Ilfracombe. Angel of the West? - Public Art

This is going in all sorts of interesting directions.

POGS and Jeni pls can you post any links to photos or even better videos on YouTube of all this Somerset carnival stuff?? It all sounds FAR more interesting than Mr D Hirst.

And Crimson, is this of what you speak?

www.flickr.com/photos/eamoncurry/6871361636/

Though no Leicester Foxes fan (proud hand in air!) could possibly enjoy anything connected with the SheepSh@ggers!

I love the Brian Clough statue in Nottingham city centre. Not for the statue which is fairly ordinary imo, but the stone plinth which is elegantly carved with many of his wonderful, cherished and famous quotes

www.brianclough.com/statue_unveil.htm

I hugely enjoyed the iconic statue of Bob Stokoe at the Stadium of Light when I was there recently. Lovely photo here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bob_Stokoe_Memorial_Statue,_Stadium_of_Light_-_geograph.org.uk_-_334579.jpg

There's a wonderful statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor at Pride Park.

@ isthisallthereis I lived in Ilfracombe for 20 years and still live quite near, also travel along the M5 often. You are absolutely right about the wicker man. It is beautiful and it was awful when it was burnt down. It has been rebuilt and looks as good as ever.

Damien Hirst's 'Verity' was originally on show outside the Royal Academy for last years summer show. I haven't been to see it yet and don't think I will, I am not a fan and quite honestly he acts as if he owns the area, he also has a restaurant on the harbour. Another classic quote from a local was the lady who said 'there are enough pregnant girls in Ilfracombe already'.

isthis; so that's why it's so comforting to look at. A friend who travelled up north with us one day just remarked on how ugly it was . Is Humphrey still there? I was annoyed with myself when I worked out exactly where on the motorway he was, because I loved the anticipation of him suddenly appearing. The kids adored him. I know nothing of these carnivals but the west has been calling to me for a while. I used to live in Boscastle and it seems strange that I now spend so much time as far away from it as Northumberland. A friend has just moved to Dartmouth, so I'll be going down there when I can, but the north Cornish coast is where my heart is. Going of at a tangent yet again, I saw part of that programme about Wales last week; it talked about the Rebekah [sp]Riots, which made me realise that was the foundation of the Border Morris that I love so much. We have such amazing traditions in this country; aren't we lucky [need the union jack to wave again!].

jeni

Have you ever been to one of the Somerset carnivals?

The camel was called Humphrey and supported lots of charities! At Xmas he had a red and white scarf and hat!

I simply can never understand anyone who doesn't love and respect the Angel of the North!

I was on the train up to Edinburgh some time ago. As we got to the Angel, I was avidly gawping out of the window. Then I turned my head to look at the interior of the (very full) carriage. Every single person was looking at the Angel! ALL the people on the left hand side of the train were standing in the aisle or craning over other people's shoulders. Everyone. That's the power of good art to me.

Also, before that, I'd gone to Teesside University in Middlesborough to give a lecture. When I received my payment, I noticed they'd adopted the Angel OTN as their logo. It looked good and was instantly recognisable. It gave the place an identity. Sorry if you live in Middlesborough but apart from the Transporter Bridge (and the hills outside) I could see nothing else to give a distinct identity. I live in Leicester, we have the same problem!

I read that the arms of the AOTN are not flat, but they very, very gently curve round to give a feeling of an embrace. I think that has a lovely effect at an un-noticeable, instinctive level if that makes sense.

Can we also please celebrate his wonderful standing iron men at Crosby, between Liverpool & Southport. That's even better because it has the dynamic of the perpetually passing container ships and ferries and other craft, as well as (of course) the rhythm of the rising and falling tides and currents, and the imperceptible slow accumulation of barnacles and rust (they are deliberately planned to rust, they are not stainless steel) on the figures. And Scousers adding swimming trunks (painted or real) football shirts, scarves etc regularly, which Gormley apparently likes and approves of!

crimson

The camel I believe was on a carnival float originally and ended up for a josh in the field.

