Reform Bill Heads, and 'Signing' Hands
Location - Friar Gate / Artist Timothy Clapcott
Our second in this series features two artworks, by the same artist, and to be found close together on Friar Gate.
The artworks, by Timothy Clapcott, were installed in 2000 as part of the Sustrans development of the National Cycle Network. Derby City Council and Sustrans contributed equally to the commission, to help give the route identity and help cyclists and pedestrians orientate themselves. Tim is an artist of national repute, but also has strong links with Derbyshire. The heads are linked with the 1821 Reform Bill riots and crowds at Derby. The cast iron slabs, which include the 'Signing' Hands, were created as part of a community programme with the Royal School for the Deaf and Blind and are situated adjacent to the former school site on Friar Gate.
Louise Dunning, Assistant Exhibitions Officer at Derby Museum and Art Gallery, comments:
'I worked on Friar Gate for about six years before I joined the Museum and I always think of it as one of Derby's more pleasant tree-lined streets, with its ornate railway bridge and Georgian houses. Timothy Clapcott's stoneware heads are a welcome and unobtrusive addition, sprouting troll-like from around one of the trees. They are amusing yet grotesque, some with distinctly square heads as if they have been literally hammered into the ground. They are crowded together, jostling and jeering, reminiscent of the 1821 Reform Bill riots, and possibly the weekly Derby Mile pub crawl?
The iron slabs with 'signing' hands on them show the way into the city along the pedestrian part of the pavement, which has been subtly distinguished from the cycle path by a double row of inlaid bricks. The link with the former 'School for the Deaf and Dumb', demolished in 1973, is very appropriate, particularly as Friar Gate is the main route into the city for pupils of the present school, who I believe worked with the artist to design these slabs.'
The sets the scene for future public artworks in the city.
For further information please contact the Built Environment Team:
Telephone 01332 255060 Minicom 01332 256666 Fax 01332 255989 e-mail urban.design@derby.gov.uk
