COMMISSIONS IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND2000-2003

Uniform,Lindsay Duncanson

Artist LindsayDuncanson was invitedby Commissions Northto produce a series ofphotographs thatpaired local peopletogether with newpublic artworks inthe region.

Commissioning

The North East’s legacy of major landmark sculptureshas firmly embedded the principle that artists have acentral role within the creative design, building andregeneration process. The commitment to engage withartists is now widely established, however the nextchallenge is to develop new artists’ commissions,which ensure innovation, creative risk, and fresh ideasare supported in order to increase the region’sreputation as a centre of excellence for commissioning.

This publication aims to capture the diversity of ideas,designs and commissions in the North East of Englandfrom 2000 to 2003.

Andrew Dixon,Regional Executive Director

Angel,Antony Gormley OBE,Gateshead 1998

Bottle of Notes,Claes Oldenburg andCoosje van Bruggen,Middlesbrough 1993

Train,David Mach,Darlington 1997

Conversation Piece, Juan Muñoz, South Shields 1999

ART ON THE RIVERSIDE

Art on the Riverside is the largest programme of public art in theUK, funded by a £3.5 million National Lottery grant and £2.7 millionfrom the public and private sectors. Since 1995 the project hasenabled numerous artists’ commissions within the riversideregeneration of the Tyne and Wear across North Tyneside,Newcastle, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Spirit of South Shields

Irene Brown, Market Dock, South Shields Á

The ‘Spirit of South Shields’ harbours a ship safely inone arm whilst raising her other arm in greeting.Commissioned within the new housing developmentat Market Dock the sculpture has now been adoptedas South Tyneside’s image of regeneration.

Landing Lights

Martin Richman,Customs House, South Shields È

Following his ‘Landing Lights’commission to illuminate of theSouth Shields Ferry Terminal, MartinRichman has produced a number ofdramatic lighting exhibitions at theCustoms House Gallery and is due tocomplete a creative lighting schemefor the Old Town Hall in 2003.

Fleet

Irene Brown, Market Dock, South Shields È

The flooded dry dock at Market Dock will be thearena for seven highly polished stainless steelsculptures of nineteenth century collier brigs. IreneBrown has taken South Tyneside’s historic shipsymbol and reclaimed it as a cultural icon for thenew riverside.

Dudes

Permindar Kaur,International Ferry Terminal, North Shields È

Permindar Kaur’s thirteen brightly coloured figuresaim to represent the essence of the Ferry Terminal –moving, travelling and discovering.

It is proposed to extend the project to Bergen,Gothenburg and Ljmuiden where the figures will beinstalled in each port to represent the partnership ofcountries involved in sponsoring the project viaDFDS and Fjordline.

Flash

Charles Quick, Hebburn Riverside, South Tyneside

Charles Quick’s proposal aims to provide a visuallandmark which will become part of the urbantopography of Tyneside at night by creating asequence of large light flashes across HebburnRiverside Park which are inspired by the work ofVA TECH Reyrolle who have been testing anddeveloping innovative electrical switchgear on thesite for over 100 years.

High Tide

Karl Fisher, Craig Knowles, Colin Wilbourn andwriter Chaz Brenchley, Sunderland Yacht Club È

High Tide is the last sculpture from the St Peter’sSculpture Project and combines a poetic text withseven cast concrete hemispheres arranged in acrescent arc, just above the high water mark onRoker beach, Sunderland. The ten year projectwas initiated by Helix Arts and has demonstratedthat local artists working with the community canmake a unique cultural contribution to theregeneration process.

ARTS BUILDINGS

The Sage Gateshead

The Sage Gateshead occupies one of the mostdramatic urban sites in Europe. The magnificentNorman Foster building commissioned by GatesheadCouncil will be an outstanding facility for all kinds oflive music, and a pioneering centre for discovery andmusic education.

Five core strands of work covering all kinds of musicunder one common management include NorthernSinfonia and Folkworks, who were original foundingpartners in the project. Á

BALTIC

Meccano Bridges, Chris Burden È

Homage to Blake, Jaume Plensa Ë

BALTIC is the major new international centre forcontemporary art at the heart of the regeneration ofGateshead Quays on the River Tyne. Housed in a1950s grain silo the dramatic conversion by architectDominic Williams has created a stunning space forthe production, presentation and experience ofcontemporary art.

