Tuesday 25 January 2011

Eduardo Chillida artwork planned for Mount Tindaya in the Canary Islands

An artwork conceived by Spanish Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida, who died in 2002, is to be bored into Mount Tindaya on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. 


The artwork will take the form of a cubic cave, measuring 40 metres (131ft) along each side, and requiring the removal of 64,000 cubic metres of rock from the cave. The roof will be as high as the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, and the floor space could accommodate 6 tennis courts.


Before his death Chillida wrote about the project, 'The sculpture has been conceived as a monument to tolerance and a work of art for the Canary people.'


The president of the Canary Islands, Pauline Rivero, has said that the project will generate 'quality tourism' although it has met opposition from local environmentalists who allege the project breaks conservation rules. 


The project has already cost 25,000,000 euros, some of which went towards buying mining rights. The Ben Magez environmental group allege that the project has become mired in corruption. 


Ove Arup engineers started working on the project in 2003, developing a feasibility study and mapping the geology of the location.
Photograph: Samuel Aranda/AFP/Getty Images


For the full story, visit: 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/20/eduardo-chillida-tindaya-fuerteventura

More information about the project can be found at: 
http://www.arup.com/Projects/Eduardo_Chillida_Mount_Tindaya.aspx 

Thursday 13 January 2011

Three artists shortlisted for Gretna Landmark project

The artists include American artist Ned Kahn, Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Cecil Balmond. The Public Art Scotland site includes some comments about the scheme: http://www.publicartscotland.com/news/selection-finalists-announced-for-iconic-scottish-landmark

Victoria Parade Cultural Linkage project, Torquay, Devon - artist opportunity

Torbay Council is transforming Victoria Parade overlooking Torquay harbour through a streetscape improvement programme including pedestrian prioritisation, road narrowing, upgrading of parking bays and new paving.

As part of the redevelopment Torbay Council with Ginkgo Projects wish to appoint an artist to undertake research, creative consultation and information gathering.
The project will draw out and re-present contributed ideas, views, stories, the heritage of the Harbour and people’s ambitions for the area, for later inclusion into future public realm commissions and design work. This commission will result in a text-based document informed by the research and events held.
The design brief is available to download by clicking here.
To apply, please send in a CV, examples of your work and a short proposal on how you would approach the project to Tom Littlewood at tom@ginkgoprojects.co.uk
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 19th January 2011.
Work to be completed by end of February / early March 2011. Fee: £2500 + up to £1000 materials budget. It is expected to take the artist around 10 days to complete.

To find out more about Ginkgo visit http://www.ginkgoprojects.co.uk/