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22 Jun 2006 15:48:22
People from Mid Bedfordshire have been helping an artist to create a piece of “stayfresh” art to go on display at the new Mid Beds District Council offices in Chicksands.
Catherine Baker, who lectures in Fine Art at the University of Luton, was commissioned to produce artwork for the entrance to the new £15 million offices, and worked with young people from the local area and District Council employees to get their input.
Her idea was chosen because her design not only involved the community, but the proposed piece had panels that can be changed regularly over the next 20 years.
Catherine, who helped set up the Fine Art programme at the University of Luton, is delighted with the end result. She says she was quite surprised to be chosen for the project – because she deliberately didn’t meet the council’s brief.
She explained: “It’s a fantastic, state-of-the-art building – beautiful and different from the usual council premises. The council has really gone out on a limb. I didn’t think it needed a predictable piece of public art. So out of the four of us short-listed to win the £10,000 commission, I was chosen, even though my submission didn’t quite respond to some aspects of their brief. I proposed something alternative - in line with research I am involved with, which looks at visual perception.”
Catherine divides her time between the University of Luton and the Norwich School of Art and Design, as well as working from her studio at her home in Bedford.
Much of her work has a highly scientific base – she has been working collaboratively with Dr Iain Gilchrist at the University of Bristol in Experimental Psychology over the last three years.
“The concept devised for the piece is mine and is based on large format photos of the building and insitu drawings which I produced over the last few months,” said Catherine. “It’s about people’s responses to the building and the lines of sight running through it.
“Almost 120 people of all ages took part in five workshops. These included council workers from Ampthill and Biggleswade, and children from Mid Beds Lower, Middle and High schools, Campton Lower, Robert Bloomfield Middle and Samuel Whitbread Community College.
“Their responses to the drawings, produced in the workshops, were developed further and the artwork followed a strict methodology. It is a large but delicate piece – with fine line work. The coloured drawings are multi-layered on a white background. The piece is made up of 27 60cm sq panels, arranged in three rows of nine, and all of the panels are interchangeable and can swap places – so there are infinite combinations.
“The idea is that subtle changes can be made regularly. When you see things in your environment every day, a kind of blindness occurs. Very subtle changes within that environment can keep people alert and stimulated. This piece is planned to be on display for 20 years so this idea will keep the art alive. That makes it a good investment.”
Mark Hustwitt, spokesman for Mid Beds District Council, said: “Catherine has done an excellent job and we can’t wait to see the piece when it goes on show in the atrium. We were looking for something that was unique and had impact, and we felt Catherine’s design had just these qualities.
“It is strong and contemporary and she was interesting, creative and very organised which was essential as we had a tight deadline. The workshops she ran with community groups were excellent, and the results speak for themselves.”
Catherine concluded: “Although the concept is mine, the artwork is in a public place and has been made by the public. People will be able to come into their fantastic new council building and say ‘I remember doing that bit’.”
The piece, entitled Lines of Sight, has been completed on time and can be seen at Mid Beds new offices, Priory House, Chicksands from August 2006, together with an exhibition about the creation of the work.
Latest news» 2006» Jun» Locals offer fresh approach to art in Beds
