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JUNE 2009 A triptych of mosaics for the Coronation Estate in Weston super Mare. The project began with a series of consultation and design workshops with local residents, young people, Windwhistle Primary School and local elderly coffee morning and lunch clubs. The design develops the theme of water, the Rhynes (A Rhyne is the local name given to the ancient waterways dug around the area to drain the former marshes, like all waterways they are a sanctuary for wildlife) and the hidden character of the area, already begun with the design of the surrounding paving, railings and benches by artist Mike Fletcher. A 3 metre central mosaic is flanked by two smaller 1.3 m mosaic roundels, the flanking panels have curved benches beside them. The mosaics are based on the idea of observing the local flora and fauna in the reflections of the Rhynes. The central panel features a typical pollarded tree whilst the side panels feature a heron in one and duck and coot in the other. "I am very excited about this work" says Gary "trying to depict a sense of the local area through the reflections of nature and wildlife in the waters surface is a real challenge and an exciting development on my earlier work depicting water in mosaic." The response from the local community has been very positive, with plenty of praise from all sectors of the community, young and old. The response was best summarised by the typical Somerset phrase:- "fair play to ya!"
The mosaic was created as part of the South Ward Neighbourhood Management Partnership's Art Strategy. The Art Strategy has been produced in order to incorporate public art into the overall regeneration programme of the Bournville, Coronation, Oldmixon and Potteries in Weston super Mare. |  | ||||
11. Coot panel with local residents | |||||
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10. Central panel - 3m diameter | |||||
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9. Heron panel showing benches and railings | ||
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8. Working on the centre panel | 7. The middle panel under construction | 6. The heron panel, construction complete | |||
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4. The first tiles go on the left panel mosaic which features a heron | 3. The centre panel cartoon in the studio | |||||
5. The heron panel under construction | ||||||
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2. The chosen design triptych | ||||
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