What they do
this artist was TURNED DOWN by Prestatyn Art Project committee.
PRESTATYN ART PROJECT COMMITTEE? (try to spot the artist)
Some times its all in the words. Beginning and End The art committee
were/are:- Cllr James Davies (Chairman Friends of Prestatyn Railway
Station, Town and County Councillor) Cllr June Cahill (Ex-Mayor,
Ex-Central Ward Councillor. Present County Councillor) Cllr Sharon
Frobisher (Town and County Councillor) Gareth Sandilands (Volunteer
F.O.P.R.S. Prestatyn Business Group) Sue Hagarth (Principal area
regeneration & investment officer) Jeremy Knibbs (Area regeneration
manager) Michelle Rendell (Prestatyn regeneration officer) Elin Butler
(Art council for Wales) Ann Thomas (Arts advisor for Denbighshire County
Council Arts) Stephen West (SAFLE. Independent public art consultancy)
Norman Makinson (Art advisor) Prestatyn High Schools Art Department Art
advisor David Shiel (Countryside Services) Margaret Jones (Countryside
Council for Wales) Alan Jackson (Team Leader Denbighshire Public Realm)
Nigel Acott (Rep from Prestatyn Town council) Karen Beattie (DDA.
Disabled Discrimination Act)
Below Mr. BOURNE's choice (out of those who made it past the Art Committee) for the railway station.
The sea Shell spire actually lights up at night. With the spiral inlayed with a history of Prestatyn & area.
above was TURNED DOWN by Prestatyn Art Project committee.
PRESTATYN ART PROJECT COMMITTEE? (try to spot the artist)
Some times its all in the words. Beginning and End The art committee
were/are:- Cllr James Davies (Chairman Friends of Prestatyn Railway
Station, Town and County Councillor) Cllr June Cahill (Ex-Mayor,
Ex-Central Ward Councillor. Present County Councillor) Cllr Sharon
Frobisher (Town and County Councillor) Gareth Sandilands (Volunteer
F.O.P.R.S. Prestatyn Business Group) Sue Hagarth (Principal area
regeneration & investment officer) Jeremy Knibbs (Area regeneration
manager) Michelle Rendell (Prestatyn regeneration officer) Elin Butler
(Art council for Wales) Ann Thomas (Arts advisor for Denbighshire County
Council Arts) Stephen West (SAFLE. Independent public art consultancy)
Norman Makinson (Art advisor) Prestatyn High Schools Art Department Art
advisor David Shiel (Countryside Services) Margaret Jones (Countryside
Council for Wales) Alan Jackson (Team Leader Denbighshire Public Realm)
Nigel Acott (Rep from Prestatyn Town council) Karen Beattie (DDA.
Disabled Discrimination Act)
What you will be getting...
PRESTATYN ART PROJECT COMMITTEE? (try to spot the artist)
Some times its all in the words. Beginning and End The art committee were/are:- Cllr James Davies (Chairman Friends of Prestatyn Railway Station, Town and County Councillor) Cllr June Cahill (Ex-Mayor, Ex-Central Ward Councillor. Present County Councillor) Cllr Sharon Frobisher (Town and County Councillor) Gareth Sandilands (Volunteer F.O.P.R.S. Prestatyn Business Group) Sue Hagarth (Principal area regeneration & investment officer) Jeremy Knibbs (Area regeneration manager) Michelle Rendell (Prestatyn regeneration officer) Elin Butler (Art council for Wales) Ann Thomas (Arts advisor for Denbighshire County Council Arts) Stephen West (SAFLE. Independent public art consultancy) Norman Makinson (Art advisor) Prestatyn High Schools Art Department Art advisor David Shiel (Countryside Services) Margaret Jones (Countryside Council for Wales) Alan Jackson (Team Leader Denbighshire Public Realm) Nigel Acott (Rep from Prestatyn Town council) Karen Beattie (DDA. Disabled Discrimination Act)
Objecting to the plans.
