David Mayne wins the Craft Town Public Art Commission
All proposals on display till 29 February 2020, Tue-Sat 10-5, free entry
Sculpture to be installed, October 2020
We are delighted to announce that the sculptor David Mayne has won the Craft Town Public Art commission. The sculpture will be located next to a busy car park in the courtyard of the grade II listed building of the New Ashgate Gallery Trust in Waggon Yard and installed in October 2020, during the craft month in Farnham.
Proposals were invited in 2019 for a public sculpture / artwork that is inspired by the heritage and tradition of crafts in Farnham. The artwork will celebrate crafts that have been practised in the area during the Roman period: the district was known as a pottery centre due to its supply of gault clay, oak woodland for fuel and good communication links. Kilns dating as far as AD 100 have been found in the area. Today, Farnham hosts a remarkable number of major institutions and makers who dedicate time, resources and creative energies to sustaining craft as one of the great defining features of place here. The sculpture aims to enhance the public knowledge and understanding of the heritage while also bringing pleasure to the community and visitors alike.
The local community voted to choose from three shortlisted proposals. The Farnham Sculpture received 58% of the public vote.
About David Mayne:
David Mayne is a sculptor of national repute who produces work for galleries, public spaces and the domestic environment. His artwork has been commissioned through-out the country and can be found in town centres, rural locations, public buildings and private homes and gardens.
Over the past 30 years. David has developed his work from raw assemblage with found objects to the much more refined pieces he now creates. One thing has remained constant - the use of metal. David started using this material after visiting one of Sheffield’s many scrap yards while studying his fine art degree. He was instantly drawn to the colour and texture of discarded steel and the inherent quality it possessed.
David has a lifelong passion with nature and landscape - from early days of climbing and hill walking to mountain biking and fell running. The work he now creates is a response to this landscape and other wilderness environments he has encountered.
When he is not working on exhibitions and private commissions, Mayne continues his practice as a sculptor working in the public realm, creating landmark features for local authorities, visitor centres, large scale PLCs and health trusts. David’s clients include Marks and Spencer, Leeds University, Carilion Civil Engineering, Taylor Wimpey, British Waterways and the sustainable transport charity Sustrans.
Farnham Sculpture
The artwork consists of two strategically placed sculptures that celebrate the oak tree - something which was abundant in the area while also links to the history and heritage of Farnham. The sculpture will present beautifully crafted objects that work within their surroundings and highlight the materials they are made of.
The sculptures will be fabricated from steel, bronze and oak, after the bronze acorn is first modelled in clay.
The imagery refers to the oak forests that surrounded Farnham as do the columns that they fixed on. The oak contains subtle carvings that include words and relief work; the content will be obtained during community engagement sessions.
The project will involve schools and other members of the community in the design for a sense of shared ownership with the local community in the final artwork. Engagement will include practical workshops, artist’s talks and memory sharing sessions that will cover some of the following topics: ancient stone tools discovered in the area, gault clay (first used by the Romans), 18th to the 20th century hop growing and beer making, and the Farnham Pottery and exploration of various craft media.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The public art commission is supported by Arts Council England.
We would like to thank Arts Council England, the shortlisted artists and our steering group, consisting of Charlotte Hall (Waverley Borough Council), Vikki Leedham (Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden), Sue Farrow (Farnham Public Art Trust), Sarah Carrington Hubbard (freelance public art consultant) and Dr Outi Remes (New Ashgate Gallery). Also, many thanks to our craft town partners and the local community for their interest and voting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------