Celebrating Art in Fleetwood

Artists Residency at The Mount, Fleetwood

As Louise Wood’s artists residency at the Mount, Fleetwood has come to an end – we have been busy organising a celebratory event to showcase each of the ten sculptures she has made. Each piece reflects the maritime history of Fleetwood and has been on a journey before arriving back in time for today’s event.

I didn’t think we’d get all the exhibition ready in time,the last two pieces which had been over to Northern Ireland, arrived back at noon, and we opened the doors of The Mount at 1pm. Actually, we opened up at 9am to let Tony, the skipper of the Knott End ferry see his artwork!

Another artwork reflected local men’s involvement in the royal Naval Patrol Service, and they did us proud by bringing along their standards. The Mayor officially unveiled their artwork. He and the Mayoress (Fleetwood born and bred) stayed to talk to residents who had contributed during the community workshops, or who contributed stories. All this was set to a musical accompaniment provided by local musicians.

Children were catered for by storyteller Domonic Kelly. We’d scattered cushions upstairs and there was so much to see from the ten-sided clocktower that he was never short of inspiration for a story. To follow that, we’d devised a quiz about the park keeper in times gone by (the Mountie) and solvers all received a prize.

Many people were amazed at the beauty of The Mount and looked to what the future use of the building might be. All agreed that Louise Wood’s sculptural pieces both looked at the history of The Mount and saw a rosy future for the building.

 Jean Laurie, Arts Development Officer

Tales from the Mount

‘The Mount at Fleetwood is a great venue and not just for the stunning views across the Bay and dunes. Tomorrow is the last drop-in session for people to come along and tell their stories to artist Louise Wood, who then helps record them on clay, to make fantastic ceramic mementos. My piece records a verse from a sea shanty associated with the North West coast, called ‘Rude Boreas’. Not as naughty as it sounds- Boreas is the classical god of the North wind, often seen on old maps blowing a whole gale out of his mouth. It’s certainly been windy during the last eight weeks of the residency, but loads of people have made it up the hill to see how the clock works and tell stories of Fleetwood. Some are residents and others are regular visitors.

Because the Mount building has ten sides, Louise is making ten sculptures reflecting the maritime history of Fleetwood. Each piece is going on a journey, then coming back in time for the final exhibition on June 18^th.  The first piece to travel was the one for the Royal Naval Patrol Service. This did really vital, but dangerous work during World War 2. Lots of ex-RNPS men shared their memories. The piece was taken by Louise on April 29^th to Cardiff and handed over to the captain of HMS Tyne. It’s now on this fisheries patrol vessel off the west coast of Scotland, before being returned to us. The second piece to travel was taken to London for a short ceremony to lay flowers on the grave of architect Decimus Burton, to mark the 175^th anniversary of Fleetwood.

I can’t wait until June 18^th to see all the pieces together, along with the artworks made by schoolchildren and local people.

 Find out more here… http://www.visitwyre.co.uk/site/events/artist-s-residency-at-the-mount-fleetwood-ten-tales-ten-journeys-p630880

Jean Laurie Arts Development Officer