Public Art Commission, Llynfi Valley, Maesteg

Descriptions

The site for the artwork is next to Maesteg Comprehensive School and the newly opened Llynfi Valley Cycle Route which connects Maesteg and nearby Caerau and will soon link to the Afan Valley. It is a triangular shaped piece of flat scrub land (approximately 100 x 300 metres and totalling 1 hectare) reclaimed in 2004 and defined by three tarmac paths with views of Maesteg and the surrounding hills. It occupies a slight plateau bounded by a stream leading to a small pool on one side and an incline descending to Maesteg town on the other. The site has newly made oak seating and six stone way markers inscribed with poetry written by local school pupils nearby. The surrounding landscape has been sculpted from the waste heaps and workings of a now demolished coal mine and the resulting slopes have been planted with native mixed woodland trees interspersed with locally occurring wild plants and shrubs. It is felt that the site lends itself to the use of natural materials, planting and the possible re-distribution, addition or sculpting of some of the land surface itself to create a ‘land art’ piece with a strong but subtle profile. However, we are not prescriptive or hard-and-fast about this and want artists to follow their own practice and materials. There is the expectation that the whole area will be very simply landscaped in some way, but in terms of the footprint for the actual artwork it is not necessary to think about using the whole of the site, which is quite substantial. The addition of small, sympathetic interventions or structures could also be considered. It is worth noting that the area is slightly set aside from the town itself, vehicular access is limited and there is little provision for on-going maintenance therefore, any artwork placed at the site will need to be extremely robust and self-sustaining with the acknowledgement of health & safety issues. The site is also open to the elements and windy, with drainage issues which would need to be considered during the design stage. The appointed artist would be expected to create links with the nearby schools and community to enhance their interest, involvement, engagement and ‘ownership’ of the project and discuss issues such as sustainability, bio-diversity, the environment or landscape through their work. The nearby Comprehensive School is embarking on a project to create an allotment in their grounds and a market garden is being created in Caerau at the northern end of the site. Such skills in community food and land management are developing in the area.