Proposal

Proposal Meeting

10 February was the day all project partners and the creative team from Fairbridge all got together with Paul and Brian to find out what we are proposing for the public art sculpture.  It was good to have some of the young people there as part of the meeting as they have been a part of the creative process right from the start.

Engineering Water

Feedback from the meeting was very poositive which were we releived to hear as proposing new artworks is always a bit of an anxious time for artists.  Some minor concerns were expressed by some at the meeting which were discussed and resolved.  I think it is safe to say that our proposal was unaminously accepted and considered to meet successfully with the brief we were originally given.

Theme: Engineering Water – this is the overriding theme of our proposal.  This is expressed by the symbolic drops of water (circular panels).  The revolving oak cogs represent the engineered / controlled movement of water through the locks – from the Peninnes to the Manchester Ship Canal.  3 of the  panels play with images connected with the canal’s heritage – Transport, Engineering & Heritage; 2 panel display imagery connected with the canals current and future uses - Wildlife & Community.

Wildlife Cog

Materials:  We will be using a combination of steel and oak.  Oak cog sections to represent the engineering that is central to the canal systems as well as being a traditional boat builing material; steel to reflect the mechanical systems used as part of the locks and other systems within the canal.

Suitability of materials:  Oak and steel will be well suited to the environment of bridge 51.  Oak will weather well over many years, its colour will tone in well with the surrounding monochromatic colours and refelct the stone wall that sits opposite.  Steel will be galvanised and powder coated to give it a long life devoid of rust.  Both materials are robust enough to withstand any vandalsim that may occur.

Fabrication:  The following processes will be used to construct the sculptures.

Joinery skills – to make the wooden cogs and rout the lettering

Laser cutting – to cut the designs into the steel sheets

Galvanising & Powder coating to protect and colour the steel panels

Heritage Cog

Installation:  The sculptures will be installed so conform to the guidance we have received so far.  they will not protrude more than 4″ from the wall, they will not sit much below the lower ‘panel’ of the wall or sit much above the top of the middle ‘panel’ of the wall.  this will ensure it does not get in the way of canal boats and is unreachable from the top of the wall.  This will enssure the public’s safety and the long life of the sculpture.

Planning:  This is the next step of the process.  We will be submitting our plans to Rochdale Borough council before we progress with fabrication.  So …. we wait anxiously to get this final approval before Paul and Brian get stuck in   making our proposal and reality.