Has anyone seen the picture of the proposed (opps! no sorry, decided) public art opposite the new theatre?

It looks like a large tumble drier hose.

If Frank Galliers chose it then I know we are in for another treat. <_<

The winning design was chosen on Monday, I'm not sure if its public yet though.

You can see the designs at:
http://www.1065.thesevern.co.uk/news_darwingarden.html

Oh dear, more nonsense going up in town. So we'll have two modern "art" things, on either end of Mardol.

Nonsense? The Quantum Leap is a progressive new gateway to the town and a great use of a currently underused public space.

I know. Having a Tory run council is such a joy.

I seriously hope you're being sarcastic.... or have you just bought into the PR drivel? :rolleyes:

I don't think it matters which political party is in control. I'm never too sure who exactly it is who makes these decisions (placing new public art in the middle of the town centre, such as the one at the top of Mardol). I really want to meet these idiots and pull them down to reality. The one at the top of Mardol is probably one of the best examples of absolute lunacy in the country - who thought placing large, cold sandstone slabs around would be a great thing? What's wrong with normal benches?!

Mardol Gardens is an "under-used public space" (god, it's like being in a planning lecture) because it's a pitifully small bit of grass and trees next to and isolated by a busy main road. It's another example of "wonderful" 60s town planning - that piece of land was previously developed and was the bottom end of the Mardol street. They cut through Mardol with Smithfield Road, demolished all the buildings, "landscaped" it and forgot about it. I can't see how plonking some public art is going to help things.

No PS I am sure Sam was quite serious.
Good public art is an asset to a forward looking town.
The trouble is the Darwin Gate was ' a shopping centre sculpture.'

This one looks a bit more promising but it will depend a lot on what it is made from' plastic or resin would be awful. Concrete or ceramic like the sculpture on the London Road island would be good but it would be tricky to make in concrete and have to be done by experts in that area.

Nottingham have just recieved two Civic Trust awards for their city centre regeneration. I would like to go and see what they have done myself.

It is hard to see the Philistine attitudes entrenched in Shrewbury ever changing! :(

What you fail to address PS is the growth of car ownership. Most of the real destruction of our landscape and towns has been the unquelled demand for more roads, faster roads, carparks, and all the signage and paraphenalia required to get everyone from A to B. <_<

Apparently the artwork will be part of a 'welcome point' to the 'Shrewsbury River Journey', to enhance public awareness of the river.

See the page of reports on SABC's website

I, for one, have only recently become aware that there is a river running through Shrewsbury. If only there was a pile of scrap iron fashioned into the shape of a tumble drier by Welsh Bridge, I would not have been in the dark for so many years.

I am so grateful that we have a Tory council to look after us.

Eh? What???

I know there has been a huge growth of car ownership. I know most of the real destruction of our landscape and townscape has been the construction of new and wider roads, car parking, etc. Hence why I said - though maybe you didn't read it properly - that the Smithfield Road was recklessly pushed through the old street of Mardol, cutting off the Mardol Quay from the rest of the pedestrian town centre. Where is the confusion??

I do despair.

It would be concrete... if I remember correctly.

Ah yes and of course a Labour council, or Lib Dem council, or BNP council (and I know many on this forum would love that) would have resulted in this and other random pointless public art not being plonked upon us. It happens all over the country, in all sorts of towns, under all sorts of councils. Hence why I do wonder who makes the decisions. I suspect its some Guardian reading, unionised civil servant in local administration sneaking in the plans and councillors not realising until people start moaning to them and writing into the Sloppy Star.

On the other hand it could just as well be a small sub-sub-committee of councillors deciding, with no care about its cost or the actual impact on the character of the town.

PS you sound like Victor Meldrew! :D

Have you ever been to Prague and seen the wonderful modern and not so modern art there?
Random pointless art must have its merits in Europe too.

This is the beginning of a strategy to redesign Smithfield Road which is not only a wasted asset to the town but alien to pedestrians (and cyclists)

Of course we could move the auction yards back there, parkright could have giant pooper scoopers to deal with the cow, pig and sheep poo. :lol:
Actually after dealing with some of the town residents they may well feel that that would be a preferable job!

Perhaps a giant sheep composed of re-cycled tesco bags would be more suited for some NIMBY types in Shrewsbury, that would set tounges wagging :lol:

Do we need more money wasting on modern art? in a dieing town, isn't it better spent on demolishing our historical grade 2 listed buildings (sorry, private joke), so how does that come to be anyway, it's true what the say, it's not what you know but who.