Conversations from the Edge

Interviews with 25 Great Yarmouth Artists

Conversations from the Edge is a research project undertaken by the sculptor Bridget Heriz which was supported by SeaChange Arts and funded through the Working Neighbourhood Fund.  Transcripts from conversations with 25 artists from Great Yarmouth have been posted to the Transitions site linked to EastCoastNet, and can be accessed by clicking on the name of the artist in the list below. 

Charcrit Boonsom, photographer

Janice Burgoyne, sculptor, workshops

Julia Cake, sculptor, workshops

Margaret Carver, RSM, SWA, landscape painter and Chair of Great Yarmouth and District Society of Artists

Bill Casey, photographer and member of Great Yarmouth and District Photographic Society

Ernie and Karen Childs, Great Yarmouth Potteries, workshops

Katarzyna Coleman, painter, printmaker, workshops

John Dashwood, painter, muralist and poet

Jankie Drummond, textile artist, community arts and carnival, workshops

Lorraine Finch,  paper and photographic conservator, workshops

Kevin Griffiths, painter

Jane Hall, painter

Matthew Harrison, film-maker, community arts

Derek Jackson, photographer

John Kiki, painter

Julian Macey, RMS, painter, President of Great Yarmouth and District Society of Artists

Jason Parr, sculptor and poet, community arts

Emrys Parry, painter

Emily Payne, film-maker

Manuel Seixas, photographer, community arts

Bruer Tidman, painter

Jonathan Tooke, poet, writer and artist

Ian Walker, marine painter and Chair of Great Yarmouth Guild of Artists and Craftsmen

Nick Ward, RE, printmaker

Jason Parr exhibition at the Library

Jason Parr is exhibiting his work at Great Yarmouth Central Library.  This interesting exhibition includes sculptures and spoons carved in wood and stone, uniquely carved chairs, drawings, prints and writing.  It opens Monday, 21st  to 26th March 2011.  For more information about Jason click here

  Suffering Time, walnut, yew, marble, by Jason Parr

Public Art Commission at Central Library

The medallions that Charlotte Howarth has created for the public art commission at the Central Library have now been installed.   For futher information on this site about Charlotte click here. 

The installation will be officially ’unveiled’ at the Central Library’s Celebration Day on Saturday 26th February, 2011, 11.00 -15.00 hrs, when there will a full programme of activities to mark  the conclusion of the refurbishment programme:

Fancy Dress (as a Children’s Book Character), Shanty Singing, Theatre Group Performance,  Wii Tournament,  Free admission to the tolhouse with activities, Cinema Club showing short local themes, Head Massager, Family History Taster Sessions, Art and Craft Sessions, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Instant Takeaway Gardening, plus free refreshments!

One of the medallions created by Charlotte Howarth for the Central Library public art commission.  Designs for the medallions were inspired by ideas created in the community workshops which Charlotte led last year. Click here for more information on the workshops.

Public Art in St. George’s Park

The arch on the south-east gateway to St. George’s Park  was created in 2008 by Master Blacksmith Bill Cordaroy, from East Ruston.  His design of abstracted fishing nets and seaweed reflects styles from the nearby former Art School.

The wooden carved sculpture of St George slaying the dragon seen beyond the gate in this photograph was carved by Mark Goldsworthy from Bungay.

The public art in St. George’s was commissioned as part of the Cleaner, Safer, Greener scheme with funding from the DCLG under the Safer and Stronger Communities funding stream, with supporting funding from Great Yarmouth Borough Council.  To find out more see an article on the Green Flag Award on the Council’s website here.

Public Art: Herring Arch by Nigel Barnett

This is a detail of the Herring Arch over the north entrance to St. George’s Park.  The arch was created by master blacksmith, Nigel Barnett of Fransham Forge.

The arch, constructed in mild steel and representing ropes intertwined with herrings, seaweed and star fish, was commissioned by the Great Yarmouth Borough Council under the supervision of Darren Barker, as part of the St. George’s Park refurbishment project undertaken in 2008 by the Borough and County Councils in partnership with Mott MacDonald, May Gurney and GYB Services.

