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Artwork banners on display in shopping centre
SHOPPERS in the Keel Row shopping centre in the heart of Blyth are getting more than they bargained for, as amongst the retail hustle and bustle is a collection of creative poetry hanging from the rafters.
Blythscope Banners is a temporary community outreach project devised by north east-based artist and conceptual poet Ira Lightman.
It is artistic scheme created by the people of Blyth, for the people of Blyth.
And the concept behind the banners emerged from an earlier project entitled Blythscope, where residents were asked to creatively communicate their feelings about Blyth as a place to live and work.
The phrases and keywords were devised during 19 community workshops, which attracted more than 400 residents.
One of the stimuli for ideas was the new light sculpture by Newcastle-based artist Simon Watkinson, entitled Hyperscope, which will become an integral part of the market place.
The workshops got people thinking about the cultural heritage of Blyth, including its dialect, history and sense of community spirit.
The content was then transformed into 18 binocular shaped artworks, which appeared on hoardings around the Blyth Market Place site.
Ira then thought it would be a great idea if all the expressive words people had volunteered could be put on public view, which is how Blythscope Banners was born.
The double-sided 1m wide by 2m long fabric banners are on display until November 14.
It has been supported and commissioned by Blyth Valley Borough Council and forms part of its Blyth Market Place regeneration programme.
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Weather for Blyth
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
