[13
NOV 00] GROUNDWORK COVENTRY NEWS
Young Artists Bring Fence To Life
Young
artists in Coventry have teamed up to add a splash of colour to
Coventry canal by painting a mural on a dilapidated fence.
THE FENCE BEFORE
(ABOVE) AND AFTER THE WORK (BELOW)
Nine
painters, helped by community artists, have brighten up the stretch
forming the boundary between the Courtaulds (now called Acordis) and
the canal.
Comics,
wildlife, graffiti-style art, the canal site and their own interests as
were all used as inspiration for the designs developed in workshops with
Ivor Arbuckle, of Walsall-based Splinter Community Arts, and freelance
artist Pete Smith.
Each
of the young artists worked up a number of ideas which were then assembled
into a rough layout. Ivor then worked the designs into a coherent mural
design.
The
mural "canvas", a corrugated metal fence presented a difficult
challenge as a surface on which to paint.
A CLOSE-UP OF ONE OF
THE DESIGNS
Ivor
said:
"Normally
it takes a while to master the techniques of spray can painting because
of the protective masks and clothing we have to wear.
“We
thought the corrugated metal would add to the difficulties but we were
really surprised at how quickly the young people took to it and how well
they managed to get the paint on with colour variations and mixes.
“It
took just two days to transfer their designs into a 100 ft long mural on
the fence."
Peter
Shone, Acordis site manager, was so impressed with the work the youngsters
produced that he presented them with Certificates of Achievement.
The
mural was part of a wider programme of canal boundary improvements funded
by Government and European Regional Development funds, which are being
undertaken by Groundwork Coventry in partnership with Coventry City
Council.
The
mural is not a formal part of the public art trail, which runs along the
five and a half miles between Hawkesbury Junction, Longford and Coventry
Canal Basin.
But
it was recognised that the public would see it as part of the decorations,
and the quality of the artwork had to stand up against other works along
the route.
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