In November Somerset has the most brilliant carnival season. It does the rounds in places such as Glastonbury, Wells, Burnham-on-sea, Bridgewater and others.

The carnival floats are made by volunteers and all money raised goes to charity. They have carnival clubs and work tirelessly throughout the year raising money and making costumes and learning dance routines etc.
Some of the floats are so high they have to ease up telephone lines and some are so large they are made up of two trailers joined together and massive generators supply thousands of lights and moving parts.

It has to be seen to believe but I assure you it makes the London Lord Mayors Parade look amateur.

It's brilliant and I urge anyone to go and see it.

Next to the M5 heading for Cornwall, on the Somerset levels, there was a glorious woven Wicker Man. Made of living willow strands. Dumpy and memorable.

What sort of country do we live in?? Some vandals burnt it down! How they set fire to living willow I don't know. Maybe they doused it in petrol.

I understand that it's now been remade. With a protective moat around it. I'm sure someone who lives near there will gently correct my version. Please do!

Oh, and as I'm totally putting off doing anything tonight; talking of iconic monuments does anyone remember the wonderful camel on the right hand side of the motorway going down to Cornwall? It was joined by a Sphinx one year. Now that WAS wonderful. Hope it's still there. Better than anything the Hirst guy has ever done.

I was imagining a very very very tiny Angel of the North! Possibly standing next to the sign for Shilbottle on the A1 [y'know the one that someone keeps putting a 't' in the middle of].

crimson

Sorry, yes the pregnant woman.

The best remark about the pregnant woman statue in Ilfracombe came from a man who was interviewed on the news....'What happens when her waters break?'

I think it's awful.

On reflection it's like an extension of his 'stuff in formaldehyde' [with it showing the inside of her body, I mean]. There's something of the laboratory about it. But I wouldn't like it if it was fully skinned either; oh that means the opposite of what I mean. And what's with the sword? POGS; you are talking about the pregnant lady not the Angel?

I don't like it but I can't really say why.

I think it might be because it is too big for the setting. Which I don't get either. I don't dislike the subject matter but I think it would appeal to me more if it was life sized.

Mind you I am not very much of an expert.

Yes, I've seen that . Art has to be natural. I always feel that Hirst is 'trying' to be whatever he is. And not succeeding [except financially].

Bit grisly. I am not averse to Gormley (see the photo on my profile on GN) but am unconvinced by Hirst.

Sorry to be a dissenter, but I don`t like the Angel of the North either, and, yes, I have seen it "in the flesh", several times. Now, if the Boy David was up there.............!

I think it's in the perfect position as well..you just sort of go round a bend and there it is, towering over you. I feel all protected by it and lose that protection when I venture south again. It was also many years before I actually saw it and was overwhelmed when I did. I think, with a work of art, that stays with you. I'd also read about his little clay figures [I had a newspaper cutting of them on my notice board on which I'd written 'bad hair day'] so I was interested in the artist already.

I'm naturally loyal to the "Angel of the North" living in the area and driving past it on many occasions, I'm afraid I can't agree with feetlebaum but maybe that's because I'm a Northerner!!

"It is one of the most viewed pieces of art in the world - seen by more than one person every second, 90,000 every day or 33 million every year" according to Gateshead Council.

I'm all in favour of public art, the more art is accessible and not tucked away in galleries and museums the better.

feetlebaum; have you see 'The Angel' in the flesh [as it were]? Mona Lisa is a tiny bit..tiny.

I like the 'Angel of the North' it is so cleverly designed. Its open to so many interpretations. This thing they are imposing on Ilfracombe looks horrible, its ugly and looks more like a giant teaching aid.

I have had some disappointments with famous works of art. Mona Lisa simpers, Sunflowers is over-rated and the Mannikin Pis is insignificant.

That 'Angel of the North' is weird... reminiscent of a pre-war Meccano kit for making aeroplane models.

I'm staying in the South, I think.