Below are the draft designs for potential sculptures to be sited along the guided busway route.
It’s hard to convey sculpture in images as it’s a three-dimensional experience but these give some idea.
I’ll be in Houghton Regis Library on Tuesday 10th 10.00 – 12.00
and Dunstable library 2.30-4.30 so please come along and see the maquettes.
The designs emerged from community consultation and community workshops.
Please do comment. There will only be four sculptures so it would be great to get feedback as to which ones you prefer.
It can be hard to visualise how small card models will look when they are made from steel and are 4m in total height – it may be an idea to visit my website to get an idea of what finished work can look like: www.petemoorhouse.co.uk
You can comment by clicking on the comment command above or come into the libraries to give feedback.
The actual forms will be refined and altered slightly as they develop into final designs
In addition I am creating two stainless steel ducks for “duck” bridge on Church Street.
Main Themes:
1. Celebrating Dunstable as a market town, through its longest trading shop – the cottage garden flower shop. This also celebrates that people have been consistently buying flowers, with all the associated meanings. With so many changes in the high street in recent years it celebrates trading that has occurred in recent history. It also celebrates Dunstable’s success in Anglia in Bloom. Celebrating the act of giving – the giving tree. Flowers representing love – for a partner, lover, a loved one that has passed away, mother days etc . In the image the arms are ” giving” the flowers. The flowers can also be see to represent the wild flowers found on the downs.
This is a different interpretation where the flowers are incorporated in a hexagonal design representing pollination from bees. There are over 50 species of wild flowers on the downs including rare orchids
2. Celebrating the manufacturing industry. The manufacturing industry had a huge impact in the area. Many people moved to Houghton Regis and Dunstable for the jobs provided by these industries. AC Delco, Vauxhall, Bagshawe’s, Cross & Co , De La Rue, Rubber, Printing etc. These designs were developed by pupils of KIng’s Hougton Regis.
The above combines a chimney representing the cement works, and detail etching would resemble chalk dust silhouetees
3. Looking a the history of Dunstable’s musical past, with the California Ballroom, The Winsock. Queensway Hall. Many big names played in Dunstable from the Rolling stones to Jimmy Hendrix. Modern references to music include the Party in the Park. Dunstable Rocks. There is also a barber shop full of guitars!
4 The downs with so much recent history, with flight – gliders, kites and red kites
These kites would have one of three designs.
A.Street patterns
B Cultural references celebrating the diversity in the population, eg: Arabic pattern, Hindu hand henna pattern
C References to manufacturing past
A large scale kite encompassing the four quadrants
These represent red kite/ glider wings. The street patterns are the view seen of Dunstable from the sky. This concept was developed by Linda Sanders from Central Bedfordshire College
5 Orange rolling that used to take place on the downs
This work would have the slopes of the downs etched to the post and also hands to catch the oranges.
Below a minimalist version
6 Transport theme – referring to trucks/ car industry and also Dunstable as a transport hub with former train line, major junction, new busway..
7 Cycling theme as busway will have a cycle path and there are existing national cycle route networks in the area as well as BMX/skate parks. Houghton Regis is on Nation Cycle network 6.
8 Community theme, strong sense of inclusion and celebrating diversity bring a richness to the community. Many people liked the idea of the community being celebrated.
Please do stop by the libraries. I would very much welcome your input. I am endeavouring to involve as many people in the community as possible with this project to ensure the community have ownership of the works.
Luton Dunstable Busway Public Art 