School's fresh twist on an artist's vision (From Gazette)

School's fresh twist on an artist's vision

10:00am Friday 10th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

PARTS of a piece of art, described as looking like a half-built shed, have been recycled to make a hut at a Clacton school.

The controversial artwork, by Nathan Coley, which stood for three months in Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick, has now been taken apart and reused in community projects.

Some of its wooden boards and paint have been used to build a Ghanian-style hut, created by teachers and pupils at Frobisher Primary School.

The artwork, which cost £40,000, angered some residents who said the money would have been better spent on street lighting and social improvements.

But, in a case of life imitating art, the school has made the artist’s vision a reality.

Dan Twyman, the school’s deputy head, said: “The irony is, our hut, to a certain extent, mimics the structure itself.

“I heard some of it was available for community uses, so we used some of the boards to finish our hut.

“We also got given the paint, so I painted the hut with the Nathan Coley colours. It is a nice full circle.”

Mr Twyman said the hut was part of a link between Essex and Ghanian schools, and will be used in fundraising events.

He said he had not spoken to the artist, who was nominated for the Turner prize in 2007, about his structure’s new life, but he understood there had always been plans to re-use the artwork material in a community project in the area.

Other boards from the artwork have been turned into two benches, while some will be recycled for plant boxes around the school.

The benches, which are currently at the school, are set to be transferred to Brooklands as a permanent reminder of the artwork.