Public Art in Houghton Regis Completed

One of the artworks installed - just waiting for the grass to grow!!

The artworks for the Houghton Regis developments are complete and nearly in the ground. One certainly is and the others are just waiting for housing to be finished and landscaping completed so hopefully the artworks will then enhance these living spaces.

At least we have one in the ground and this one tells the story and that is FOLLOW THE HOLLOWAY. This artwork tells the story of cattle droving along ancient routes. You can sometimes detect these paths and routes through the way a path burrows through a landscape as if a tunnel of trees is created. Often there are old hedges that frame the route. Some of these paths may have unusual flora as the cattle may have “seeded” the route as they walked.

I like to think that these paths are felt and the feet that walked them can be heard in the minds eye.

FOLLOW THE HOLLOWAY.

Looking at the detailing we have a rabbit, of course, hedgehogs - increasingly rare - a collie - this is an indulgence as she was modelled on my own constant companion Jess. Wording surrounds the artwork giving names to the mysteries and offering clues as to the intricate and ancient network of paths and routes that intersect here.

Of course the main figures of drover and cattle seem to dominate but they are also driving through complex routes shrouded by hawthorn until a clear route offers itself. Whilst the drover seems to be pointing the way in fact he is following both the cattle and the Holloway.

Once the development is complete and open fully we will for sure get some more pictures. In the meantime here are details of the fabrication which was done by CB ARTS

Steve Pardue

Steve is an artist and designer, specialising in the area of Interpretation, combining his artistic skills with his reading of the landscape. He has considerable knowledge and expertise in managing large complex projects working with professionals across a range of sectors including steel fabrication and wood manufacture. Steve has been running his own company - Differentia - since 1990. Steve works with words and pictures and devises visual representations of projects which include poetry, history and art. He also works with other artists in collaborative work which often crosses boundaries from interpretation to art installations.

http://www.differentia.co.uk
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