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New Artwork At Woodbridge Meadows Reflects Life Under the Water of the River Wey

Published on: 20 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 20 Oct, 2016

A new piece of artwork with a fishy theme has been unveiled beside the River Wey at Woodbridge Meadows in Guildford.

Pictured from left at the unveiling of Silver `schoon at Woodbridge Meadows: artist

Pictured from left at the unveiling of Silver Shoon at Woodbridge Meadows: artist Charles Normandale: actor Mick Keegan: the Mayor of Guilford, Gordon Jackson; and Cllr Nikki Nelson-Smith. Pupils from Northmead Junior School are in the background. Click to enlarge in a new window.

Silver Shoon, has been created by artist Charles Normandale with help from pupils at Northmead Junior School and reflects the nature of the area by metal fish swimming among tall, curved reeds.

The £70,000 project has been commissioned by Guildford Borough Council, funded from what is known as a Section 106 developer contribution for art. (Details see below).

The Mayor of Guildford, Gordon Jackson, unveiled the artwork on Wednesday (October 19). He was joined by the artist; members of the Guildford Public Art Advisory Group; pupils from Northmead Junior school; Cllr Nikki Nelson Smith, lead councillor for heritage and the arts; and members of the project board from the council.

p1020816The artwork is inspired by the poem Silver by Walter de la Mare. Mr Normandale creation reflects the feeling of walking on the river bed, among the reeds, with the fish swimming above.

At the unveiling actor Mick Keegan read an extract from the poem Silver.

The robust and hand-forged steel artwork is able to withstand flooding. The fish are made from stainless steel and the reeds are made of cor-ten steel, which will gradually weather and become darker over time, due to the natural oxidisation process.

Cllr Nikki Nelson Smith said: “I’m delighted that this striking, original piece of public art has been created for everyone to enjoy – it has the potential to become a real local landmark. The artwork complements existing environmental improvements, and is a great contribution to the riverside area.

In creating the artwork two workshops were held: the first at Northmead Junior School, and the second being a public workshop.

p1020812Participants at the both worked with Mr Normandale and his team of artists to create drawings and sketches of fish, native to the River Wey. At Northmead, they then made these into a large frieze.

Click here for previous story about the workshop at Northmead Junior School.

The Section 106 developer agreement relates to two planning applications that date back to 2003 that were passed for a development on the site of a former motor garage – once Grays of Guildford, then a Deawoo motors garage, on Woodbridge Road / Woodbridge Meadows.

The development that was built is currently occupied by a Travelodge hotel, Frankie & Benny’s restaurant, The Gym, and Evans cycle store.

Click here for previous story about public art in Guildford.

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Responses to New Artwork At Woodbridge Meadows Reflects Life Under the Water of the River Wey

  1. Bernard Parke Reply

    October 21, 2016 at 7:28 am

    Such art will no doubt help to relieve the tension felt by motorists as they wait patiently in one of the most congested area of the town.

  2. C Barker Reply

    October 21, 2016 at 7:59 am

    70k really! Could of been spent on something that’s needed.

  3. Jim Allen Reply

    October 21, 2016 at 9:12 am

    Being an artwork philistine, I do have to ask of the community – do we want our money spent on ‘things which need explaining’? A ‘white board’ being ‘a cow in fog’ for example at its worst end and an ‘unmade bed’ at another point of this triangle.

    Or would we prefer that the money was spent on reducing pollution, actually cleaning the river of non native ‘fish’ species or opening the much talked about but yet to be seen visitor centre at Burpham Court Farm.

    I wonder and I am amazed by nature like fish in the stream and birds in the air. I query finding fish skewered on harpoons ready for cooking in a grassed area – but like I said I am an ‘artwork philistine.

  4. Raineee Wornham Reply

    October 21, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    Lovely to see, but seriously £70,000 of 106 money for a piece of artwork?

    I do appreciate that the children enjoyed being involved, but when in Guildford borough there are play areas run down that are un-loved and unkempt, plus other projects, it truly blows my mind that this amount was spent on it when other projects could maybe have had a slice of the £70,000.

    I know some will say I’m wrong and that it is fine, I just see the bigger picture – children’s safety and playtime verses art. What a dilemma for some.

  5. Paul Bishop Reply

    October 21, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    What a great use of the S106 fund.

    You’ll get the normal moaners about this project, but it’s great to see this area of the town becoming quite an artistic corner, a great use of an area of river frontage which otherwise would be ignored.

    Let’s start making the most of the rest of our wonderful river front now please!

    • Jim Allen Reply

      October 22, 2016 at 11:54 pm

      This is the second piece of artwork placed here in less than 10 years the previous one of wood actually rotted away… money spent wisely would be far better spent than a man with a cheque book containing someone else’s money!

      • Dave Middleton Reply

        October 24, 2016 at 10:43 am

        Most of the wooden carvings that Jim refers to are in fact still there, it’s just that because the meadows aren’t mown regularly, you can’t see them for much of the summer months.

        I wonder how long it’ll be before some ne’er do well with a disc cutter has some of the new stuff away for scrap?

      • Paul Bishop Reply

        October 25, 2016 at 4:48 pm

        The wooden installation pieces are still there, or at least were last weekend when I was in the area. I like those too :).

  6. Ben Paton Reply

    October 23, 2016 at 9:12 am

    It just looks like fish out of water.

    Lewis Caroll might be impressed by the surreal impression. But Walter de la Mare? He may be spinning in his grave.

    Does this art express any truth goodness or beauty? Or is it a collection of re-cycled lamp posts adorned with dead fish?

    Perhaps it will inspire our politicos to call upon our MP (maybe also the Queen of England too) to dissociate herself from this nonsense!

  7. George Potter Reply

    October 24, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    £70,000 spent on this installation yet, meanwhile, many youth centres across Surrey are open for barely more than a handful of hours a week due to lack of funding.

    The art does look nice but was it really the best use of this money?

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