Harbour Lights
A programme of art commissions for Maryport
Alongside the refurbishment of Maryport's flood defences, funds
were raised through the Arts Council Lottery and from a variety of
other sources for a project organised by Allerdale Borough Council
that would involve artists in making distinctive works of art for
the public realm in Maryport. The scheme was supported by Cumbria
Arts in Education, Cumbria County Council, Maryport Developments
Ltd and the West Lakes Renaissance Fund.
Ceramicist Paul Scott was commissioned to design tiles for the
North Harbour flood defence wall which starts at Tongue Pier and
heads towards the town. The designs were inspired
by images of fish, waves, Roman objects from the Senhouse
Museum, details of old maps, and even fragments of old wallpaper
from a local Georgian house.
Artist Tony Stallard works with film and new
technologies and created a work for the end of Tongue Pier on the
former Port Light Mast. His looped film of a single eye blinking
was developed out of an idea about keeping watch over the sea. He
also placed a red neon hoop at the top of the mast which slowly
phases on and off and is only visible at night. The hoop is a
reference to the motion of the waves, slow breathing and the
original purpose of the mast as a navigation aid.
Writing team Liar Inc. worked with young people at Maryport's
Netherhall School. Together they created a series of couplets
describing the experience of life on the west coast from the
perspective of young people. Sculptor and letter-cutter Alan Ward
carved the words in stone which were then set into the deck of
Tongue Pier. Alan mentored two local artists working with stone
during the project.