New artwork at Hebburn ‘will put town on the map’
Sep 11 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
ASSURANCES were given yesterday over a riverside artwork which will be based on flashes of light.
The Flash@Hebburn installation will consist of a dozen, eight-metre-high solar-powered lighting columns.
From their site at Hebburn Riverside Park in South Tyneside, they will emit several 30-second flash sequences throughout the day and one 15-minute sequence at night.
This raised concerns about medical and light pollution issues.
Eddie McAtominey, South Tyneside Council lead member for enterprise and regeneration, said: "Not only will this artwork form an important part of the redevelopment of the riverside in Hebburn, it will also serve to put Hebburn firmly on the map.
"Flash@Hebburn will be a landmark structure, marking the point where the River Tyne enters the town, and will be visible from as far afield as Newcastle, Gateshead and Wallsend."
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has been running a campaign over light pollution.
It said that Tyne and Wear was second only to London in terms of light pollution.
A CPRE regional spokesman said: "Light pollution has been a long-standing campaign and there may be a potential for problems if this artwork can be seen from some distance.
"A lot will depend on the precise location and design of the artwork.
"One also presumes they have done their research on any potential for medical problems."
There will be a public presentation on Flash@Hebburn today at the Hebburn and District Iona Social Club, Station Road, from 2pm.
A council spokesman said that medical issues had been taken into account during the design of the artwork.
Technical information was provided to the British Epilepsy Association which had said that no risk would be posed.
In terms of light pollution, the artwork will use LED technology and there will be no beams of light as projected from street or car headlights.
The £150,000 project, by Leeds artist Charles Quick, is funded by a grant from Arts Council England, and will be installed at Hebburn Riverside Park early next year. The flashing light sequences are meant to act as a symbol of the town’s traditional industries.
Tracey Dixon, the council’s lead member for culture, said: "We have faced some real technical and environmental challenges on the road to delivering this project but we have successfully worked with the artist to re-design the original scheme in a way that has overcome them.
"It will represent a celebration of Hebburn’s proud past, and signify hope for its future, standing as a beacon for regeneration."
After an initial period of research and consultation, Mr Quick became aware that Hebburn had been an important industrial centre with a large number of heavy industries including coal mining, shipbuilding, steelworks, chemical works, coke production and high voltage electrical engineering.
He identified that flashes of light could be associated with all of these industries, whether it be sparks, flashes of the arc welding or the dramatic lights of the shipyards on both sides of the River Tyne.
Mr Quick is to hold further workshops in the coming weeks, during which he will work with local people to create additional flash sequences for the artwork.
He said: "I believe that the revised design is actually more true to Hebburn being a centre of innovation, with the new technology that is being used." Charles Quick will be on site in Hebburn Riverside Park in a two-day residency taking place from 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday.
