Public art project to be unveiled at the Thame Show

AN acclaimed artist has been commissioned by a property developer to create a stunning piece of public artwork to complement a £14.5 million industrial and warehouse development in Thame.

Image of what it the sculpture could look like, although the details have not yet been finalised

Claude Heath, a former artist in residence at the Henry Moore Institute and a prizewinner in the John Moores Exhibition, has been selected to produce an eye-catching sculpture for the heart of Cotmore Park, in Thame (opposite the DAF site).

The piece of sculpure, entitled Colour Spaces, will be around three metres high and will be launched at the Thame Show on September 17, at The Thame Showground, Kingsley Road, where visitors will have the chance to speak to Claude about his ideas and see some of the concepts put forward by the award-winning artist.

The work has been commissioned by Commercial Property Developer, Stoford, which is leading the Cotmore Park development, in collaboration with Public Artist Limited – an independent art consultancy – with high quality print company Windles Group, and Groves, the UK’s leading distributor of haberdashery, who are moving into the development.

The development itself, which will comprise of two high specification, low carbon, energy-efficient buildings, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Claude, who was chosen to create the art following a selection process, will produce the final design by the end of the month. He will start work on creating the piece over the winter, with the aim of installing it in spring 2016.

Jon Andrews, director of Public Artist Ltd, said: “Claude stood out as an innovative artist who came up with some incredible ideas for the space and we are very excited to be working with him. Colour Spaces will be a fantastic addition to the development. We’re thrilled that Claude will be joining us at the Thame Show next week and are looking forward to discussing the project with visitors.”

Claude Heath said Colour Spaces is likely to be an aluminium structure and a painted colour spectrum. “If each colour has a height, width, and depth, then you can imagine that all the colours in a picture, for example, will combine to form a colour space, a spatial field of colour that contains all of them,” he said.

“It is also possible to take one further step, imaginatively speaking, taking a colour space and giving it a solid form, as a painted sculpture that will stand on the grass beside an Oxfordshire byway, a spectrum in tangible shape to act as a beacon and conductor of colour in its surroundings.

”Lizzie Spokes, community project officer of Thame Town Council, which worked with Stoford, Public Artist Ltd, Windles Group and Groves to select an artist for the project, added: “Thame Town Council supports a policy of art in the public realm, which can enhance our experience of the environment. Claude’s design will create a distinctive, engaging landmark within the town that will enhance the visual impact of the new developments. We are looking forward to seeing the final design and the installation next spring.”