With no permanent collection, a programme thatplaces a heavy emphasis on commissions, invitationsto artists and the work of artists-in-residence, BALTICis a new breed of public art space, an Art Factorythat will present a constantly changing programme ofexhibitions, events and commissions.

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge – the first openingbridge to be built across the River Tyne for more than100 years – has attracted world-wide attention thanksto its unique tilting design. The bridge provides afootpath and cycle-way linking the ambitious newarts and cultural developments at Gateshead Quayson the south bank with Newcastle Quayside.

The world-first design is the latest addition to theTyne’s famous collection of bridges and wasdesigned by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and consultingengineers Gifford & Partners Ltd, and constructed byGateshead based Harbour & General.

In 2002 The Gateshead Millennium Bridge won theRIBA Stirling Prize for ‘Building of the Year’. È

ARTS BUILDINGS

Sunderland Museumand Winter Gardens

Mowbray Gates, Wendy Ramshaw OBE Ï

Monolith, William Pye Ë

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardensis a landmark project for the developmentof the city and features the largest publicart programme so far funded by theHeritage Lottery Fund.

The Winter Gardens designed by NapperArchitects features both William Pye’s‘Monolith’, a 10-meter tall stainless steelwater sculpture and the contemporary‘Mowbray Gates’, which link the Museumto Mowbray Gardens conceived bySunderland born jewellery designerWendy Ramshaw OBE.

Gala Theatre, Durham

Counterweight, Simon Watkinson ÈÈ

Seating, Kathryn Hodgkinson È

The Visitor, Ron Haselden Á

Durham City’s stunning new Gala Theatre wasdesigned by architects McCormack JamiesonPrichard, and has enabled innovative new artists’commissions including an interactive digital visitors’book, cast glass, concrete seating and a kineticsculpture of steel, light and coal.

ARTS BUILDINGS

Belsay Hall

Chair #1, Ansel Thompson ÈÈ

Pleasurescape, Karim Rashid È

Eclipse, Langlands and Bell Ë

Following the influential Sitooteries project at BelsayHall, English Heritage’s programme of contemporary artand design continued to challenge and transform theunfurnished 19th century Greek revival mansion with‘Sitting Pretty’, the installation of contemporary chairsby an international collection of designers.

Wallington Hall

Fountain of the jilted lover,Malcolm Webster ÈÈ

Brief Encounter,Ryders Architects È

The Dodgy Clutch TheatreCompany brought a spectacularlantern-lit procession and sixFantastic Follies to the groundsof the National Trust’sWallington Hall to celebrate themagical atmosphere and frivolityof its original owner anddesigner of the grounds,Sir Walter Calverley Blackett.

HEALTH

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Stone Courtyard, David Paton ÈÈ

Glass, Mara Chemotherapy Unit, Sue Woolhouse È

Fountain Courtyard, Stephen Newby Ë

Cast Glass, Reception, Kathryn Hodgkinson Ó

A wide variety of hospital staff were involved inselecting the artists who were commissioned forthe new PFI hospital. This has led to the creationof new creative spaces by five artists within themain courtyards and waiting rooms.

James Cook HospitalHealing Arts Project

Spinal Injuries Unit, Bridget Jones Ï Ë ÈÈ

Paediatric Out Patient Play Table, Lee and Jill Brewster È

The South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust committed to asignificant programme of artists commissions at an earlystage within Middlesbrough’s new PFI hospital, andtogether with architects HLM have delivered diversecommissions and an ongoing live arts programme,which highlight the therapeutic values of a welldesigned environment.

HEALTH

Sedgefield Community Hospital

Gilbert Ward Í

Mike Stiff ÍÍ

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust

Images of Trust, Ikuko Tsuchiya È

Images of Trust is a joint photographic projectbetween Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust andNorthumbria University. The project aims todocument healthcare at the turn of the 21st century,and create images that will provide important archivematerial about healthcare processes at a time of greatchange within the NHS.

Dryburn Hospital

Glass canopy, Martin Donlin Ë

Newcastle General Hospital

Table, David Arnold È

Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment, NewcastleGeneral Hospital has established ‘The Room for You’,a space where artists in residence can work alongside patients and staff to develop visual arts projectsand new artworks for the hospital.

