logo
Will the lights ever come back on at a £1m piece of public art?

Will the lights ever come back on at a £1m piece of public art?

Yahoo3 days ago

It was to be the near £1m piece of public art symbolising Londonderry's transition from a city of conflict to a capital of culture.
Mute Meadow, a series of illuminated steel columns on the banks of the Foyle, was unveiled in 2011.
But since the lights went out more than a decade ago, its pillars have been left to gather rust.
Now, its artists are calling for it to be repaired, restored and reinstated "for the people of the city".
Vong Phaophanit, a Turner prize nominee and his co-creator, Claire Oboussier told BBC News NI it is "regrettable that no action has been taken" in the years since the lights went out.
Derry City and Strabane District Council, which manages the artwork, said design work for the repair has been completed.
Work is now underway to identify the required budget, the council added.
That cost has not been made public.
The Executive Office, owners of the Ebrington site on which it stands, "will consider a contribution" when it is made aware of the cost.
Sitting at the Ebrington end of the city's Peace Bridge, Mute Meadow consists of 40 angled steel columns.
The intention was that the steel pillars would be illuminated by LED projectors and lit up in the colours of the stain glass windows of the city's Guildhall.
It was designed to create a "vast field of light" across the River Foyle.
Costing £800,000, and funded by Stormont, then Arts Minister Gregory Campbell said it would "place arts and culture at the centre of the city's regeneration".
Maurice Devenney, Derry's then mayor, said then that it "reflects positively how the city is moving forward" as it prepared for its year as UK City of Culture.
It was at the time, the largest piece of public art on the island of Ireland.
But right from the off it was dogged by problems.
Within months of being switched on, the lights went out due to issues associated with the fabrication of the work.
It was fixed temporarily but by 2014, the lights had gone again.
Mute Meadow has by and large, remained in the dark ever since.
It is now more like "an unfinished building site" than a million pound artwork, SDLP councillor Rory Farrell told BBC News NI.
"People don't know what it's meant to be, it is an eyesore," he said.
At a time when budgets are tight and a number of local groups have lost out on core funding, Farrell said he understands the repair work may not be everyone's priority.
"But I for one want to see this operational, it would add to out cultural offering and transform the landscape along the river," he said.
The hundreds of people to cross the city's Peace bridge daily pass just yards from Mute Meadows' metal pillars.
Mark Froydenlund told BBC Radio Foyle he knows the nearby steel pillars are "some kind of sculpture".
The cost seems "expensive" given it doesn't work, he said, adding "they should get it working".
Maurice Hudson and Deirdre Watson from Belfast are staying in a hotel just a few hundred yards from Mute Meadow.
Neither "had a clue" the artwork existed or what the steel columns are for.
Maurice said there are other priorities "like the state of our national health service." Deirdre agreed, adding money could be spent "a better way, for things like housing".
But Maurice added, when a lot of money has already been spent, the lights should be on.
"With the people of Derry/Londonderry not having to pay for the electric," Deirdre added.
Billy Quigley tells the BBC he has "no idea" the steel beams at the end of the Peace bridge were intended to be a work of art.
"That is wasted money," he said, adding the money spent thus far could "have gone to better causes".
In a statement, Phaophanit and Oboussier said there seemed to have been a lack of care around their artwork.
The artists hope that "proactive action" is taken to repair the piece and reinstate it for the city.
Mute Meadow, the artists said, was "one of our most challenging and meaningful pieces of work to realise".
"Our hope and intention was that it would make an enduring contribution to the Derry cityscape - a positive and peaceful space where people could gather, somewhere where Derry citizens could continue to develop a sense of collective belonging for years to come."
The artists said they remain committed to help in any way they can.
The council said a concept design has been completed to restore the artwork's lighting.
"Council is currently working to identify adequate budget to deliver the works," a spokeswoman said.
The cost of those works is due to be presented to councillors in the coming months.
"Council will also continue to work with The Executive Office to find a lasting solution for the long-term future of the artwork."
The Executive Office (TEO) said it is also supportive of the work needed to repair it.
"We understand a concept design exists for relighting the artwork and a cost estimate has been compiled. On receipt of costs from council we will consider a contribution," a TEO spokesperson said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Vote held on mural at center of tensions between Bentonville City Council, biking group
Vote held on mural at center of tensions between Bentonville City Council, biking group

Yahoo

time16 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Vote held on mural at center of tensions between Bentonville City Council, biking group

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The city of Bentonville discusses the future of a mural that's causing some criticism due to inconsistencies in the original plans. The city council voted May 10 to authorize a resolution accepting the work called 'All Bikers Welcome,' removing any language that is not the artist's signature and adding signage that describes the work. Bentonville mural facing criticism from city The mural was painted by the group All Bikes Welcome. According to a statement from a city council member, the group ventured off the original artwork, which was approved by the public art committee, the parks and recreation committee and the city council. The group said in May that it was frustrated due to a lack of communication between it and the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Will the lights ever come back on at a £1m piece of public art?
Will the lights ever come back on at a £1m piece of public art?