While I'm disappointed the Prestatyn Art Committee:- Cllr James Davies (Chairman Friends of Prestatyn Railway Station, Town and County Councillor) Cllr June Cahill (Ex-Mayor, Ex-Central Ward Councillor. Present County Councillor) Cllr Sharon Frobisher (Town and County Councillor) Gareth Sandilands (Volunteer F.O.P.R.S. Prestatyn Business Group) Sue Hagarth (Principal area regeneration & investment officer) Jeremy Knibbs (Area regeneration manager) Michelle Rendell (Prestatyn regeneration officer) Elin Butler (Art council for Wales) Ann Thomas (Arts advisor for Denbighshire County Council Arts) Stephen West (SAFLE. Independent public art consultancy) Norman Makinson (Art advisor) Prestatyn High Schools Art Department Art advisor David Shiel (Countryside Services) Margaret Jones (Countryside Council for Wales) Alan Jackson (Team Leader Denbighshire Public Realm) Nigel Acott (Rep from Prestatyn Town council) Karen Beattie (DDA. Disabled Discrimination Act) Weren’t able to have the imagination to approve something decent. That would be of value in future and an improvement to Prestatyn Town. I believe those same people who are approving the planning permission will have very little thought in objecting to it on either aesthetic grounds or simply improving Prestatyn with the £65,000 plus it is costing.
A couple of sign posts? I know what you are thinking...
you can tell the Art Committe where 2 go
A report today (20th April 2011) from Nigel Acott Prestatyn Town Clerk and financial officer. Concerning the life expectancy of the Prestatyn Art Project 'art.'
Councillor Michael German is quoted as saying '...the art has a life expectancy of 10 years.'
Nigel Acott replied “ we (Prestatyn Town) had an obligation to maintain them.' Presumably for this minimum 10 years after which they 'the art' could be scrapped.
Councillor Peter Duffy added to the conversation' Arts budget was to be used (on art) or someone else would have had it.'
Mr. BOURNE. Previous conversations in council chambers have defended the criticism of the rusting 'polo mint' and Steel Roman Helmet (remember it was meant to be cast bronze Anglo-Saxon King Offa helmet) That the Arts Council of Wales £135,000 grant money would have gone to someone else if we (Prestatyn Town) hadn't spent it on the 'art.'
Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill joined in 'the public consultation was not widely attended.'
Mr. BOURNE. As you can see from this wed site one member of the public went rather beyond the limitations of a few words in the 'comment book' and made an entire new proposal. To suggest everything from the Health and Safety (Prestatyn Town were sued when one resident was permanently scared on the newly opened Polo Mint) Including the problems of rust, sea and sand on the 'art' works that were being proposed.
The rest as they say is History. Just a shame Prestatyn Town couldn't have celebrated it more through this rather large £135,000 art grant.
Original approved Helmet for Hillside Gardens
What you got...
MR.GARY BOURNE, 14 LON EIRLYS, PRESTATYN, DENBIGHSHIRE, LL19 9JZ
TELEPHONE 01745 851985 MOBILE TEXT 07904 69 58 58 or 07904 69 57 57
E-MAIL garyabourne@aol.co.uk
20th September 2008
Hi Michelle,
First please forgive me for being forward enough to pass on a few ideas your way. As I write them all in the suggestion book at the library.
But as I felt it was important enough for Prestatyn to get value for money from the £113,000 art funding. I simply didn’t want it to be lost in artist fees. When every penny could be spent not just the proposed four bits of art, But an entire trail of tourist markers. Leading them from the start of the Offa’s tail to Prestatyn’s border and beyond.
While I am all in favour of improving Prestatyn with art. Both sculptural and floral. It simply isn’t a case of putting a bit of metal in the ground and saying the job is done. I was perplexed that instead of getting 100 artists to give 100 ideas. So as the town could ‘pick and match’ the best bits from each. The route of previous works was the criteria. After all we should only be interested in what they can do for Prestatyn and not what they have done for others. As some interpretations, how can I politely put this, ‘interesting’ ideas of how to ‘spend’ £113,000 (£135,000 inc. installation)
I was curious as to why only one artist had proposed designs for the three sites. Keeping a theme running throughout. Even if I believe the brief was misunderstood with giant narcissus etc. We as a town are proud of our ‘bad boys’ and heroes. The Romans, Normans, Owain Gwynedd, Henry the second, Owain Glyndwr and King Offa himself to name a few. That should be celebrated as the intricate history of Prestatyn. I did make enquiries as to the cost of a life size bronze statue of anyone of the above ‘heroes.’ To you governor just £9000. Made in Wales of cause. So that is £113,000 divided by £9000 equals. OH!, a lot of statues, plus enough to clean up and repair the surrounding areas of the proposed sites. Not forgetting Offa’s Trail needs a good looking at for health and safety reasons. Broken paving slabs just to mention one.