Henry Wellcome Buildingfor Neuroecology

Dyslexics, Katharine Dowson ÈÈ

Myriad, Katharine Dowson È

‘Myriad’ is artist Katharine Dowson’s most ambitious work,with over 4000 optical lenses linked together to form asuspended transparent curtain within the University’s newbuilding for award-winning research into brain and behaviour.The building features a changing programme of artworks.

COMMUNITY

The Roundy

Colin Rose È

‘The Roundy’ was commissioned as a memorial to the miningindustry by residents group Ushaw Moor First whichcampaigns for improvements for the City of Durham village.Traditionally a ‘Roundy’ was a miner’s term for a large lumpof coal, the Ushaw Moor Roundy stands at over four metershigh and weighs over 14 tons!

World Fruit

Andrew McKeown È

The brief for Ayresome Gardens asked for a series ofartworks which reflected the diverse communities thatsurround and use the community park. Taking the themesof cooking and food the artist spent time with localresidents to create exotic cast iron fruits and vegetableswhich are playfully sited under trees throughout the park.

Steenbergs Glass

Effie Burns Á

Four artists based in the Ouseburn Valleyworked with Home Housing and Byker BridgeHousing Association to produce new glasscommissions for the new community housingcreated within the restored warehouse.

Coquet Early Years Excellence Centre

Soft Play, Bridget Mary Kennedy È

Glass, Effie Burns ÈÈ

Northumberland’s new centre for pre-schoolchildren has commissioned artists to createfurniture, glass, creative play equipment andsound sculpture to provide a stimulating andfriendly environment for children and families.

Space for Sport and the Arts

Glass, Sue Woolhouse È

Space for Sports and the Arts is enabling 11 localauthorities in the North East to build new creative spaceswithin 48 Primary Schools. A range of artists are workingwith architects and schools to create integrated artworks forthe new buildings. Artist Sue Woolhouse is creating glassfor four schools in Redcar and Cleveland.

COMMUNITY

Greenfield School Community and Arts College

Artists Colin Wilbourn and David Patons’ lyrical stonecarving at the building’s entrance is one of five artistscommissions within the region’s first specialist artscollege in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Á

Westmoor Primary

Sculptor Richard Caink created a series ofplay features for the newly built school inNorth Tyneside. È

National Association of Youth Theatres, Darlington

This Regional Arts Lottery Programme (RALP)funded commission aimed to transform a suite ofrooms in Darlington Arts Centre into a functionalheadquarters for NAYT. Artist Roger Dickinson’swork included objects and drawings based ontheatrical role-play and costumes to create a hybridoffice and performance space. È

Prudhoe Waterworld

Tynedale District Council received RALP funding tocommission artists Maddi Nicholson and Stuart Bastik todesign a unique soft play environment. ‘Insides Out’consists of a giant interactive human body on three levels,complete with spinning blood cells, climbing fingers, atongue slide, inflatable rib cage and giant head lice. È

Northern Rock Foundation

A team of glass artists – Effie Burns, Kathryn Hodgkinsonand Gavin Marshall – have collaborated with Jane Darbyshireand David Kendall Ltd, Chartered Architects to produce aseries of cast and etched glass details throughout the lateVictorian church which has been converted as the newheadquarters for the charitable Northern Rock Foundation. Í

ENVIRONMENT

Minotaur, Nick Coombe and Shona Kitchen ÎÁ

‘Minotaur’ will be a contemporary maze sited byKielder Castle which combines wire gabion cagesfilled with local whinstone with a central chamberlined with turquoise glass.

The Italian Tower, Nathan Coley Ë

Produced during his Year of the Artist Residency,Nathan Coley’s temporary sculpture was sited inKielder Water opposite Leaplish Waterside Park.

The Samling Foundation Á

The Samling Foundation funded five young artists toproduce temporary commissions whilst in residencewith school students at Kielder.

Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva used floating screens of cressto create ‘Road to Nowhere’ and demonstrated thatthe ‘Land and the Samling’ project could facilitateeducational and unexpected interventions within thevast Kielder landscape.

Kielder Water and Forest Park

The Kielder Partnership’s commitment to visual artbegan in 1995 and has now evolved into an ongoingprogramme of Art and Architecture projects.

