A piece of modern art is set to be installed on Seascale’s historic water tower.
Acclaimed artist Ryan Gander was commissioned to create a sculpture for the area as part of Deep Time, a public art programme connected to a wider £2 million coastal improvement project launched almost five years ago.
It is understood that several artists were asked to create work for the west coast as part of Deep Time, but the project’s website has suddenly been taken down today, Wednesday, February 14.
There are no artist’s impressions available of Gander’s work – but Cumberland Council said the Seascale sculpture will be made of stainless steel and based on a double-sided corridor wall clock that appears to have been made twice and offset to seem as if the viewer is suffering from double vision.
It will be mounted on the side of the water tower – which is a listed building – this spring where it will stay until November, when it will be removed.
The authority has applied for planning consent for the temporary artwork which includes a diagram of where it will sit on the listed building.
A public consultation had taken place about the installation, the council said, that closed on February 2.
The council added that once all conditions of the listed building consent have been met, the artwork will be installed.
The authority said at this time, a total of five artworks, including Gander’s, are being commissioned as part of a coastal trail.
Deep Time was revealed in June 2022, part of the coastal improvement scheme Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast, which was launched in March 2019.
Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coasts aimed to bring art installations, adventure activities and infrastructure developments to the coast between Millom and Whitehaven.
It was backed by £1 million in funding from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund with an additional £1.15 million from Sellafield Ltd’s Social Impact Fund.
As part of the development, a state-of-the-art beach café for Silecroft has been developed. It was earmarked to be completed by last September, however, work remains ongoing at the site.
The initial project launch said it would create an augmented climbing wall at Muncaster Castle, an inclusive cycling centre, 1.4km of new cyclepaths, 1.8km of new or improved footpaths, 10 art installations and digital apps, signs and maps.
It is unclear what, if any, of these developments have gone ahead.
A total of 30 indirect jobs were expected to be created – the council has not yet confirmed if any of the project’s aims have been met.
Last year, Copeland Council said a running festival, several new cycle and footpaths and Deep Time have been created as part of the scheme.