St George’s Park was awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award from the Civic Trust in 2008.  Photograph by Derek Jackson.

Charlotte Howarth

Congratulations to Charlotte Howarth who has been selected for the Grat Yarmouth Central Library Public Art Commission advertised earlier on EastCoastNet.

Charlotte is a sculptor, designer, stone carver and letterer. Working in a variety of materials, stone, wood and steel, her work shows a deep sensitivity to line, pattern and texture. Her work is influenced by the tradition of recording events from everyday life, creating a document to give future generations an insight and understanding into our lives and times.

She has successfully completed a variety of public art commissions and has developed a strong understanding of community involvement, incorporating many different approaches, working with a wide variety of community groups with a diverse range of abilities. Charlotte also works on a range of private commissions including sculptures and lettering design as well as working on her own projects for exhibition.

Illustrated: Children at Play by Charlotte Howarth, brick, 300x300c6cm, 2007, Old Firestation, Fountain Estate, Londonderry.  To find out more about this project go to Charlotte’s page on Axis by clicking here

After studying lettering at the City and Guilds of London Art School (1st) Charlotte worked as an assistant to Richard Kindersley at his workshop in London.  She then went to work in Cork for 6 years as an assistant to Ken Thompson, where she developed her work on larger than life figurative carvings, Stations of the Cross and inscriptional work, both small and large scale.  Charlotte is now based at Kings Lynn and in 2005 set up Making Marks Ltd, as a focus for her work within the public arena.

Mother & Child in Limbo, public art in Great Yarmouth

Mother and Child, carving in York stone, by Bridget Heriz, commissioned for the Cobholm and Lichfield  Resource Centre by the Bridge Trust, 2006, funded by SRB5.  The sculpture has been moved whilst building works are taking place to extend the Resource Centre and I hope this photographic compilation (background from the avenue in the graveyard) does not relate to the fate of the sculpture!

April 2010:  The carving has been relocated in the new foyer of the Cobholm and Lichfield Resource Centre.  It looks fine in its new setting apart from the notices mounted on the wall unnecessarily close the sculpture.

Public Art by Andrew Tanser, Middlegate Garden

Stone Sofa by Andrew Tanser, 2004, photograph by Derek Jackson 2009

This stone carving by Andrew Tanser was commissioned in 2004 as part of the Middlegate Garden project funded by SRB, Integreat and GYBC.  Andrew also designed the massive gates.  Andrew lead workshops with young residents from the surrounding estate, who participated in the project to improve this garden area between the two English Heritage sites on South Quay.  For more information on Andrew’s work click here to view his website.

Public Art, Mark Goldsworthy, Lichfield Community Centre

Chalky White, a fisherman counting in the fish with the assistance of his cat, looks out upons the play area at the Lichfield Community Centre, Suffolk Road.   The sculpture by Mark Goldsworthy commemorates 1,000 years of maritime history in Great Yarmouth and is carved from the trunk of an oak tree.   The work was funded by SRB5.

Mark also created the St.George and the Dragon sculpture in St. George’s Park.

Mark attended foundation course at Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design in 1981-82 before going on to Manchester Polytechnic.  For more information, click here to view his website.

Public Art by Alison Atkins, Middlegate Garden

The Wish is the work of Alison Atkins. The sculpture, made from corten steel, was installed in 2004 in Middlegate Garden, between the English Heritage Row Houses on South Quay. Alison was commissioned through a competition conceived and arranged by Darren Barker for final year students at Norwich Art School. It was funded by SRB, Integreat and GYBC, with a contribution from the Arts Generate Fund, Arts Council England East, administered by The SeaChange Trust.
Alison also created the bronze swill baskets located at the same site and Andrew Tanser carved the stone Sofa.  Both Alison and Andrew worked with young people from the surrounding area who were closely involved in the project to improve the garden.  To find out more about the project, click here to view Andrew Tanser’s website. The photographs are by Derek Jackson.

The Wish, by Alison Atkins