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Yahoo

Will the lights ever come back on at a £1m piece of public art?

It was to be the near £1m piece of public art symbolising Londonderry's transition from a city of conflict to a capital of culture. Mute Meadow, a series of illuminated steel columns on the banks of the Foyle, was unveiled in 2011. But since the lights went out more than a decade ago, its pillars have been left to gather rust. Now, its artists are calling for it to be repaired, restored and reinstated "for the people of the city". Vong Phaophanit, a Turner prize nominee and his co-creator, Claire Oboussier told BBC News NI it is "regrettable that no action has been taken" in the years since the lights went out. Derry City and Strabane District Council, which manages the artwork, said design work for the repair has been completed. Work is now underway to identify the required budget, the council added. That cost has not been made public. The Executive Office, owners of the Ebrington site on which it stands, "will consider a contribution" when it is made aware of the cost. Sitting at the Ebrington end of the city's Peace Bridge, Mute Meadow consists of 40 angled steel columns. The intention was that the steel pillars would be illuminated by LED projectors and lit up in the colours of the stain glass windows of the city's Guildhall. It was designed to create a "vast field of light" across the River Foyle. Costing £800,000, and funded by Stormont, then Arts Minister Gregory Campbell said it would "place arts and culture at the centre of the city's regeneration". Maurice Devenney, Derry's then mayor, said then that it "reflects positively how the city is moving forward" as it prepared for its year as UK City of Culture. It was at the time, the largest piece of public art on the island of Ireland. But right from the off it was dogged by problems. Within months of being switched on, the lights went out due to issues associated with the fabrication of the work. It was fixed temporarily but by 2014, the lights had gone again. Mute Meadow has by and large, remained in the dark ever since. It is now more like "an unfinished building site" than a million pound artwork, SDLP councillor Rory Farrell told BBC News NI. "People don't know what it's meant to be, it is an eyesore," he said. At a time when budgets are tight and a number of local groups have lost out on core funding, Farrell said he understands the repair work may not be everyone's priority. "But I for one want to see this operational, it would add to out cultural offering and transform the landscape along the river," he said. The hundreds of people to cross the city's Peace bridge daily pass just yards from Mute Meadows' metal pillars. Mark Froydenlund told BBC Radio Foyle he knows the nearby steel pillars are "some kind of sculpture". The cost seems "expensive" given it doesn't work, he said, adding "they should get it working". Maurice Hudson and Deirdre Watson from Belfast are staying in a hotel just a few hundred yards from Mute Meadow. Neither "had a clue" the artwork existed or what the steel columns are for. Maurice said there are other priorities "like the state of our national health service." Deirdre agreed, adding money could be spent "a better way, for things like housing". But Maurice added, when a lot of money has already been spent, the lights should be on. "With the people of Derry/Londonderry not having to pay for the electric," Deirdre added. Billy Quigley tells the BBC he has "no idea" the steel beams at the end of the Peace bridge were intended to be a work of art. "That is wasted money," he said, adding the money spent thus far could "have gone to better causes". In a statement, Phaophanit and Oboussier said there seemed to have been a lack of care around their artwork. The artists hope that "proactive action" is taken to repair the piece and reinstate it for the city. Mute Meadow, the artists said, was "one of our most challenging and meaningful pieces of work to realise". "Our hope and intention was that it would make an enduring contribution to the Derry cityscape - a positive and peaceful space where people could gather, somewhere where Derry citizens could continue to develop a sense of collective belonging for years to come." The artists said they remain committed to help in any way they can. The council said a concept design has been completed to restore the artwork's lighting. "Council is currently working to identify adequate budget to deliver the works," a spokeswoman said. The cost of those works is due to be presented to councillors in the coming months. "Council will also continue to work with The Executive Office to find a lasting solution for the long-term future of the artwork." The Executive Office (TEO) said it is also supportive of the work needed to repair it. "We understand a concept design exists for relighting the artwork and a cost estimate has been compiled. On receipt of costs from council we will consider a contribution," a TEO spokesperson said.

