Blyth regeneration celebration to take place on Saturday

Mar 13 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

SCULPTOR Simon Watkinson had to delve deep to create a landmark artwork for a town’s new market place. On Saturday a day of celebration will mark the end of the £3m regeneration of Blyth’s market place.

Events will include the official switch on of the market square’s new water feature and Simon’s Hyperscope artwork to be followed by an evening of entertainment from stilt walkers, fire artists, jugglers, street magic, and tribute band, ABBA Gold Europe.

The 7.5-metre tall stainless steel Hyperscope is the centrepiece of the market square. Simon’s aim was to fashion a sculpture which combined the town’s coal mining heritage and its wartime history as a submarine base.

LED lighting and interior lenses will create an effect of liquid light rising from the ground to make its way up the column.

Simon, who lives in Gosforth in Newcastle, created the Counterweight artwork at the Gala Theatre in Durham, which is also linked to mining.

His latest work is another coal mining themed three-pronged metal sculpture which is due to be unveiled soon at Chilton in County Durham. His commission’s have also included casts of Earl Grey’s head set in lit perspex boxes at the base of Grey’s Monument in Newcastle.

Simon said that the Blyth sculpture, as well as reflecting a pit shaft and submarine periscope, was also based on the hyperscope device for looking over crowds.

“Market places are usually crowded areas and this artwork will look out over the people, and will also look spectacular at night,” said Simon.