Date: 06/03/2006
Source: Wakefield Council
Wakefield's historic waterfront is in the spotlight this month with the launch of a new light installation - Aura.
Faye Chamberlain is the first artist to mark the site of the Hepworth, Wakefield, as part of the Waterfront Regeneration Scheme.
Her installation is a moving sculpture which wraps a selection of trees in a special fabric which is UV lit in the dark. It provides a luminous glow over the River Calder and lights the area close to where the main entrance to the new art gallery building will be.
Aura is the first in a series of site based works and installations to mark the development of the Hepworth leading up to its planned completion in 2008. It is commissioned by Wakefield Art Gallery in partnership with Public Arts and supported by the Arts Council England.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sport Denise Jeffery said: "Faye's light installation is a very important step for us as it pinpoints where the new gallery will be built. For many people this will be the first time that the site for the new gallery becomes visually apparent and it will be seen by thousands of people over the next few weeks."
Aura can be seen until March 25 and is best viewed at the junction of Wakefield Bridge (A61) and Ings Road (A638) at dark. (Please note that the site of The Hepworth, Wakefield, directly adjacent to the River Calder is not currently accessible to the public).
Faye also created a photographic record of the Waterfront in 2005.
