One of Britain’s best known tourist resorts is looking to team up with specialist contractors to build an iconic new structure to drive tourism.
The White Palm is a proposal by Wolfgang Weileder for a new large-scale public sculpture for the North Promenade in Cleethorpes, currently in the planning system.
If the planning application is approved, a specialist fabrication company will be required to take on the detailed design and build of the structure, and a tender is currently out for this element.
The proposed artwork consists of a 22m tall white artificial palm tree and black paving that references its shadow at noon. The shadow paving underneath The White Palm will be partly made from recycled non-organic material collected from Cleethorpes’ beaches. At night The White Palm will be illuminated by spotlights.
The company chosen will required to work closely with the artist to develop the concept proposal through to detailed design, specification, and then carry out fabrication and installation of both the palm itself and the “shadow” on the paving.
It is planned that significant elements of the artwork will be made of a recycled material, some of which will be collected from litter-picks on Cleethorpes beach.
Situated on the North Promenade, the sculpture will be positioned next to the Humber that covers a petrified forest. The remains of three stumps are sometimes visible at low tide. As the only other trees in the area, they are marks of what was once a very different landscape.
Echoing the remains of the trees in the water and creating the shadow from the litter on the beaches, The White Palm references the past, but is also a warning for the future. If we don’t change our behaviours and the climate continues to deteriorate, palm trees might become a common sight on the East Lincolnshire coastline.
Interested companies should visit YorTender to apply. The closing date for this tender is 30 January 2020. If there are any local construction companies who would like to tender for the project and need assistance with the procurement process please contact cleethorpesregeneration@nelincs.gov.uk.
The White Palm is part of the North Prom public art project, funded through the Coastal Communities Fund, secured by CoastNEL and North East Lincolnshire Council. Other elements of the project include new illuminations, fitness street furniture and the shutter art project to install contemporary art on shutters of the business premises.
Article and photo from NELC.
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