RiversideOne developer BioRegional Quintain is asking
Middlesbrough folk to seek out striking images of local people which represent
the heritage of the town’s former Docks at Middlehaven so that they can be
immortalised in steel.
The chosen images will be used as templates for a series of
three pairs of steel double gates and a pair of steel panels – three metres and
four metres high respectively – which will form striking gateways to the £200m
sustainable community development at the former Middlehaven Docks site.
Called ‘portrait gates’, they will be created using
high-tech laser etching techniques. In close up, the image will consist of
letters and numbers cut into the metal with the whole picture clearly visible
from a distance.
Pete Halsall, BioRegional Quintain’s managing director,
explained: “Our intention is to find good quality images of people who worked
at the docks and that represent the area’s steelworking, industrial and social
heritage. We want to discover the collective memories and pictures of the site
and embody them in the public realm art and the designs of future buildings at
RiversideOne.
“It may be a gang of dockers, some steelworkers, a lone
welder or even some interesting visitors – we want any strong image that shows
people from Middlehaven’s past that can be turned into stunning entrance gates
for RiversideOne. I would ask anyone with an appropriate picture from
Middlehaven that includes themselves or a relative to send us the image so that
we can consider it for the gates.”
People interested in putting pictures forward are being
asked to send them by post or email. All of the images will then be considered
by BioRegional Quintain and the artist who had the idea for the gates, Chris
Edmunds. Winners will be chosen and then Chris will begin work on the ‘portrait
gates’ with an anticipated installation date of late 2008.
Chris Edmunds said: “I’ve been exploring the very positive
industrial heritage of Middlehaven and looking at ways of celebrating that in
the public realm works. My inspiration comes from the hard working, honest
language of the industrial workshops, warehouses and factory floors that frame
the River Tees.
“Looking to the future, there is also a strong influence in
the pixel-based imagery associated with computer arts and science, a clear
growth industry for Middlesbrough which is developing a real reputation as a
centre for digital innovation.”
The gates are part of the phase one public realm works at
RiversideOne which will create an event space and a variety of public art to be
enjoyed by residents and visitors to the development. Phase one alone is
costing £4m, providing some scale of the level of investment taking place in
creating this vibrant new district of the town.
Joe Docherty, Tees Valley Regeneration chief executive,
said: “Throughout time it has been the people of Middlesbrough who have shaped
Middlehaven and created its proud past and this is something we have always
been mindful of when creating our vision for the area.
“Now as we enter a new chapter of innovation and world
firsts for Middlehaven, it is a fitting tribute that these memories and images
of the past are immortalised forever in such a unique and novel way.”
Those submitting photographs are also asked to provide no
more than 100 words explaining why the person portrayed should be immortalised
on the gates. Chris Edmunds will require original prints to create the images –
these will be returned provided they are submitted with a stamped addressed
envelope and full contact details.
Photographs should be posted to, or handed in at, the
RiversideOne Marketing Suite, Windward
Way, Middlehaven, Middlesbrough
TS2 1QJ. Envelopes should be clearly marked ‘Portrait Gates’.Digital images can
be emailed to portraitgates@riverside-one.com