Could I take this opportunity to correct the error of how much Prestatyn Art grant was for. The total was £135,000! Some double of the original article.
Breaking down into £35,000 for Central Beach. £55,000 for Railway and £23,000 for Hillside Gardens. (Total cost icluding installation £135,000) Plus 'contingencies.' LIKE BEING SUED FOR INJURY!
As an artist myself and proud Prestatyn resident I can only hope those giving away the money don't end up throwing it away in either 'lumps' of metal or exuberant artist fees. Not to mention who is going to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of such installations.
GARY BOURNE, 14 LON EIRLYS, PRESTATYN, DENBIGHSHIRE LL19 9JZ
The full unedited letter.
Dear editor, please could I make a correction to your letters page from today's Journal (28th January 2008) concerning “A naff, cheap looking load of old tat...” by Vivien Holmes.
A simple correction, the actual sculpture was commissioned at £35,000 (plus £7,333 installation). The £355,500 is for stage three of The Central Beach re-development and is extra to the sculpture. While I agree everything is subjective to your point of view, my own personal taste seem to echo Vivien's with what we both see as life like sculptures. I personally made my presentation folder to Michelle Rendell (Prestatyn Regeneration Officer) as part of the public comments after the initial nine artists were chosen to tender with ideas.
Unfortunately my idea were 'politely' turned. Of cause I did think my ideas of celebrating Prestatyns history with interactive (children and adults could pose next to and play with) sculptures of a Roman Centurion, Norman Knight, King Henry the second, Owain Glyndwr and not forgetting King Offa himself (sadly missing from Prestatyn) as a 'Walk of History.' Taking it to account the whole town from the beach to the hills following the Offa's Trail in town. I was even cheeky enough to add a few Welsh heroes of modern times. Now wouldn't J.P.R.WILLIAMS charging up the High street look an impressive sight.
Of cause the 'POLO MINT' is subjective as with all of the £135,000+ art.
GARY ALEXANDER BOURNE, 14 LON EIRLYS, PRESTATYN, DENBIGHSHIRE LL19 9JZ TEL:- (01745) 85 19 85 http://www.freewebs.com/clubteen/ http://www.freewebs.com/mrgabourne/ http://mrgabourne.synthasite.com/
Dear editor, please could I answer Denbighshire Area Regeneration and Investment Team letter from today's Journal (11th February 2008) concerning one of my published letter about the 'polo mint' art on Central Beach, Prestatyn.
Can I presume correct as the letter had no ones name on it either Sue Hagarth, Jeremy Knibbs or Michelle Rendell were the writers? As all three are on the committee who chose the art?
As the “cross section of interests” was mentioned. I supply the full list for your information.
The art committee were/are:-
Cllr James Davies (Ex-Chairman Friends of Prestatyn Railway Station, Secretary of P.R.E.S., Prestatyn Town and County Councillor)
Cllr June Cahill (Ex-Mayor, Ex-Central Ward Councillor. Present County Councillor)
Cllr Sharon Frobisher (Town and County Councillor)
Gareth Sandilands (Ex-Volunteer F.O.P.R.S. Prestatyn Business Group)
Sue Hagarth (Principal area regeneration & investment officer)
Jeremy Knibbs (Area regeneration manager)
Michelle Rendell (Prestatyn regeneration officer)
Elin Butler (Art council for Wales)
Ann Thomas (Arts advisor for Denbighshire County Council Arts)
Stephen West (SAFLE. Independent public art consultancy)
Norman Makinson (Art advisor)
Prestatyn High Schools Art Department – Art advisor
David Shiel (Countryside Services)
Margaret Jones (Countryside Council for Wales)
Alan Jackson (Team Leader Denbighshire Public Realm)
Nigel Accott (Rep from Prestatyn Town council)
Karen Beattie Disabled Discrimination Act (DDA)
While I understand the three councillors. Cllr James Davies, Cllr June Cahill and Cllr Sharon Frobisher being on the committee to represent their wards (East, Central and South West) I would like to question the logic of having three tiers of regeneration officers, four art advisor's and even two Countryside representatives.
Maybe my suggestion of inviting Barry Flanagan the Prestatyn born sculpture and artist, him of the giant hair sculptures. To help out with the £135,000 project might have saved some of that committee expenses.
As for “the comprehensive public consultation.” I to had a say. With a weighty portfolio of ideas presented to Michelle Rendell. As to what could and could not work, not just looking at it with an artists eye. But more so as the practicality's of rust, bird droppings and graffiti damage etc.
To quote their own information while more than 200 artists from around the world applied for the brief. Sadly only 57 individual artists/consortia sent in their portfolios of work. Please note this didn't mean Prestatyn had 57 ideas to work with. It simply meant the committee wished to see what you had done before.
A gravely wasted opportunity to have 57 fresh and inspirational projects for nothing.
While the Arts Council for Wales have 'praised officers.' Surely these are the same officers who did Rhyl Drift Park when the firs died off only to repeat it at Central Beach Prestatyn. The unfortunate lack of communication to put the Offa's Walk Roundels on the lamp posts. Only to replace the lampposts and have to put the roundels back The original sign post art (put there only in 1996) on the site of the Central Beach art was dug up moved and concreted over. Only to have the area re-dug up ready for the £390,500 phase 3.1 (3.1?) Nearly forgot an extra £5000 from Prestatyn Town Council and Offa's Tourist Information Centre makeover. (that £5000 was granted as PART of the disabled not! public toilet in Cafe Cymru. Now run by Welsh Conservative Councilor Graham Percival and his partner Mrs. Lisa Cywinski)
Now while I know Denbighshire Area Regeneration and Investment Team don't get out of bed to do a bad job. It takes very little more effort to do a good job.
GARY ALEXANDER BOURNE, 14 LON EIRLYS, PRESTATYN, DENBIGHSHIRE LL19 9JZ TEL:- (01745) 85 19 85 http://www.freewebs.com/clubteen/ http://www.freewebs.com/mrgabourne/ http://mrgabourne.synthasite.com/
Dear Editor,
please could I answer Vivien Holmes letter Journal (25th February 2009) concerning who designed the art for Central Beach or 'POLO' mint as it has become to be known. Please see web site
http://www.cammdesign.co.uk/html/who.html
(it does seem to still be under construction) for Cammdesign the artists.
Maybe your readers could also look at my own 'amateur' artist offering of what I proposed.
http://onehundredandthirteenthousandpounds.synthasite.com/
GARY ALEXANDER BOURNE, 14 LON EIRLYS, PRESTATYN, DENBIGHSHIRE LL19 9JZ
TEL:- (01745) 85 19 85 Mobile Text 07981 845 123
For a list of my WEB sites http://mrgabourne2.webs.com/