By the way can we bill Owain Gwynedd for burning down our castle?
Hope the next few pages will confirm your own thoughts or may be add one or two that might not have instantly been thought of.
GARY BOURNE
NOTE. £113,000 is just artist fees. £135,000 is to include installation. Unfortunately the Health and Safety of the Beginning and End or Polo Mint. Ended up being sued for compensation. The inevitable reworking has ended up with more expense. Plus maintenance costs which was expected to be 'self cleaning.' BOURNE can also add sand drift, winter storms and our feathered friends will all add to literally it's END.
Gary Bourne
14 Lon Eirlys, Prestatyn, Denbighshire LL19 9JZ Telephone:- (01745) 85 19 85 Email:- garyabourne@aol.co.uk
Dear Editor,
I was interested to read that the £113,000 Prestatyn Art Project has now been decided. As an artist myself I've been very interested to follow the progress of how such a large sum of money was to be spent. Even going to the time and trouble of forming a consortium myself of skilled Welsh craftsmen. From our local historian Harry Thomas to stone masons and metal foundry workers. As I am an 'amateur' artist myself I felt my skills were best suited to organising the best value for money possible. Even going to the extent of wavering any fees or profit for myself.
I was therefore bemused as to what was finally chosen to represent Prestatyns rich and proud heritage. From Neanderthal Man, Romans, Saxons, Normans, Henry 2nd, Owain Gwynedd, Owen Glyndwr and I'm only up to 1415.
Hillside Gardens has its Roman Helmet and Sessile Oak Leaves (I though the nearest Sessile Oak Wood was in Coed Shed, Groes and that is in Conwy County?). I think www.visitprestatyn.com actually means Anglo-Saxon Helmet as it represents Prestatyn Towns symbol Offa, King of Mercia and a fellow county man. This I actual like and can't object to. But at £23,000 artist fees, someone does not need to worry about the credit crunch. The Central Beach proposed art work was nice to see someone had though of including the surroundings. But at 6 metres tall polished steel. It is both going to be the best seagull perch out there, and we all know what they doo, doo. Plus next to the sea I'm sure no ones though about maintaining the polished look (Prestatyn Town Council haven't). Remember what happened to the Delorean? May be some of that £35,000 has been put aside for a jar of polish and a bit of muscle power?
But I must admit what is proposed for what could be Prestatyns 'crown jewels' as a centre piece. To show off Prestatyn to the quarter of a million visitors who use the train station. Not! to mention the people of the town who actually live here. I was desperately hoping the extensive list of seventeen 'experts' in their fields. Including the three conservative town and county councillors, Sharon Frobisher, June Cahill and James Davies, while not possessing any personal artistic skills. Might have at least thought at £55,000 Prestatyn could have had better value for money, than the two sign posts depicting beach, sandcastles, bucket and spade, gulls and windmills, Offa's Dyke Path, walking figures, Clwydian range, Towns architecture, Roman coins and artefacts. Sounds more like someone Goggled Prestatyn and decided they could not come up with a descent idea, so went for the throw it all together look. Quite ironic then that Central beach is replacing its original sign post.
Maybe I was hoping too much from my ex-fellow Friends of Prestatyn Railway Station, Cllr James Davies (Chair) and Gareth Sandilands (Volunteer.) To actually fight for the train station and use £55,000 (artist fees) for the maximum benefit, instead of 'sign posts to nowhere.' Or maybe we could add the epitaph 'Think! What could have been.'
So it was rather a shame that not! one of the designs could boast the title 'Made! (or at least designed) in Wales.'