ENVIRONMENT

Durham Gateway

Peter Fink

The new bridge at Wynyard marks a boundarybetween County Durham and Teeside and the artistworked with County Durham engineers and Sustransto create a sculptural intervention for the newsuspension bridge which now provides a cycle linkover the A689. È

Darlington WestPark

Developers Bussey and Armstrongcontacted Commissions North at the veryearliest stages of the project’s developmentto discuss how to integrate public artthroughout an eight year scheme which willcreate a new park, housing, hospital, sportsground and school on a former brownfieldsite in Darlington.

The arts programme has been led by poetW N Herbert who researched and wrote theWestPark Poetry plan entitled ‘CaringSharing Daring’. The poetry is now beingcarved, sculpted and cast into numerousfeatures across WestPark and will beintegrated into the new architecture of thehospital, housing and school to give thewhole development a coherent andengaging narrative. Ë

ENVIRONMENT

Consett Steel Park

Andy McKeown È

‘Fe3 02’ is a work of text and cast iron,commissioned to mark the processes and skillsinvolved in iron and steel making within therestoration of Consett Steel Park which is one of thefew remaining historic links between heavy industryand the growth of the town.

Albert Park, Middlesbrough

Sue Woolhouse È

Middlesbrough Council commissioned glass artistSue Woolhouse to design three new gates and abridge within the Victorian park which has beenrestored with support from the Heritage Lottery.The local community were involved in theproduction of the cast glass and Sue worked withblacksmith John Hay to fabricate the gates.

Ouseburn Waymarkers

Lewis Robinson ÁÍ

The Ouseburn valley partnership received fundingfrom RALP to commission a series of sculptures toencourage people to explore the areas uniqueindustry, architecture and environment.

The Alnwick Garden

Alnwick Castle is the seat of the Duke ofNorthumberland and since 1996 the Duchess hasworked to transform a derelict 12-acre site intoEurope’s finest new garden, which acknowledgesthe spirit of earlier classical gardens but aims to bea stunning contemporary garden for the 21stcentury through the commissioning of innovativeartists and designers. È

ENVIRONMENT

Greenheart

William Pym È

Great North Forest commissioned William Pym to create fiveForest Gateways for newly planted sites on the urban fringein Tyne and Wear, which are all linked by a history of coalmining and a new future as environmental resources for localcommunities to enjoy.

Source of the South Tyne

Gilbert Ward È

The East Cumbria Countryside Agency gathered localpeople, farmers and walkers to develop the commissionwith sculptor Gilbert Ward to mark the source of the SouthTyne in one of England’s most remote and beautifullandscapes, south of Alston.

Quantum Sheep – Poetry in Motion

Poet Valerie Laws used the basicframework of quantum mechanics:randomness, duality and the influenceof the observer on the observed.

Fifteen sheep had one word from a pre-written poem sprayed onto their fleece,and a platform was constructed toobserve both the random movement ofanimals and a new poetic format.

URBAN DESIGN

Blue Carpet

Thomas Heatherwick’s new public square inNewcastle has transformed an unloved spacearound the Laing Art Gallery. ‘The Blue Carpet’introduces colour and a cohesive surface to a settingthat contains a mix of building types and had nodefining character. Laid across the square and ‘ridingup’ against the gallery, the carpet draws thebuildings together and creates an intimate openspace for both performance and play. The surfacehas been peeled back to create benches and lightvoids, and the project incorporates an elegantlaminated wooden spiral staircase.

URBAN DESIGN

Market Square, Chester-le-Street

Artist Jo Fairfax worked with Chester-le-StreetDistrict Council’s design team to produce a range ofdesigns and creative visions for the new MarketSquare and creative lighting scheme. È

Blyth Riverside Regeneration

A series of community design meetings led by artistSimon Packard helped to develop his conceptualdesigns for ‘The Spirit of the Staithes’, a large-scalesculpture which will stand with Blyth’s windgenerating turbines along the historic quayside. È

Hartlepool Headland

Artist Judith Gor and Chrysalis Arts have beencommissioned to propose designs for lightsculpture at Hartlepool Headland as a key partof the SRB Environmental Improvements. Á

Sunniside Park, Sunderland City Centre

Alphaville were commissioned to develop a series ofpermanent and temporary art projects to influence thevision for Sunderland’s cultural quarter based aroundSunniside Park. È

Up Front: Redcar and Cleveland

Lewis Robinson andblacksmith James Godbold Á

‘Up Front’ was a sculptural project incollaboration with the local South BankCommunity. Redcar and Cleveland BoroughCouncil developed the Single RegenerationBudget (SRB) project with Cleveland Arts toreplace the old boundary wall of the formerSouth Bank football ground.

