Publicview

SHINE 2010, the Urban Garden arts festival, will transform the city centre this coming January. This ten day (22 - 31 January) exciting family friendly festival will add artwork and animation to everyday buildings and spaces across Sunderland.

Throughout the festival dramatic night-time lighting installations will be dotted around Sunderland city centre and giant art will be projected onto buildings and pavements. Coffee shops nearby the event will stay open late during the festival to allow visitors to grab a hot drink whilst taking in the light installations across the city.

The festival also offers visitors the chance to become part of The Hive artwork by artists KMA at Sunniside Gardens, as the pavement becomes a canvas and people’s movements are tracked and translated into the sound and imagery such as fire flies water and webs.

The free festival, will launch on Friday 22nd January at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, There will be street theatre performances outside the Entrance of the Sunderland Museum & winter Gardens at approximately 6m coinciding with the big switch on of Winter Gardens.

From the moment people arrive at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens from Borough Road, they will immediately see, artist, Andrew Richardson’s Wallflowers projection. Richardson’s work takes inspiration from William Morris’ floral wallpaper designs and will transform the exterior of the museum with moving images of plants and flowers.

On entering the Winter Gardens visitors will be dazzled and amazed as they see the garden in a new and exciting way. Colour, spirals and hundreds of LEDs will fill the dome roof and glisten in the evening sky. The structure of the glass dome itself will be illuminated from the exterior and will be visible from miles around, acting as a beacon and drawing people to the light.

In addition, artist, Suzie Brown of Urban Bird, has produced four metre high coloured pillars of light which will lead visitors from Sunderland Museum entrance into the Winter Gardens. There is even a chance for visitors to take home part of the urban garden inspired lampshade and bag collection which will be available from the Tourist Information Centre, Fawcett Street.

The Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art will play host to north east artist, Giuseppe Davies’ ‘Vie’ exhibition which will constantly adapt as new visitors enter the room. Using infra-red sensors and patterned lights this digital artwork, responds to visitor’s actions and the colour of their clothes.

The exterior of the City Library & Arts Centre windows are to house pieces from fine art and design students from the University of Sunderland. 25-year-old, Neil Armstrong, will be amongst those exhibiting his work, which explores how areas are affected when people leave and nature is left to takeover.

Daniel Brown, one of the world’s leading digital designers will project his Tropic of Sunderland animation onto Wilkinson’s façade on Fawcett Street.

Digital artists SDNA are presenting their Cinetaxis collection that will bring giant insect projections to the streets of Sunderland. The inspiration for the title of this artwork is derived from research into phototaxis, which is insects automatic reaction to light sources, as well a desire to explore the same in human ‘attraction to light', both real and metaphorical.

The Place on Athenaeum Street will illuminate Kathryn Hodgkinson’s In This Day and That Age glass commission, which commemorates the history and character of Sunniside.

Further details can be found on www.sunderlandevents.co.uk

Adults with severe learning difficulties are benefitting from sensory and interactive artwork at a £2.6m specialist social care and support day centre.

Grindon Mews in Sunderland is home to four glass art installations, specially designed by artists Gavin Marshall and Ben Atkinson, to appeal to the senses of adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

The purpose built facility, which opened in November 2009, provides a place for those with complex disabilities, such as cerebral palsy or autism, to socialise and maintain or work towards greater independence.

The artworks include three large multi-coloured dichroic or ‘petrol effect’ glass curtains over the skylights in the main room. Using the sunlight, they flood the room with different colours which shift and change depending on the angle of view.

Glass panels in the garden lounge contain leaves from the surrounding woodlands and combine rough and smooth textures to excite the sense of touch. A glass reception desk with inset changing coloured lights grabs the attention of visitors as soon as they enter the centre.

Unlike many works of art which are displayed conventionally, such as on a wall, to meet the needs of an able bodied audience, these works of art have been carefully placed to meet the requirements of centre users.

Julie Howell, Grindon Mews manager, said: “Our visitors have severe and complex difficulties and cannot sit or stand in the same way as an able bodied person. These artworks accept that people look at art in different ways.

“It’s fantastic to see how our visitors are enjoying the pieces – witnessing the range of reactions they are inspiring.”

It is well documented that art has a therapeutic and recuperative role and the pieces will encourage those who visit the centre to use their senses and express their thoughts and feelings, which can boost confidence. The works will also act as inspiration for creative activities.

Zoe Channing, assistant head of culture and tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “This is a perfect example of the wide and varied role that art can play in our society. We don’t commission art for art’s sake – we need our art to work hard for us in creating a quality environment that increases Sunderland’s reputation as a great place to live, work and visit. Art can provide a focal point which brings communities together or instils pride, contribute to regeneration or rejuvenation which attracts residents and tourists alike, inspire and educate or, as it does in this case, improve health and wellbeing

“The art at Grindon Mews is already having a direct impact on improving the health and wellbeing of visitors to this fantastic centre – it’s creating conversations, generating feelings and awakening senses.”

Grindon Mews has been developed to support people with disabilities and help them lead fulfilling and independent lives. It includes a specialist day care centre for up to 28 people per day with profound and multiple learning disabilities. A further 15 adults per day with physical disabilities can use its day care rehabilitation centre which gives people greater independence. Facilities include a music room, sensory interactive room, sound beam room and landscaped sensory gardens.

The Sea Change programme runs for three years from 2008 to 2011, giving a range of large and small grants each year to seaside resorts. It is led by CABE working with the Regional Development Agencies, English Heritage, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.

On November 16th 2009, Sunderland City Council was awarded a £1 million grant from the Sea Change fund to help revive Roker as thriving historic coastal resort. Sea Change funding will be used to create a trail inspired by the area’s heritage and culture and also create an illuminated exhibition space.

The council’s planning and landscape section developed a master plan for the regeneration of Roker seafront. A key part of this successful bid to Sea Change was the inclusion of artists Maddi Nicholson and Stuart Bastik of Art Gene. ArtGene undertook in-depth research and a series of consultations to develop proposals for temporary installations/events along the seafront.

Art Gene took the rugged cliffs and 'cannonball' limestone rock formations as a starting point for the development of a series of unique, multifunctional pods.
These zero-carbon pods generate their own energy and can be moved and adapted to various uses, creating a constant moving landscape. These pods are pivotal in creating an exciting seafront that will draw visitors to the Roker area.

The detail design phase for Roker seafront is underway and will be completed by September 2011.