Artwork Aims To Put Town On The Map
By Jo Deeks on Friday, 14th November 2003.
People around the world will be able to watch a block of ice melting in Haverhill, if an unusual arts project planned for next spring comes to fruition.
The "Ice Man" behind the plan will be unveiling his unusual idea at the annual meeting of the Haverhill Association of Voluntary Organisations (HAVO) at the end of the month.
The man in question is retired West Suffolk College art lecturer John Williams, who intends to combine ice and photography in his latest work, scheduled for next March or April.
His work will be produced in collaboration with a photographic festival at Houston in the United States, taking a group photograph there and another in Haverhill.
Photographs from each country will be put into a large block of ice, which will then be allowed to melt while webcasting the event around the world. It is expected that the two locations, with very different temperatures, will have very different melting times.
Mr Williams, who has worked on a number of different arts projects in Haverhill over recent years, says his project has a serious message behind it.
"The event has a serious side as we hope to highlight the importance of water, which accounts for just over 70 per cent of our bodies and will there be enough for our grandchildren if we waste it? Industry uses more and more, and more than half the world has no clean water at all."
"I am looking for people or groups in Haverhill who would like to take part - not just to be in the photographs in the block but to help in the photographic and preparation side of the event, so not just to look cool," Mr Williams said.
Michael Simpkin of HAVO said MP Richard Spring would also attend the meeting at haverhill Arts Centre on Friday, October 31, between 1-3pm. But they hoped their more unusual speaker would attract more people along.
"It is certainly something totally different to put Haverhill on the map," Mr Simpkin said. Anyone wanting to attend should contact HAVO on (01440) 714641
The "Ice Man" behind the plan will be unveiling his unusual idea at the annual meeting of the Haverhill Association of Voluntary Organisations (HAVO) at the end of the month.
The man in question is retired West Suffolk College art lecturer John Williams, who intends to combine ice and photography in his latest work, scheduled for next March or April.
His work will be produced in collaboration with a photographic festival at Houston in the United States, taking a group photograph there and another in Haverhill.
Photographs from each country will be put into a large block of ice, which will then be allowed to melt while webcasting the event around the world. It is expected that the two locations, with very different temperatures, will have very different melting times.
Mr Williams, who has worked on a number of different arts projects in Haverhill over recent years, says his project has a serious message behind it.
"The event has a serious side as we hope to highlight the importance of water, which accounts for just over 70 per cent of our bodies and will there be enough for our grandchildren if we waste it? Industry uses more and more, and more than half the world has no clean water at all."
"I am looking for people or groups in Haverhill who would like to take part - not just to be in the photographs in the block but to help in the photographic and preparation side of the event, so not just to look cool," Mr Williams said.
Michael Simpkin of HAVO said MP Richard Spring would also attend the meeting at haverhill Arts Centre on Friday, October 31, between 1-3pm. But they hoped their more unusual speaker would attract more people along.
"It is certainly something totally different to put Haverhill on the map," Mr Simpkin said. Anyone wanting to attend should contact HAVO on (01440) 714641
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