URBAN DESIGN

Barratt: Royal Court,Sunderland

Housebuilders Barratt worked with theCouncil’s Public Art Officer to commissionfour sculptures by Anthony Turner, whichare the first pieces of public art to becommissioned by the City of Sunderlandwithin a private housing development. È

Wimpey Homes:Staiths South Bank, Gateshead

Wimpey Homes invited designers Wayne and GerardineHemingway – vocal critics of volume housing provision –to design a 688 Home Zone development on the banks ofthe River Tyne at Gateshead. Through this collaboration,the Hemingways are working with Newcastle based IDPArchitects on the overall design concept and to integratetheir principals of design, community and affordabilitythroughout the project. Á

Bellway Homes:Chesters Wood,Chester-le-Street

Sculptor David Paton wascommissioned to produce a number ofsculptural pieces across the housingdevelopment. The site is located on aformer brickworks and the sculpturesrelate to St Stephen, the patron saintof bricklayers and stonemasons. È

Greys Monument Lighting, Simon Watkinson

The artist worked with restoration expertsClassic Masonry to cast the head of Earl Greyin situ. This cast was then digitally scannedand laser carved from solid acrylic blocks.The four resulting ‘headcubes’ are edge litwithin the Monuments plinth and refer tacitlyto the lightening strike of 1941, which toppledthe statue’s head.

The Grainger Town Project

Often cited as a leading proponent of heritage-ledregeneration, the six year scheme to restore andinvigorate the historic heart of Newcastle haspositively engaged with many artists to design andproduce new artworks that sit within the listedarchitectural context whilst bringing acontemporary sense to the now bustling area.Over six years, the Partnership has approved over£1million of investment for public art projects inGrainger Town.

URBAN DESIGN

The Grainger Town Project

Theatre Royal, Simon Watkinson Î Á

LED lighting is used to create an animated curtain oflight within the portico of the Theatre, bothsignalling the building’s use and creating a dramaticthreshold for theatre goers. Artist Simon Watkinsonworked with Arup Engineers in developing thereflective PVC canopy set within the coffer space,which heightens the intensity of light.

Street furniture È ËInsite designGlass, Cate WatkinsonPoetry, Julia Darling

URBAN DESIGN

Grainger Town Map, work in progress, Tod Hanson and Simon Watkinson È

Welcome Mats, design visualisation, Catherine Bertola Á

Grainger Town’s decision to appoint a Public ArtPanel ensured that a consistent group could developbriefs, select artists and support new designs andcommissions within the overarching regenerationprogramme for Newcastle’s historic centre. The mainaim of the Panel was to provide the best possibleadvice on commissioning to Grainger Town’sPartnership Board.

The Grainger Town Project

The Gate, design visualisation, Danny Lane Á

Danny Lane’s Stacked glass sculpture has beencommissioned in partnership with Land Securitieswho are the developers for The Gate entertainmentcomplex. The proposal was developed throughGrainger Town’s commitment to encourage theprivate sector to commission artists within capitaldevelopments in Newcastle.

Cardinal George ‘Basil’ Hume Sculpture andMemorial Garden, Nigel Boonham È

Opened by The Queen during Jubilee Year, thesculpture stands within a newly designed publicspace at St Mary’s Cathedral, which has beencreated to celebrate Basil Hume’s lifelongassociation with Northumbria.

How Long, detail, Rupert Clamp ÈÈ

Red Wall, design visualisation, Cath Campbell Á

Man with potential selves, detail, Sean Henry Ì

TEMPORARY

Allenheads Contemporary Arts

Based in the old Victorian school house overlookingthe village of Allenheads in Northumberland, artistsAlan Smith and Helen Ratcliff established AllenheadsContemporary Arts as an independent art andeducation organisation in 1994.

ACA provides a residential studio, digital facilities andexhibition space within The Old Schoolhouse which isused as a laboratory and meeting place for artists,scientists and curators wanting to collaborate onambitious arts and environmental projects.

