VOTE: Worthing's new £70,000 artwork sparks controversy

Suncloud, created for Splash Point by Bristol-based Walter Jack, has been paid for using a 70,000 grant given to Worthing Borough Council for meeting central government targets.

Details of the artwork were revealed in the Herald on Thursday, February 14, and has resulted in a clash of views.

The sculpture uses sun-power to encourage a healthy run-around between the poles.

Its masts are intended to mimic a little woodland with a clearing at the centre.

Mr Jack was asked how the sculpture would cope with its exposure to both bad weather and vandals: "It is made of marine-grade stainless steel, is durable and low maintenance, and is as vandal and graffiti-proof as we can possibly make it."

The Suncloud will absorb light through the day and light up at night.

Brickbats

West Sussex County Councillor for Worthing's Gaisford Ward, Liberal Democrat Peter Green said: "Sorry but I am unable to support this level of expenditure on the arts, when services for the young disabled are not being funded properly."

County Lib Dem group leader Morwen Millson said: "Lib Dems support the arts across our area, but this project seems to be a bit over the top.

"It's a shame they couldn't have found some local artists instead of using a Bristol-based group.

"Perhaps they could've made use of some of the wood on the beach that's being chipped!

"For Worthing Tories to be blowing 70,000 of public money, intended for economic regeneration, on metal poles while raising council tax again shows just how detached from real life they are!"

Bouquets

Ann Barlow, deputy council leader said: "I really like the concept that by running beneath each panel, your movement is sensed and the panel lights up for a 30-second burst."

Praise came from Dan Thompson, of the Revolutionary Arts Group: "It's contemporary, interactive and will make a real feature '“ as long as it's incorporated into the regeneration of this stretch of the prom and not left as a stand-alone sculpture."

Suncloud has been paid for by the government. It is expected to be several months before it is up and running.

Have your say

Do you think using 70,000 on the Suncloud feature is money well spent?

In the Herald's readers' vote 80 per cent voted no, with 20 per cent saying yes.

What do you think?

Will Suncloud being a welcome addition to Worthing seafront?

Is public art a waste of money?

How would you like to see 70,000 spent for Worthing?

Share your views, comment in the space below or email: [email protected]

Write to: Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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Comment

Sun Cloud Suits Sunny Worthing!!!

SWAG '“The Sunny Worthing Arts Group-would like to register it's support for this exciting arts project for Splash Point.

At last imaginative, interactive public sculpture here in Worthing.

It'll put our beautiful seafront on the world map as The East Beach caf has done for Littlehampton and at no cost to local ratepayers.

I understand the funding came from the public service board of the county council and was ring fenced for such a project.

More please!!

Karen Simporis

SWAG chairman

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The Tories are showing that they are as in touch with how ordinary people feel as Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown.

Miles Stapleton

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How on earth can a cluster of metal poles look anything like a wood?

Will it encourage visitors?

On a fine day, there is a spectacular view along the coast to Brighton and to the cliffs beyond.

Why block the view with metal poles?

What does an interactive seafront mean?

If you want to improve the look of the seafront, get rid of all the parked vehicles round the Pier.

We could do with more seating along the beach; a beach cafe like the new one at Littlehampton as previously mentioned; perhaps an extension of the cycle track; more seating on the pier; a drop-off point for cars with raincover outside the Pavilion as we used to have, before it was replaced with that ghastly plastic sail thing.

Why this obsession with the seafront?

What about the Teville Gate eyesore?

Oldtimer, Worthing

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I like the idea of artwork placed strategically around the town with a special emphasis on the seafront.

70,000 is an awful lot of money to be spent on any artwork.

What I cannot accept is that money cannot be found for needy people in the town, some of whom would have some difficulty travelling to the suggested site.

I suggest that the council uses this money for other much more deserving causes and offers a prize of around 1,000 to 2,000 to local colleges to come up with some original ideas.

We should encourage local students to come up with the artwork.

Robin Rogers

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As an occasional artist myself I think any art is a good thing, especially public art, although the design of the Splash Point sculpture looks ripe for vandalism.

This is probably what Worthing needs to take it into the future.

I hope it's not going to be the last, it's been a long time since the Elizabeth Frink heads.

Littlehampton is leading the way, with the superb new "bunker" caf on the front and had, I think, three awards in a national newspaper magazine last year for innovative design/ public art, the caf being one.

Worthing didn't merit a mention - no surprises there!

Wouldn't it be great to have a caf like "the bunker" along Worthing's front - in a place not currently served by a caf, to show that Worthing has something more to offer than care homes and disorderly youth.

70,000 is small beer for making public art these days.

I do think that there probably is enough local talent from which to make more public art for Worthing as was evident from the many beautiful sculptures built from the wood along the beach.

Although the vandals appeared to be working on behalf of the council in the form of the demolition yobbos with their wrecking lorries who moved in swiftly to destroy them.

Peter Henson