Worthing First News

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Splash Point to host Giant Handbag 15/01/2008

In a bid to put Worthing on the map, seven proposals for public art at Splash Point were unveiled today. 

Of the pieces, the two making the most waves were a giant Handbag and a Pineapple, each 5 metres in height and sculpted from polished stainless steel.

The remaining wacky designs include a similarly sculpted splash, a row of steel parasols which double as climbing frames, various acoustic listening devices such as 'Sound of the Sea' and 'Sound Horn', and 'Suncloud' which is formed of 44 masts which absorb light in the day and light up at night.

The designs will remain on display in Worthing Museum ready for viewing and comment until Thursday January 31st. A decision will be made during the following week on which piece will make it to the construction stage. Cllr Ann Barlow confirmed that 'This piece of art is one of the first Masterplan projects to come to fruition'.

The £79,000 project is funded by West Sussex County Council together with the Public Service Board. As well as creating a real buzz in the town, it will kick start the regeneration of Worthing which has been eagerly anticipated since the adoption of the Masterplan by council officers in late 2006.

Here's the proposed pieces.

HANDBAG | Designed by Andy Hazell, this 5 metre high sculpture will be constructed from high polished stainless steel and will be set into the paving along with water jet cut slate silhouettes depicting typical handbag items.

PINEAPPLE | Again designed by Andy Hazell, this sculpture will be 5 metres in height and constructed from high polished stainless steel.

SPLASH | One final design from Andy Hazell is this 5 metre high hydroformed polished stainless steel splash, which will sit on concentric rings of dissimilar paving.

PARASOLS | A variety of different sized gleaming white parasols has been submitted as a proposal by Bruce Williams. The laser-cut steel canopies will be coated in hot zinc spray and white gloss paint for easy maintenance and they will sit on playground rubber (EDPM) to ensure safety whilst they double as climbing frames.

SOUND OF THE SEA | The Sound of the Sea lighthouse by Andy Plant will feature a rotating acoustic listening dish and live sound link to Worthings twinned town.

SOUND HORN | A further listening device, Sound Horn, by Andy Plant, will feature a rotating acoustic listening horn clock.

SUN CLOUD | This design by Walter Jack Studio is both a beacon and a game. Formed from 44 masts with panels at the top which absorb light in the day and light up at night, 'Suncloud' is like a little woodland with a clearing at its centre. As you run between the masts, the panels above detect movement and light up for 30 seconds or so.

Make Sure You Have Your Say

If you would like to comment on any of the proposals, or to choose your favourite, please send your e-mails directly to the Masterplan programme team at worthing.regeneration@worthing.gov.uk.

And cc us in too - We welcome YOUR views, email info@worthingfirst.org.uk

Your Views

22/01/2008 - I would personally go with the PARASOLS - and big too... the bigger the better. Having two kids, I can see this being a fun installation, which as well as perfectly capturing the tourist aspect of the town historically, I'm sure my two monsters would climb all over it. Jim C

22/01/08 - We have looked at the designs and would say FANTASTIC! - at last the town may be going somewhere. We like Handbag, Splash, Parasols and 'SunCloud'. We feel that any of these would be a great boost to the seafront. If there is any further funding - why not have them all placed along the seafront from Splash Point to Heene Road? - Les & Sarah, High Beach G.H.