Trapper’s Hut È

Artists Bruce Gilchrist and Jo Joelson were inresidence at Allenheads Contemporary Arts as part ofthe national Year of the Artist programme in 2001.

‘Trapper’s Hut’ was installed at AllenheadsContemporary Arts for a 24 hour period in mid-summer 2002. The virtual daylight panel was activatedat mid-day, and only became apparent as light in theenvironment faded. During twilight, night and earlymorning, light appeared to have been ‘trapped’ withinthe hut from the previous day.

Isis Arts

Initiated in 2000, The Big M is a highly-stylised inflatable structure that functions asa temporary and mobile venue for thepresentation of artists’ video and digitalmedia. The inaugural programme featured21 newly commissioned and contemporaryworks by 16 artists. The Big M has toured toover 20 sites in the UK and Europe and wasseen by more than 30,000 people. Á

Locus +

Tanya Axford’s temporary installation‘Babels Folly’ was one of three sitespecific commissions by Locus + inNewcastle in 2001. Locus + continue todeliver a national programme ofchallenging projects and publicationsfrom their Tyneside base which empowersartists to set a critical agenda. ÈË

TEMPORARY

Living Proof

Simon Jones’ installation was part of‘Living Proof’, a weekend of artist-ledprojects within the renovated Bewick Court,a residential tower block in Newcastle. Á

At Home I am a Tourist

Artist David Goard continues a creativerelationship with Gateshead MBC followinga residency within the PlanningDepartment. His temporary projects,performances and installations maintainthe debate about public space against abackdrop of huge regeneration. Á

VANE/Capital

More! Natalie Frost Ë

Sewing Through Space, Jen Douglas Í

Following the successful growth of artist led eventswithin VANE (Visual Arts North East), Capitalprovided a month long programme of visual artsinterventions throughout Newcastle in 2002involving 27 artists.

TEMPORARY

Killhope Museum

Artist Kathryn Hodgkinson produced a number ofcast glass sculptures during her residency at KillhopeMuseum inspired by Spar Boxes that were createdby 19th century lead miners. È

Berwick Gymnasium Art Gallery

Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva created the exquisitely crafted‘Epidermis’ from 1000 salmon skins and skeletons,suspended from nylon threads within the BerwickGymnasium Art Gallery. The project was part ofEnglish Heritage’s ongoing fellowship programmewhich enables contemporary artists to develop newwork whilst in residence in Berwick upon Tweed. Á

The Berwick Gymnasium Fellowship enabled UtaKogelsberger to develop ‘Moon Struck’, a new bodyof work that responds to the expansiveNorthumbrian landscape. Ë

PRIVATE SECTOR

CityWest

Centreland considered proposals from aninternational shortlist of artists to create designs for agateway sculpture for their new development in thewest end of Newcastle. Wolfgang Weileder’s idea for‘Ring’ was selected and proposes an endless spiralstaircase that ascends and descends to form a giantloop and visual gateway for the city. È

Centre North East

Marchday Holdings decision to commission lightingfor their imposing office block in Middlesbrough hasturned the building into an evening landmark on theTeesside skyline. Arts and Business has supportedRon Haselden’s commission for ‘Rose’ which usesneon to animate a new identity for the building. Ë

Capital Shopping Centres PLC

Glass artist Cate Watkinson collaborated with HaskollsArchitects and Gateshead Council to develop the designfor a major glass, stainless steel and lighting beaconthat will visually mark the new development of theMetro Centre, Gateshead. È

PRIVATE SECTOR

The Watermark

Developers City and Northern selected DannyClahane from a shortlist of invited artists to createsculpture, seating and signage in polished slate,marble and limestone for the new Watermarkoffice development. Á

Blue River Design

Newcastle based artist Wolfgang Weileder’sdesign is the first installation at Blue RiverDesign’s offices in Newcastle. Through apartnership with Arts and Business andCommissions North, Blue River Design haveturned their derelict railway gates into an excitingvenue for temporary public arts commissionswhich will provide a unique showcase for regionalartists to make new experimental artworks. È

Red Box Design

Fenwick Lawson’s evocative sculpture was the firstwork to be shown at architects Red Box’ purpose builtspace for contemporary art within their new offices atthe Old Post Office, St Nicholas Chare, Newcastle. È

Silverlink

Artist Peter Randall-Page will create three geometricsculptures based upon large glacial boulders for thenew Trinity Gardens development, which will linkNewcastle’s Quayside to the city centre. Silverlink’searly commitment to engage an artist within thedevelopment of the public realm has enabled ameaningful dialogue between the artist, landscapedesigners and architects. Î

PRIVATE SECTOR

UK Land Estates

Artists Colin Wilbourn and Joss Smith have creatednew sculpture in stone within a series of landscapedsquares at the The Waterfront business park.

