Topic: Swindon's Public Art Collection Rediscovered

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Here's the latest Flickr upload to the Swindon Central Library photostream, as part of the project I'm involved with identifying, scanning and uploading every piece of public art in Swindon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/6713902375/#in/photostream/

The latest is the 'Chi' sculpture next to the Tri-Centre.

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Newest items added include:

'The Watchers' sculpture at Toothill (it's made out of fondue, really!) http://flic.kr/p/bx77Nv

The Water Feature at the Delta Business Park (in fantastic condition) http://flic.kr/p/bx77Nz

Plus, we're building a set of 1980s/1990s slides of West Swindon, here's the first few...

Freshbrook under construction : http://flic.kr/p/bq1PUM

Toothill under construction : http://flic.kr/p/bq1PD6 http://flic.kr/p/bq1Pyp

Shaw Ridge/Old Shaw Lane : http://flic.kr/p/bq1NNX

Lots more to come!

[Tobes]

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Interesting stuff Jon - keep it coming!!!

[Muggins]

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I have the SBC art work leaflet here, which we needed when we repaired the Gorilla. I should have given it back, but forgot, will scan in, although it  was produced in a shiny black and white and it's rather dark.

I have to keep reminding people that VAS windows in John Street, are also works of art. 

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Muggins, if you'd like to pop into the Central Library and see the Local History team on the 2nd floor, it'd be great if you'd allow us to scan it and upload it to Flickr, linking with the recent uploading of the Gorilla images.

We've got an extensive list of artworks throughout the Borough, but if you know of others, let us know.

Highly recommend you follow the Swindon Local team on twitter : @swindonlocal

Thanks for the support everyone, will keep you up to date with new additions!

[Muggins]

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I'll be seeing them on Friday, here on Penhill, have lots for them.  Including Muggins ancestors and a 1959  'inhouse' magazine of Relay Exchanges Ltd.  Which, when I worked there, was reputed to have been the first national head office (of Rentaset TV) that moved to Swindon.

I'll take the leaflet up with me too.

ps I don't yet tweet.

[Geoff Reid]

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Crikey....I used to drive one of those Leyland tippers, (Shaw Ridge Photo) 

[Richard Beale]

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Jon, the best person to contact for outdoor art is Russell Weymouth (landscape architect) in the planning dept of SBC.

He's  got/may still have access some great photos of some of the art during manufacture and after placement.

I do hope he's not been 'restructured' though.....

[Muggins]

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Crikey that's a blast from the past, better get in quick before he's moved on!

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Thank you for the advice Richard!

The latest additions, the stone sculpture 'Nexus' at Freshbrook Village Centre just after installation : http://flic.kr/p/bofHbY

And the selection of the materials to construct the 'Nexus' stone sculpture itself at Gelli Quarry in Mid Glamorgan : http://flic.kr/p/bofx4Y

Coming next in the Swindon Art 'A to Z', Diana Dors!

PS - Bit of additional information, the 'Nexus' artist, Hideo Furuta, spent 6 months in Swindon, mostly on-site at Freshbrook creating the work.

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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The Swindon Local team at the Central Library need your help!

Take a look at this image : http://flic.kr/p/bofMc1

This is Hideo Furuta working on a piece of the 'Nexus' sculpture for installation at Freshbrook Village Centre in 1986. The question is, where is this a picture of? It's not the final location of Nexus, but is it maybe nearby?

A fellow image taken at the same time, but at a slightly different angle, shows tennis courts next to this site. It is the former site of Freshbrook Primary School (now that site of Millbrook Primary School? Is the small step and hole in the hedge an access point from Gainsborough Way.

We're almost certain it's this location, but can anyone add anything further?

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Hello there, here's some Easter treats!

Newly uploaded yesterday and today :

The construction of the Diana Dors sculpture : http://flic.kr/p/bJe7h2

The bus station freshly painted and not looking bad at all : http://flic.kr/p/bvC9cm

And one of my favourites, Freshbrook Village Centre shops under construction! : http://flic.kr/p/bvC9d9

The bus station and Freshbrook images are from slide scans, which is new to the Central Library, so many more slide scans to come.

Hope you enjoy them! All feedback and comments most welcome TS.

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Hi everyone!

The Swindon Collection is currently going through the vast number of photographic slides and uploading the most interesting ones to the Flickr account. There's a box of slides called 'WHIPS' (no jokes!) with an image of a town-wide forestry plan map, pictures of new planting, and others.

Does anyone know what 'WHIPS' stood for? Was it connected with the Great Western Community Forest project?

Hope you can help!

Some of the newest items...

Playground in Toothill in the 80s : http://flic.kr/p/bQe2ZM

Demolition on Fleming Way in the 80s : http://flic.kr/p/bEcwdd

Declaration of the 1886 election outside the Locarno : http://flic.kr/p/6CK6Fu

Making of a pink umbrella at the Rail Works for the Great Blondinis statue : http://flic.kr/p/bDh1KL

[Richard Beale]

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Hi everyone!

The Swindon Collection is currently going through the vast number of photographic slides and uploading the most interesting ones to the Flickr account. There's a box of slides called 'WHIPS' (no jokes!) with an image of a town-wide forestry plan map, pictures of new planting, and others.

Does anyone know what 'WHIPS' stood for? Was it connected with the Great Western Community Forest project?

Hope you can help!

In horticultural terms Whips are small, young bare rooted trees, mass planted in their hundreds of thousands. A very quick and effective method of planting woodland.

Also very good for sorting out trainee gardeners  get it?

Playground in Toothill in the 80s : http://flic.kr/p/bQe2ZM

Looks like Markenfeild play area? Lots of the raised bed have been long gone though.

[Jon Ratcliffe]

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Thank you very much Richard, that helps to make a lot more sense of that set of images!