East Midlands | Artists taking the lead

Shortlisted:

Jo Fairfax

Jo Fairfax proposes to create an extraordinary visual display of sculptural light hovering above two fields in the East Midlands. Made from 10,000 sculptural forms hanging from fine nylon cables, the piece will be will be seen from trains passing through, planes flying over and travellers on the M1. The movement of trains will activate the lights on the artwork. Depending on the speed of the trains passing through, a new array of colours will be produced each time, creating an aura of changing colour either side of the railway line across each field.
Location: Two fields either side of the arterial railway linking North to South, and under the flight path from East Midlands Airport to Greece.

Michael Pinchbeck

Michael Pinchbeck will invite the public to sit on 2012 benches at exactly the same time every day – 12 o'clock midday for 20 minutes, for one year. Each bench will bear a plaque engraved with the words ‘Sit with us for a moment and remember’. Inspired by public acts of remembrance, the project is an invitation to remember, to create a community of memory and to invoke a response to 2012 and a living legacy of the Games. The project will take the form of an installation and a site-specific performance at 2012 locations chosen by the public via an online poll. Communities will be involved in the installation of the benches which will remain in situ long after London 2012. The project will encourage health and well-being and a trail embracing the Olympic movement values of excellence, respect and friendship will link the 2012 sites across the region.
Location: Across the East Midlands

Hetain Patel

Hetain Patel proposes a series of large scale performances that will launch an interactive multimedia installation in public spaces throughout Nottingham. This project aims to celebrate cross-cultural collaboration by harnessing the energy of the body. Using technology that will incorporate live heartbeats within performance, participants will be invited to transmit their heartbeats live via the web. An engaging communal experience will be created combining multimedia with theatre, music and dance. International in scope, regional practitioners will work with community members, and international collaborators, making for a lasting legacy.
Location: Various sites in Nottingham

Clary Salandy

Spectrum of the Olympic Spirit proposes to bring together five East Midlands communities to create five iconic structures. Led by Clary Salandy of Mahogany, this project will create a narrative that links five key elements of athletic prowess. Each structure, in paying tribute to the environment will utilise the skills of different people belonging to coastal, industrial, forest, craft and wider communities in a creative exploration, where we skilfully transform precious raw materials into works of art. The structures will become the focus for energetic street performances capturing the essence of the Olympic spirit focusing on human energy, strength, stamina, stretch and power of breath, supported by performers who create a magical choreography.

‘Lionheart’ offers a unique artistic idea on an unrivalled scale. The local materials, the art form, and the Olympian commitment of the artist to produce an extraordinary work caught our imagination. This will be tactile yet awe-inspiring. The sculpture will celebrate the East Midlands’ cultural, industrial, and historical heritage while inspiring thought about our relationship with our nation, with other nations and cultures, and with the values implicit in Olympian activity.

Stephen Lowe

writer (TV film and theatre), and director, whose recent stage-work includes Old Big Ead In the Spirit of the Man, Glamour, Smile and Empty Bed Blues. He is an ex-chair of the Arts Council England, East Midlands.

Terry Shave

painter, curator and Professor of Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University. He has been involved in nearly one hundred exhibitions and has won prizes in the John Moore's painting exhibition in Liverpool and the Unilever Awards in London.

Stephanie Hernandez

has been involved in the arts and media for over 20 years. She's worked as an Arts Officer, poet, Arts producer, University Lecturer and currently works as a BBC radio broadcaster and Programmer for Apples & Snakes.

Jeanie Finlay

artist and film-maker who makes documentary works for the cinema, broadcast and gallery. Her works include: feature documentary Goth Cruise (IFC 75 min), Teenland (BBC4 60 min) interactive documentary Home-Maker' and 'Love Takes'.

Henderson Mullin

Chief Executive of Writing East Midlands which works with writers from the region. He has a background in publishing books and magazines in support of freedom of expression, and in promoting new writers and artists.

Linda Marie Young

part-time lecturer and a successful mixed media designer/maker, most recently exhibiting at The V&A in London. Linda graduated in 2007.

Paul Brookes

Creative Programmer for the East Midlands. He has previously been the Project Director for Rivington Place, Director of Leicester Expo, Capital of Culture Director for Bradford and Chief Executive of the 1998 Year of Photography and Digital Imaging.

Peter Knott

Director of Arts and Development at Arts Council East Midlands. With a background in education and film production he has worked at the BRIT School in London and produced a range of hit pop videos including Rewind by Artful Dodger.