UK Land Estates ensured designs were incorporatedearly within the procurement process which has ledto an elegant fountain by Joss Smith and a series ofplayful carvings of hidden objects and viewpoints byColin Wilbourn.

One NorthEast

A high of 360 degrees, Tanya Axford È

The Regional Development Agency hasdemonstrated its commitment to contemporary artby developing a programme of arts commissionswithin their new headquarters at Newburn Riversidedesigned by architects Red Box. The main atriumcommission features a kinetic installation by artistTanya Axford and was selected from four ideas byartists based in the North East. The work featuresover 250 electric fans, which are electronicallyprogrammed to start and stop in sequence andcreate a wave of movement across the space.

River Folds, Wellington Reiter Á

Wellington Reiter was invited to develop ideas fora sculptural beacon for the new One NorthEastoffices, that draws upon the potent symbol of theregions rivers within a series of contemporarysculptural structures.

PRIVATE SECTOR

Central Square South

Water Cone, William Pye È

Reaching for the stars, Kenneth Armitage Ë

Parabola Estates’ commitment tocommissioning high quality artworksthroughout their developments at CentralSquare, Newcastle, contributed to their successin winning the National Award for RefurbishedWorkspace from the British Council of Offices.

NCFE

Glass artist Sarah Blood was commissioned toproduce a series of intriguing glass objects for thenew NCFE reception in Newcastle while DominicFondé worked with staff to produce a creative storythat was etched into his blown glass sculpture. Á

Newcastle University

Painter Phil Morsman produced dramatic andatmospheric designs which were digitally printed andenlarged to form unique soundproofing screenswithin the University’s new Bedson lecture theatrewhich the Estates Office has created within a formermining workshop. È

PRIVATE SECTOR

Arup

Artist Paul Scott took four Northumbrian castlesas thematic inspiration to produce ceramiccollage and signage for the meeting rooms atArup’s offices at Central Square, Newcastle. ÈÎ

Seaham Hall

Glass, Bridget Jones Á

Charybdis, William Pye Ë

William Pye’s stunning water vortex ‘Charybdis’was commissioned by the owners of SeahamHall to create a unique welcome to the new hoteldevelopment at the former home of Lord Byronin County Durham.

PRIVATE SECTOR

Newcastle Estates Partnership

Effie Burns ÎË

Dominic Fondé ÈÈ

Diane Welford È

Jo Coupe Á

NEP demonstrated a commitment to involve andrelease the creativity of staff when their tenantsmoved into new office accommodation at BentonPark View, Newcastle upon Tyne, which wasdesigned by Sir Michael Hopkins and Partners.Working in partnership with Commissions North andthe staff steering group, a series of excitingcontemporary artworks were commissioned whichengaged personnel on many levels.

There were four artists involved in the project: EffieBurns produced a series of cast glass architecturalforms for each office atrium; Jo Coupe took wildflowers from the surrounding site and transformedthem into fine bronze casts which refer to Victorianbotanical illustrations; glass artist and writer DominicFondé asked staff to keep diaries and then etchedindividual entries onto 24 blown glass vessels; andDiane Welford collected the staff’s thought forms andreinvented them as miniature bronze sculptures.

PRIVATE SECTOR

Northern Rock PLC

Paul Merrick Ë

Laura Johnston Á

Sue Woolhouse

Roger Dickinson

Edward Clarke È

The dramatic growth of Northern Rock has led tothe expansion of their Head Offices in Gosforthwhich are being designed by architects Red Box.A commitment to engage with a range of artistswas taken early in the design process and fiveartists were selected from an invited designcompetition to produce contemporary works forthe new office environment.

