Dancers will be doing the moon walk on an artwork called Apollo, as DAVID WHETSTONE reports

MANY people have suggested uses for the artwork known as the Apollo Pavilion and not all of them serious or complimentary.

It was given to the people of Peterlee by the abstract artist Victor Pasmore who had been appointed to advise on the design of the County Durham new town.

Unveiled in 1970, it was named after the previous year’s “One small step...” trip to the moon by the astronauts of Apollo 11.

This 20th Century folly has had a chequered history, winning initial plaudits in high places but falling victim to vandals and becoming cited locally as a monstrosity.

Having survived a campaign for it to be demolished, the Apollo Pavillion was restored in 2009 with a £336,000 heritage lottery grant and, as time passes, its place in art history is becoming more secure.

Pasmore ran the art course at King’s College, Durham, which eventually became part of Newcastle University.

An influential figure, he died in 1998, having shown his mettle by returning to Peterlee – back in 1982 – to face his critics and stick up for his creation, now regarded as a notable symbol of the times.

You imagine Pasmore would have been pleased yesterday to see the Apollo Pavilion animated by dancers from North East-based company Dora Frankel Dance. They were rehearsing a new work called Bridging the Gap: One Small Step, One More Step which is one of the more unusual commissions resulting from the current Brass: Durham International Festival.

Dora Frankel, a noted choreographer and artistic director, collaborated with composer Peter Coyte and visual artist Sam Goodlet, all of them responding to the look, sound and feel of the structure on Peterlee’s Sunny Blunts Estate.

Nowadays the custom for challenging public artworks is for the local community to be brought in at an early stage.