Fairhaven Bubbles
Fairhaven Bubbles by Steve Messam - image by Lee Pilkington
From 12 to 29 July 2012 at Fairhaven Lake, Inner Promenade, Lytham
A spectacular temporary installation by international artist Steve Messam, commissioned by Mid Pennine Arts in partnership with Lancashire County Council and Fylde Borough Council.
For four days in July, the world descended on the sedate seaside town of Lytham for the global sporting spectacular that is the British Open. To welcome that worldwide mass audience, we presented a visual and sensory experience of Fairhaven Lake as you had never seen it before.
Fairhaven Bubbles brought a touch of effervescence on a grand scale to the normally serene surface of this seafront boating lake. The Cumbria-based artist has created sculptural works in counterpoint to the majestic landscapes of the Lake District, and brought that same feel for reframing panoramic views to this seaside setting.
The Bubbles were designed to interact with the wider landscape view - big open skies, wide water - but also to focus attention on fine detail. The sequence of inflated spheres emerged from a quiet corner of the lake where the experience, particularly from a boat, was surprisingly intimate.
Fairhaven Bubbles were intended to startle, intrigue and delight - to enable visitors to discover new views and use the spheres as composition elements in their views. Visitors were invited to take photographs - from the shore and the water as well as from the promenade and cafe - and to share their pictures online here.
For visitors the experience was more than just visual. The Bubbles moved in the sea breeze, and caught the light as they moved. Getting up close in a rowing boat allowed visitors to listen as they shifted on their moorings...
Fairhaven Bubbles was on view for 17 days. It was a part of Revealed, a cultural programme also featuring sound artist Alan Dunn and the Caravan Gallery.
Commissioned from Mid Pennine Arts by Lancashire County Council and Fylde Borough Council.
Further information for Revealed: A feast of art, culture & entertainment on the Fylde Coast in July 2012
PDF document: Revealed What's On Newspaper
Website: The Ghost Telegrams (volume 1)
Press Coverage:
BBC News Granada News Steve Messam on ITV
What you say:
'Beautifully uncompromising as always . I love your stuff :-)' Facebook
'Thanks so much [...] for bringing bubbles to fairhaven! They look so at home there already.' Twitter
'I've been looking at this lake for 34 years and this has made me see it in a whole new light.' Guest at launch event
'Mental, I randomly ended up on the jetty looking at those remarkable blobs last night, brilliant!!!!' Facebook
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