Tag Archives: Stories

THESE ARE OUR STREETS Part One

Draft Magazine – Cover: THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping

We have always planned to create a magazine or booklet…some form of printed publication or other, with which to celebrate and record our progress, our ideas, the stuff that got away…but mostly our collaboration with each other and with the people along our route. We may still be able to deliver this a a hard-copy paper publication at some point in the future, as a way or marking the project – or as an online event.

The following images will take you with us on part of our journey to create the draft and concepts for the work you can now see embedded into the pavements of Railway Street and Military Square. The content has been generated in collaboration with other artists and creatives, commissioned to deliver specific aspects of our work, but who directly and indirectly contributed so brilliantly to the outcome. FrancisKnight Public Art Consultants, Rob Young – Writer, Xtina Lamb – Printmaker, Simon Williams – Filmmaker & Paul Baker – Graphic Designer.

There were many versions of these pages made, as we decided how best to represent what had been done. Here are just a few…

Draft Magazine – Page 1: THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping

 

“I’m not from Chatham, I’m just visiting…I come here a lot – Every Day !”. 

The voices represented here are everyday voices of people in Chatham. Writer Rob Young sent time talking to small businesses and the people who worked in them along our route. He is a good listener with an exceptional ear for a ‘one liner’; a swagger, a forgotten hero, a heartfelt sentiment softly spoken. These overheard or anecdotal lines have been captured in stone set into the paving. Not all could be used. Many are reproduced here for the first time.

 

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 2 & 3: THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping

This was a draft layout for the information page – a bit of what we were planning. It is quire ambitious, but we actually achieved an enormous amount.

 

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 4 & 5: THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping

 

The fantastic panorama of the River Medway was taken by Filmmaker Simon Williams from the roof terrace of Fort Pitt, now the UCA Rochester Campus. The mock-up street signs were the outcome of a collaboration between Rob Young, Simon Williams and myself.

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 6 & 7: THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping

 

1000 Pies Lined up in a row like Soldiers…

 

Chatham Station and it’s approaches were always at the head of our scheme. Designs and public art have been prepared and approved, to become a part of the regeneration of the Station, which has just started on site. Click on this link to find out more.

Draft Magazine – Pages 6 & 7 V2 : THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 6 & 7 V3 : THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping. Archive Photograph by Kind Permission of MALSC

 

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 8 & 9 V2 : THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping.

 

The Sailor who travelled the world…the found his girl in Chatham

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 10 & 11 V1 : THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping.

 

An imaginary tale…The Story of Tommy Johnson of Margate by Rob Young

 

 

Draft Magazine – Pages 12 & 13 V1 : THESE ARE OUR STREETS. Image: Christopher Tipping.

 

THE GIRL WHO THOUGHT SNODLAND WAS A COUNTRY

 

 

Central Chelmsford

Finally caught up with progress on the Central Chelmsford Project on Thursday 19th February.

I hadn’t been to site since October 2014 & things had really moved on, with one block of the development already open to residents. The public realm is still ongoing, which includes the embedded artwork and interpretive text.

Installation in progress - York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Installation in progress – York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping

 

Central Chelmsford - Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for Genesis Housing Association.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for Genesis Housing Association. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Denne Construction, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects, Area Landscape Architects for Genesis Housing Association.
Central Chelmsford – Denne Construction, Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects, Area Landscape Architects for Genesis Housing Association.
Central Chelmsford - Installation in progress - York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Installation in progress – York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Installation in progress - York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Installation in progress – York Stone steps with inset granite text to risers. Image:Christopher Tipping

The York stone steps with inset granite text was manufactured & supplied by the Ashfield Group. The installation on site is a very time consuming and bespoke process. I am looking forward to seeing the works all cleaned up and finished.

The large sandblasted granite platform seat has been installed, but not completely finished as yet.  This element, along with the sandblasted paving text was manufactured  & supplied by Hardscape.

Central Chelmsford - Large Granite Platform Seat  with Sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Large Granite Platform Seat with Sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Large Granite Platform Seat  with sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Large Granite Platform Seat with sandblasted detail & text by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat  with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping, manufactured by Hardscape.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping, manufactured by Hardscape.
Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford  - Courtyard.  Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat  with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping - manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Courtyard. Detail: Large Granite Platform Seat with sandblasted detail & text by Christopher Tipping – manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping

The central courtyard is in progress, with brick built raised beds with trees, shrubs and grasses. All hard landscape concept design and planting for the scheme is by Area Landscape Architects.

The interpretation work I have done is mainly embedded within this scheme as seating, paving & steps. The text – as seen below – sandblasted into Royal Green Granite slabs & set into York Stone paving – has not yet been cleaned & is very dusty and dirty from continuing building works. The site is closed to the public. This will however, become a busy pedestrian thoroughfare when completed. .

Central Chelmsford. A 'stream' of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A ‘stream’ of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A 'stream' of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A ‘stream’ of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A 'stream' of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the York Stone paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford. A ‘stream’ of Royal Green Granite with sandblasted text runs through the York Stone paving on site. Manufactured by Hardscape. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - Pedestrian routes through the central courtyard will open out on expansive views over a large landscaped public open  space &  Central Park beyond.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – Pedestrian routes through the central courtyard will open out on expansive views over a large landscaped public open space & Central Park beyond. Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford - When completed, pedestrian routes through the central courtyard & heart of the site will open out via a dramatic black brick portal entrance onto a landscaped public realm with the Anne Knight Building and Chelmsford Railway Station.  Image: Christopher Tipping
Central Chelmsford – When completed, pedestrian routes through the central courtyard & heart of the site will open out via a dramatic black brick portal entrance onto a landscaped public realm with the Anne Knight Building and Chelmsford Railway Station. Image: Christopher Tipping