by wangi » 16 Aug 2004, 09:39
Cornerboy, I know what you're saying but the "installation" was finished at the start of the month (hence a bash to open it) - although it was an "evolving" piece. That evolution has only started this past weekend.
I think the original setup was much better - the simplicity of the single ring of pink thingies is far better than the mass/mess of them now (picture to follow)... However, that's just my personal opinion.
People are entitled to criticise the piece - after all it is their money that has funded it. Passing people have said to me why hasn't the money been spent planting trees for the area outside the pumping station, for weeding the cobbles, for recovering the garden furniture that has been lobbed into the sea by vandals, for... These are all valid points. However it has to be noted that the guys behind "Big Things on the Beach" actually had the get-up-and-go to actually get the funding to allow their work to progress - anyone who moans about wasted money should do the same for whatever they want it spent on!
(BTW some guys were back working at it 0800 this morning! Grafters!)
I support the idea behind "Big Things on the Beach", but I think a permanent piece on the Prom would have been a much better start. Think of the art along other waterfront areas... Personally my favourite is John Kindness's (no relation) ceramic on Belfast's quayside.
EDIT: Have fired off an email to BTOTB inviting them to join this discussion.
Lee Kindness