Art, Mercery/Dorchester Road

Image: © John Stephen Taken: 29 Jul 2014

According to the Dorset Echo; WEYMOUTH has new artworks to admire after three sculptures celebrating the heritage and culture of the town were unveiled. They were officially unveiled on 16th July by Mayor Kate Wheller and BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Paul Atterbury in a ceremony at the Weymouth Gateway business park. The public were invited to contribute ideas for the project which were incorporated into the sculptures, which were created by artist Andy Kirkby. The three sculptures include: 1. 'Under the Hill': The artist's design for the bus shelter to be sited outside the Sainsbury's store on Mercery Road, relates to the folklore about music being heard from underneath the ground at Bincombe Bumps. 2. 'Frame': This sculpture's design echoes the 'fashion' nature of New Look's operations and has, etched into its surface, designs - by local illustrator Kate Rewse - celebrates some of the contributed community's stories. It is Andy's way of 'reflecting' back to the community what people told him during the engagement process. The wheels used are resonant of those which can be seen on King George III's bathing machine near the King's statue. 3. 'Torpedosaur': This design reflects the Jurassic Coast heritage of our area, combined with the Whitehead torpedo factory legacy (the body of the 'torpedosaurs' are being constructed from real torpedo casings). The throne reflects King George III's love of the town as a holiday destination.

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