme in TW!
”Comment left by Kate Griffiths on January, 17 2012
A super comment, Richard. Thanks for taking the time to leave it.
”Comment left by Anke on January, 17 2012
I don't like any of them. The top one looks like a giant sex aid, the second one looks like a spaceship that's just landed and I'm surprised the third one even made the shortlist, 0 out of 10 indeed. How about a fountain of some sort? Much more Tunbridge Wellian I think!
”Comment left by Richard on January, 17 2012