On Sunday 17th May 2009 a free public art and community event took place in Gateshead Riverside Park, to celebrate the achievements of the Final Frontier project.
The event was focused around a specific route through the park where visitors came across some interesting new additions to the environment, including five unique public artworks. There were also other activities designed to encourage more people to utilise the park, link key groups and users of the park and promote interest in local heritage and the environment including bike rides, heritage talks and nature trails. The artists were also present explain their artworks which were developed during their 3 month residency in the nearby community of Teams and Dunston. There were also exhibitions of the artists ideas during their residencies on display in Gateshead Central Library and Civic Centre during the project and a publication produced.
The success of Final Frontier acted as a catalyst and now permanent artworks and design features are installed along the same trail by artists Keith Barrett, Gilbert Ward and Andrew Mckeown. Gateshead Council requested that the community engagement element of these new public artworks were managed by rednile due to the strong relationships which had formed in the area during Final Frontier.
BACKGROUND ON FINAL FRONTIER PROJECT & GATESHEAD RIVERSIDE PARK:
Gateshead Riverside Park is a key site to undergo re-development in the coming years. It is a green area, which spans from Dunston Staiths to the Sculpture Park, near the Hilton Hotel and is known locally as ‘the bankies’.
FINAL FRONTIER is part of wider research into how the site may be fully utilized and enjoyed as a recreational area by the public in the long term, the north east-based arts organisation rednile Projects Ltd were commissioned by Gateshead Council to curate and coordinate Final Frontier, a project that uses art and high quality creative activity to generate interest and discussion on the Riverside Park.
rednile began the project in November 2008, and worked alongside invited northeast artists Jo Ray, Sarah Bayliss and Sophie Lisa Beresford and Birmingham artist David Thomas, as artists-in-residence at Teams Community Centre until May 2009.
The artists developed ideas through their own practice and by working with individuals and groups from Teams and Dunston. People had the chance to be involved in flag making, building wooden shelters, birdboxes, model making, painting and lots more!
Lead artists in residence: rednile projects are artists Suzanne Hutton, Janine Goldsworthy and Michael Branthwaite who are based in the North East. Often working collaboratively, they create sculpture and video that responds to site and changing environments.
Other artists invited by rednile:
Jo Ray lives in Gateshead and is interested in public space and surveillance. She is interested in sculpture and site specific activities. She plays with scale and perspective in imaginary and dream spaces.
David Thomas. Ran workshops exploring typography, architecture and structures of use, social engagement and participation. His work explored architectural trails, create small scale habitats and shelters and made work responding to the park
Sarah Bayliss, a recent graduate from Newcastle University, creates work concerned with the unique identity of a site, in this case the park. Her engaging, intelligent interventions within the site explore its history and users. Currently in her workshops she is working with children making paper mache boats, reminiscent of the old tugs that used to work along the Tyne and birdboxes that are being sited within the park.
Sophie Lisa Beresford, recently graduated from Sunderland University, is interested in culture, spirituality and science; her work observes northern youth culture. In her sessions she will be exploring positive energy, meditation and dance. She hopes these exercises will develop confidence, create positive relationships between peers and understand emotions.
To take part in a questionnaire regarding Final Frontier and the Gateshead Riverside Park, click here