Derelict Places

Discovered this amazing website, www.derelictplaces.co.uk

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 

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/

Writer's commission opportunity in South Gloucestershire

Bovis Homes Ltd is transforming the former Filton airfield in South Gloucestershire into a new mixed use development called Charlton Hayes. The development includes housing, community and leisure facilities, workspace and public realm.

This commission is aimed at developing a series of short stories informed by research within the local area. The text will form the basis for a series of permanent public art commissions to be integrated into the new public realm.

The writer's brief is available to download by clicking here.

If you are interested in applying for this project, please send:
• A recent copy of your CV
• A brief written statement about your work
• Up to 3 examples of your previous written work

Applications should be sent to tom@ginkgoprojects.co.uk by Friday 14th January
2011. Supporting information may also be sent by post to Tom Littlewood at Ginkgo
Projects (see brief for contact details). 

The deadline for applications is 14th January 2011.  Applicants selected for interview will be notified by January 27th 2011 (provisional). Work to be completed by end of May 2011.

Inverness Old Town Art project receives £92k additional funding

The funding will secure IOTA's running costs for the next 3 years, and is aimed at improving Inverness's waterfront areas. It is anticipated an open weekend will be held in the city to talk to businesses and art organisations on ideas for the creation of two public works of art for the Longman and the riverside.

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1393/Art_project_to_get__A392,000_of_public_money.html

Councillors agreed the extra funding on 29 November, voting 14 to eight to grant the extra funding from the common good fund.

Fleet: Art in the Haven Ports, Essex and Suffolk coast

I'm not sure whether any of these artworks are still on display (bit slow on the uptake, me, this started in Autumn 09) But Tod Hanson, who was commissioned in Lancaster at the Storey, has created a beautiful work as part of the programme, which you can view here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dubdog/4799816556/ (Can't download the photo I'm afraid)
The project website is here: http://www.fleet-art.org/ although it's a bit gappy.

The project, developed and presented by Commissions East, aimed to 'bring the contemporary visual arts to a number of historic and endangered sites in the East of England.' The sites are influenced by their location on Suffolk and Essex coastline: internationally renowned for its natural beauty and wildlife habitats.

Fleet is the UK part of an international arts programme called Face2Face – and the programme apparently included residencies from French as well as UK artists. There were commissions, residencies and events, plus film screenings and other works brought to the UK by the partners from the Nord Pas de Calais region.