Nowhere left to go as art island arrives at last
A WEEKEND of live music, performances and film screenings was held in Bristol to mark the final stop of an 'art island's' tour of the West Country.
Nowhereisland – a controversial £500,000 artwork created by Alex Hartley – was towed by barge into the city's Cumberland Basin as part of the Cultural Olympiad – the artistic celebrations surrounding this summer's Olympics.
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The Ambling Band led the Nowhereisland procession down Park Street to College Green Pictures: Jo Wakenshaw
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Activists raise the issue of climate change
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Deputy council leader Jon Rogers, also the Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor, joined the procession
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Kim Tilbrook, above, by the Nowhereisland embassy in Cumberland Basin; below, the island
The artist, who recreated an Arctic island recently exposed by melting ice by removing its top layer, wanted to raise awareness of climate change.
Some had previously criticised the cost of the project, including the Taxpayer's Alliance who described it as "a floating absurdity".
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During the course of the island's surreal tour of the West Country coast, which started in Weymouth in June and culminated with its arrival in Bristol on Friday, people were able to sign up as "citizens" and have a say in the development of its constitution and laws.
Around 50 people gathered in Park Street on Friday for a colourful march to the Harbourside to welcome the island into the city.
One of those who joined the march was Ruth Levitas, 63, a sociologist from Bristol University, who lives in Redland.
"I have signed up as a citizen and think this is the most fascinating utopian project," she said.
"It encourages people to think about the constitution and makes people think about art as politics and politics as art and we need that."
Councillor Jon Rogers, deputy leader of Bristol City Council and Lib Dem candidate for Bristol mayor, was one of those to welcome the island.
"Nowhereisland is a great idea – it's not often that a new country is created," he joked.
"I like that it has its own ambassadors expressing new ideas. I am definitely going to sign up as a citizen."
More than 20,000 people signed up to "citizenship" of the floating island, which has been accompanied on its travels by a mobile "embassy" bus.
A celebration event was held at the ss Great Britain on Saturday to mark the end of the island's journey.
Mr Hartley was joined by fellow artists, poets and writers Philip Hoare, Tim Etchells, Salena Godden, Keith Wilson, geographer Tim Cresswell, constitutional lawyer Carl Gardner and scholar of utopia Richard Noble, to explore Nowhereisland as a "utopian dream".
Claire Doherty, director of Bristol-based arts organisation Situations which helped to produce the artwork, said: "Nowhereisland has shown us what the story of a small island on a journey can inspire.
"Thousands of propositions have been made for the nation's constitution, from 'everyone has the right to be heard' to 'free ice cream on Fridays'."
After a farewell celebration yesterday, the 200-tonne island was due to be broken up and distributed by post to each of its citizens.
Comments
by smoosername
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 9:02AM
“@bris28
I was referring to the fact both stories were posted on the same day.”
by bris28
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 8:43AM
“Smooser is wrong. The boy didn't die in hospital yesterday. It happened on a bank holiday. Wake up at the back of the class there!”
by smoosername
Monday, September 10 2012, 4:41PM
“£500,000!
Posted on the same day a boy died in hospital due to staff shortages...
I fail to see any benefit this has brought to anyone.”
by katachua
Monday, September 10 2012, 4:09PM
“@BristolDJ
Just for once, I'm with Dicktator on this one. I've no objection to these people playing Silly Beggars, in fact I think it looks like fun, but why is it financed out of our taxes?
Can't they just hand around the collecting tin, as amateur dramatic societies do?”
by bris28
Monday, September 10 2012, 2:49PM
“Nowhere Island? What a joke! Pity the councildidn/t charge mooring fees.”
by BristolDJ
Monday, September 10 2012, 8:45AM
“Just once, please dickatator, try not to mention taxes. Go on, I know it's hard not to be outraged by every penny that is spent that hasn't had your personal consent, but just try. It'll help your blood pressure.”
by dicktator
Monday, September 10 2012, 7:59AM
“A Utopian dream for sociologists,geographers, constitutional lawyers,artists, poets and writers, all funded by OPM . I wonder if I'm having a counter Utopian dream when I think of the £500000 of tax payers money wasted on this dross!”
by dicktator
Monday, September 10 2012, 7:54AM
“A Utopian dream for sociologists,geographers, constitutional lawyers,artists, poets and writers, all funded by OPM . I wonder if I'm having a counter Utopian dream when I think of the £500000 of tax payers money wasted on this dross!”