'Belfast adopted me when making How to Train Your Dragon'
'Belfast adopted me when making How to Train Your Dragon'

Yahoo

time6 days ago

  • Yahoo

'Belfast adopted me when making How to Train Your Dragon'

Hollywood actor Gerard Butler has said he felt like Belfast's "adopted son" while filming How to Train Your Dragon in Northern Ireland. The first live-action remake of the hit animated trilogy was produced across a number of locations in early 2024. Ahead of its release in cinemas on 9 June, Universal confirmed a sequel will be made. Gerard Butler told BBC News NI he "can't imagine" it being filmed anywhere other than back in Northern Ireland. He plays the role of Viking leader Stoick, in the Dean DeBlois-directed story of a conflict between dragons and Vikings on the fictions isle of Berk. The real-life locations that make up Berk in the film are in Belfast, Dunseverick Castle on the north Antrim coast and Tollymore Forest in County Down. Speaking of his time living in Belfast, Gerard Butler described the locals as "his people". "There's not much of a difference whether you're in Glasgow or if you're in Belfast," he added. "I felt like they felt like I was their son. "Everybody just kind of adopts you, it was great, I loved being there." The production spent several months filming at Belfast Harbour Studios and Titanic Studios. "These sets are some of the best ever built," he said. "And that was the Northern Irish crew and they did a great job. That wasn't easy to do. "Because when you watch these animated films, you say how [are] you ever making this? How [are] you going to pull this off. "And we did it." The Scottish actor, who was born in Paisley, said he loved filming in Northern Ireland and was well used to the cold temperatures - when he wasn't wearing his huge costume. "I say it was cold, [but] I was cold when I wasn't working. When I was working, I was hot. "Everyone else was cold, but I had seven layers on. That costume was really heavy. I wore that for nine weeks. "When I'd everything on, it was 90 lbs. "It was intense, but it also meant I could fully transform into Stoick - I felt like when I stepped onto that set, I've got that helmet, I'm like eight feet tall, like 'I'm here, it's hard not to notice'." Away from the set, Butler caused quite a stir when spotted out and about in Belfast and nearby towns. He said it could "get a bit crazy" at times, with fans keen to say hello. On one occasion, he thought one bar, described as "an old man's pub", would be "cool" with him and create no fuss. "I walked in and there were three different people who recognised me. "And I'm saying hello to them. "The whole bar started moving our way, it was late at night, everyone was drunk. "These guys said to us, we'll help you and they kind of pushed us back out the door - basically because it got so crazy in there. "I had said to my manager before, this one's good, this is an old's man's pub. They'll be cool… then barged back out the door, like OK, OK maybe not tonight," he added, laughing at the memory. Speaking about the film's sequel, he said he was "sure it will happen in Northern Ireland". "I can't imagine it happening anywhere else. I know Dean [DeBlois] our director loved it there, loved the crew, everybody did. "The people worked really hard. It's a lot of work to make these movies. This one was huge. So people there did a great job. He was over the moon with the whole crew. So I can't imagine it going anywhere else." Meanwhile Butler's castmate Nick Frost also proclaimed his love of the city. "It's full of history, it's beautiful and I got to see the H&W cranes," the Shaun of the Dead star said. "As a bit of an engineering fan, I loved that they were right where we shot. It's incredible. Love it." As for returning to Northern Ireland to shoot a sequel, Frost admitted he had another preference. "I'd like them to shoot in my house or in the garden, if they could build a little set somewhere near my house." Referring to the types of dragon featured in the movie, he added: "I could probably fit a Terrible Terror, but I couldn't fit a Night Fury." The young stars of the film - Mason Thames who plays Hiccup and Nico Parker who plays Astrid - said it would be a joy to film "whereever it is". "Northern Ireland would obviously be amazing because it would be like a big reunion," Thames said. "I think we'll go back there regardless." The pair described the filming conditions as "freezing on the north coast", but "gorgeous". They admitted their love for the Northern Irish accent, and also revealed a case of food poisoning that afflicted the entire crew - except, that is, for Mason Thames who said he escaped the bug thanks to his first attempt at cold-water swimming. Given the temperatures however, he said it was an activity he wouldn't be trying again. Dragon live-action remake had 'all sorts of challenges' How to Train Your Dragon filming delayed in Belfast How to Train Your Dragon live-action film on the way 'Irish success at the box office has inspired me' Belfast a 'fabulous backdrop' for NI film industry

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store