The main atrium commission has enabled PaulMerrick to produce 60 abstract paintings whichwill be dramatically hung across the new space. Ë

Laura Johnston’s suspended diacroic glasssculpture will animate the new staff restaurantspace as the glass filters and refracts light. Á

Edward Clarke considered Northern Rock’s historyin the region and made 10 architectural drawingsof towns from Tyneside to Teesside. È

TRANSPORT

Nexus

Tag-Tile, Longbenton Metro Station, Simon Jones and Robert Belilios Ë

White Light, St Peter’s Station, Ron Haselden Á

Communion, Tynemouth Metro Station, Julie Livsey Í

The adoption of a Percent for Art policy in 1996 hasenabled Nexus to strategically implement an ongoingprogramme of both temporary and permanent artists’commissions across the public transport system onTyne and Wear.

TRANSPORT

Newcastle Airport

Cate Watkinson’s glass screen was commissioned forthe new international arrivals terminal at NewcastleAirport. Titled ‘Steady Eddy’, the glass image refersto global air currents, the work marks a new gatewayinto the North East. È

Nexus

Circuit, Monument Metro Station, Richard Cole Á

Pulse, Four Lane Ends Metro Station,Andrew Stonyer Ë

Cullercoats Metro Station, Steve Hines Ó

‘Faith, hope & charity’ – a temporary projection,was created to transform the southbound platformby introducing a universal symbol of affection.

CUMBRIA

In 2002 Northern Arts ceased to work in Cumbria,however a legacy of new commissions are in placeand many exciting new projects are in developmentthroughout the region.

Lakes College West Cumbria, Maddi Nicholson ÈÈ

Tullie House Millennium Gallery, Minerals and cast glass, Kathryn Hodgkinson È

Penrith Millennium Stone,Eden Arts / Cardoso Kindersley Workshop Î

Grizedale

Artist Graeme Roger was employed by the localcommunity to perform a hermitage in Grizedaleforest within a structure designed by architecturalgroup FAT. ÈÈ

Art Gene, Maddi Nicholson,artist led gallery and studios Î

Projection, Barrow in Furness, Stephan Gec È

YEAR OF THE ARTIST

Julia Barton

Julia Barton’s ‘Phyto-form’ exhibition was theculmination of a year’s residency at Levens Hall. Hersculptural topiary was created through collaborationwith the gardeners and inspired by the world famousplanting and Elizabethan costume. The Year of theArtist scheme of 2000-01 aimed to raise the profile ofartists by enabling 102 residencies with new partnersin public settings in the North.

ENCORE

Paul Moss

Paul Moss worked with IDP Architects for ayear to explore the process of buildingdesign and procurement and to enable thearchitects to interact with his contemporarypractice. The process was funded through theEncore programme of bursaries which havebeen created following the Year of the Artistto provide creative and professionaldevelopment for individual artists.

Commissions North was established in April 1999to provide advice, information and practicalsupport in the field of arts commissioning.

Based within Northern Arts, Commissions Northaims to help public and private sectororganisations and businesses to commissionartists and to promote new creativeopportunities in the region.

If you would like advice or information oncommissioning, contact:

Matthew JarrattCommissions Officer Commissions North Northern Arts Central Square Forth Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3PJ

0191 255 8555

matthew.jarratt@northernarts.org.uk

www.arts.org.uk

Screen, Stephen Newby ÁSeating, Ali RhindClock, Fiona Grey

Photographers: AirFotos, John Alevroyianni,Christian Barnes, George Bosnyak,Stewart Bonney Agency, City Repro,Steve Collins, Chris Cowan, John Donoghue,Lindsay Duncanson, Elliot Young,Foster and Partners, Stan Gamester,Andrew Gryf Paterson, Jerry hardman-Jones,Matthew Jarratt, Teesside University VR Centre,Sally Ann Norman, Keith Paisley, Keith Pattison,Mark Pinder, Mike Stiff, Laurence Ward,David Williams.

Written and edited by Matthew Jarratt

Compiled by Sally Ann Atkinson

Design and direction by Ripe Design, Gateshead

Back cover fold out

History of the Future, Tod HansonCourtesy of the Herwood Collection

Commissioned by Northern Architecture, Tod Hanson’svision of a futuristic Tyneside could be considered as acreative blueprint for challenging new design, art andarchitecture within a time of frenetic regeneration andrenaissance in the North East.

Back cover

Blue Carpet, Thomas Heatherwick