-:Undertaker:-
15-03-2015, 04:54 PM
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/kirkby-tree-sculpture-remains-tesco-8636830#rlabs=2
Kirkby tree sculpture all that remains of Tesco plan
Dead tree sculpture part paid for by council and supermarket chain sparks anger and mockery
http://i3.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/article8637178.ece/alternates/s615/JS56704088.jpg
The tree sculpture that has been inflicted on Kirkby, a sorely deprived part of the country
Kirkby (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/kirkby) was supposed to be getting a Tesco (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/tesco) supermarket - but instead all it will have to remember from the failed scheme is this sculpture of a dead tree. The sculpture of a dead 400-year-old tree costing tens of thousands is designed to breathe new life into Kirkby town centre.
The six-metre iron tree has been “planted” by Knowsley council (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/knowsley-council) as part of a £320,000 project to spruce up the town centre - partly paid for by Tesco. The council says it has not broken down the figures but residents believe the tree structure alone cost up to £60,000.
Tesco, which recently axed a planned a new supermarket that would have created 800 jobs, helped fund the “art-work”. But the structure, which is without leaves or full branches, has sparked outrage among residents and humour among most. Knowsley council has called the piece “eye-catching” but many have taken to social media site Facebook to call it an “eye-sore”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb__9gNo6C8
Geoff Wood, the artist behind the tree, is hoping the tree will grow on people. He says it is not yet finished and one of three art pieces. Others entitled ‘three thrones’ and ‘Edward’s Elephant’ are set to follow. Nine tonnes of molten iron went into making the tree. A golden disc, which will catch the sunlight and provide some shelter from the rain, will complete the design. But residents are not yet convinced, and the fact the structure is not based on a tree in Kirkby but one in neighbouring Huyton has added to the anger among some.
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “The tree is absolutely spectacular and will be a real focal point in the new-look town centre.
“The idea for the tree came from discussions with local people who wanted a piece of art to illustrate strength and roots in the local community and a place they could meet up with friends in the town centre. “We have engaged with local schools and community groups throughout the process and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Local people have really played their part in creating this piece of art and we are sure they will love it for years to come. “The overall cost of the three new pieces of public art in Kirkby town centre is £320,000. This is made up of significant contributions from Tesco and arts funding grants, along with Council funding, so this money could only have been used for public art and not for any other purpose.”
I live not far from Kirkby and like many parts of northern Liverpool, it is one of the most deprived and poor areas of the country. And here we have, yet again, another Labour council (there's 63 councillors on Knowsley Council of which all 63 of them are Labour) pissing money up the wall on absolute RUBBISH. It's an absolute disgrace and only reminds me of the morons in Manchester City Council (again, a Labour council and an area which contains many sorely deprived areas) who a few years ago spent millions on hideous and pointless sculpture that kept falling apart.
You know, I know councils have budgets ringfenced so they can't spend X on Y they have to spend it on X, but if you are going to spend money on civic projects for an area what is it with this country in the modern era where the only public and civic art we get nowadays is complete ****e like this? What happened to Victorian ideas like relatively cheap flower beds, pretty railings, a nice water fountain, a town clock or a statue of the reigning monarch of the day?
It just goes to show how far the rot has gone. And the result of one-party fiefdoms.
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “The tree is absolutely spectacular and will be a real focal point in the new-look town centre.
Speechless.
Thoughts?
Kirkby tree sculpture all that remains of Tesco plan
Dead tree sculpture part paid for by council and supermarket chain sparks anger and mockery
http://i3.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/article8637178.ece/alternates/s615/JS56704088.jpg
The tree sculpture that has been inflicted on Kirkby, a sorely deprived part of the country
Kirkby (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/kirkby) was supposed to be getting a Tesco (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/tesco) supermarket - but instead all it will have to remember from the failed scheme is this sculpture of a dead tree. The sculpture of a dead 400-year-old tree costing tens of thousands is designed to breathe new life into Kirkby town centre.
The six-metre iron tree has been “planted” by Knowsley council (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/knowsley-council) as part of a £320,000 project to spruce up the town centre - partly paid for by Tesco. The council says it has not broken down the figures but residents believe the tree structure alone cost up to £60,000.
Tesco, which recently axed a planned a new supermarket that would have created 800 jobs, helped fund the “art-work”. But the structure, which is without leaves or full branches, has sparked outrage among residents and humour among most. Knowsley council has called the piece “eye-catching” but many have taken to social media site Facebook to call it an “eye-sore”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb__9gNo6C8
Geoff Wood, the artist behind the tree, is hoping the tree will grow on people. He says it is not yet finished and one of three art pieces. Others entitled ‘three thrones’ and ‘Edward’s Elephant’ are set to follow. Nine tonnes of molten iron went into making the tree. A golden disc, which will catch the sunlight and provide some shelter from the rain, will complete the design. But residents are not yet convinced, and the fact the structure is not based on a tree in Kirkby but one in neighbouring Huyton has added to the anger among some.
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “The tree is absolutely spectacular and will be a real focal point in the new-look town centre.
“The idea for the tree came from discussions with local people who wanted a piece of art to illustrate strength and roots in the local community and a place they could meet up with friends in the town centre. “We have engaged with local schools and community groups throughout the process and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Local people have really played their part in creating this piece of art and we are sure they will love it for years to come. “The overall cost of the three new pieces of public art in Kirkby town centre is £320,000. This is made up of significant contributions from Tesco and arts funding grants, along with Council funding, so this money could only have been used for public art and not for any other purpose.”
I live not far from Kirkby and like many parts of northern Liverpool, it is one of the most deprived and poor areas of the country. And here we have, yet again, another Labour council (there's 63 councillors on Knowsley Council of which all 63 of them are Labour) pissing money up the wall on absolute RUBBISH. It's an absolute disgrace and only reminds me of the morons in Manchester City Council (again, a Labour council and an area which contains many sorely deprived areas) who a few years ago spent millions on hideous and pointless sculpture that kept falling apart.
You know, I know councils have budgets ringfenced so they can't spend X on Y they have to spend it on X, but if you are going to spend money on civic projects for an area what is it with this country in the modern era where the only public and civic art we get nowadays is complete ****e like this? What happened to Victorian ideas like relatively cheap flower beds, pretty railings, a nice water fountain, a town clock or a statue of the reigning monarch of the day?
It just goes to show how far the rot has gone. And the result of one-party fiefdoms.
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “The tree is absolutely spectacular and will be a real focal point in the new-look town centre.
Speechless.
Thoughts?