MR.GARY BOURNE, 14 LON EIRLYS, PRESTATYN, DENBIGHSHIRE, LL19 9JZ
TELEPHONE 01745 851985 MOBILE TEXT 07501 0007 09
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 couldn’t 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
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 narcissi 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. Brocken 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.
