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The development of The Exchange, Newlyn Art Gallery's new Penzance
base, will not only revitalise Prince's Street, a part of the town
first developed in the mid-19th century, but, as the recent test of
Penwith-based artist Peter Freeman's light installation for the new
gallery's sweeping, segmented glass facade suggested, it is also likely
to make it the best lit street in the town.Although only a test run on
a section of the laminated glass, watching Peter Freeman manipulating
the light, moving from blue to green to white colours, almost like
playing a musical instrument, it was impossible not to be impressed by
the promise of the whole thing.
It
is an evolving, computer controlled, and surprisingly economical to
run, light installation created by an artist who has lived and worked
in Penwith for the past 14 years.
Peter is now recognised as one
of the country's leading artists working with light, often presenting
work in non-gallery situations. His best known work, perhaps, is his
Travelling Light, the 13- metre-high column of light sited at junction
21 of the M5 which acts as a gateway beacon welcoming visitors to the
region. When complete his installation will be built into the fabric of
The Exchange's extraordinary 55-metre-long window,
As James
Green, director of Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, said: "This is
very much a work in progress but it's clear that Peter will be
developing different lighting programmes that will function in various
ways, possibly according to the type of activity taking place within
the gallery - one programme for opening nights, for example, another
for normal opening times, and a further programme for when the gallery
is closed.
"He's also even exploring the possibility of the
lighting scheme changing to reflect natural cycles, such as the
changing tides. Peter's installation will be a spectacular but
architecturally sympathetic addition to the new gallery space in
Penzance, and one which I'm sure will whet the appetite of passers-by
and encourage them into the building."
Peter Freeman's light
installation happens to be only one of six projects under way before
the opening of both spaces. Five other artists are making works in
response to the changing context of the two buildings, some focusing on
the building work as subject matter, others working with those who are
actively involved in all that is happening, from the construction team,
engineers, architects and so on, to the people who live or work in the
areas immediately surrounding the sites.
The building work on
both sites is progressing well. Confident that they will open as
planned on July 7, James Green said: "We are witnessing the most
dramatic period of change in the 111-year history of Newlyn Art
Gallery. Artists have always been at the centre of the gallery's
operation and it seems very fitting that a team of artists is
maintaining a very direct contact with the gallery buildings during
this transitional phase."
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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