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Open University

The Open University campus has a large collection of artworks from around the world. Art Contact has been assisting the team at the Open University to maintain, conserve and restore their collection for many years. Most recently Art Contact was appointed to conserve and re-frame where appropriate their large collection of limited edition prints and paintings.

The pictures were largely re-framed in similar moulding so that any combination of artworks could be hung together as required. When required artworks were enclosed behind acrylic covers to add additional protection to vulnerable artworks.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Conservation, restoration and re-framing of existing art collection
Client – Open University
Sector – Corporate/Educational
Location – Milton Keynes
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Strategy
Conservation
Restoration
Frame Restoration
Art Handling
Transportation

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Urbanest – King’s Cross Central

‘Unity’ by Simon Hitchens – As part of the major regeneration programme at Kings Cross Central, Urbanest Properties invited Art Contact to commission a ‘Public Art’ sculpture for the main entrance to the newly designed building by Glenn Howells architect, accommodation for students which completed September 2013.

The redevelopment of the former King’s Cross Goods Yard, now known as King’s Cross Central, owes much of its appeal to the proud industrial heritage which formed it.

Simon Hitchens was commissioned to create this graphic sculpture which visually references the heavy engineering used in the area’s industrial past. Unity’s form is suggestive of two large and redundant cogged wheels.

The granite element symbolises the robust building materials used in the old Goods Yards, where commodities were moved about by rail and cart. The more technologically challenging blue resin element hints both at the Regents Canal and the, important part it played in the transport of goods, but also the inspirational, state of the art future being built at King’s Cross Central.

The simple graphic form of the sculpture can be seen as a stylised letter X, but also articulates the unity between two separate yet co-dependant bodies: a balance of essential opposites and a celebration of progress across the generations.

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PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Source, select and commission public art sculpture for Kings Cross Central
Client – Urbanest
Sector – Student Housing
Location – King’s Cross, London
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Strategy
Planning
Community Arts
Art Selection
Commissioning
Project Management
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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''As part of our development at King's Cross student accommodation we had a section 106 commitment to install Public Art. We wanted the art to reflect the heritage of the site, our commitment to quality and stand the test of time. We also needed to ensure our partners in the project KCCLP, Argent and Camden Planning department were equally satisfied that the Public Art added to the environment. I approached Virginia at Art Contact and she immediately put me at ease with the whole process whilst keeping all interested parties engaged. I have to say I enjoyed the whole process. After visiting the site, Art Contact carried out in depth research, reviewing the site and its history, in order to establish a brief to present to selected artists. Their research ensured that the final result could be fully integrated into the site and reflect heritage. Throughout Virginia sustained constant communication ensuring that we were fully informed at all times as well as liaising between ourselves and the artist from start to finish. We are delighted with the result and would be happy to recommend Art Contact as an Art Consultant and Commissioning Agent for art commissions.''

Angus Kearin Head of Development - Urbanest

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London Bridge Hospital

The brief from the client was to create an interesting vision for patients and staff with no view but an empty grey space without natural light. Virginia Grub from Art Contact set about sourcing the right artist to create an artificial garden set in the atrium by using dichoric etched components to create what we know as ‘The Light Garden’.

The Light Garden was formed and created by using 62 dichroic acrylic sandblasted discs to create floral designs with 48 fins placed along the face of the building which reflects from the mirrored wall opposite. This created an explosion of colours when the natural sunlight streams into the atrium from the south facing windows, as the light passes through and reflects off the glass it is transformed and takes on a journey around the space with flashes of rainbow of colours.

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PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Source & Commission Artwork to brighten up light well in centre of building.
Client – HCA – London Bridge Hospital
Sector – Healthcare
Location – Tooley Street, London
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Planning
Community Arts
Art Selection
Commissioning
Project Management
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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Grove Hotel – Expressions of Movement

Following the great success of the previous exhibition Art Contact was again approached to organise another sculpture exhibition in the Grounds of the Grove Hotel near Watford.

In close collaboration with the hotel staff, the sculptures and exhibition locations were selected and Art Contact made the necessary arrangements for the installation of the exhibition including making the arrangements for any specialist equipment to be available.

The installation took about a week and the exhibition ran for about 6 months.

The time scale from the initial inquiry to the opening of the show was about 9 months.

A selection of the sculptures shown can be seen below.

The full catalogue can be downloaded.

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PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – To arrange another sculpture exhibition in the gardens and grounds of the Grove Hotel
Client – The Grove Hotel
Sector – Hotel & Leisure
Location – Watford
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Planning
Project Management
Artwork Selection
Exhibition Layout
Caption and Brochure Production
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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Grove Hotel – Sculpture at the Grove

Art Contact were approached by the Grove Hotel near Watford to arrange a sculpture exhibition in the grounds of the hotel. In excess of 50 locations were identified in the grounds and Art Contact created a portfolio of suggested sculptures. In close collaboration with the hotel staff the final sculptures were selected and their proposed locations for the exhibition agreed.

Art Contact made the arrangements with the sculptors and specialist equipment suppliers. With the assistance of the hotel staff the exhibition was installed over a period of a week and ran for about 6 months.

The project took about 12 months to organise from the time we were first approached to the opening of the exhibition.

See below a selection of images of sculptures in the show.

The full catalogue can also be downloaded.

Download Case Study

PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – To arrange a sculpture exhibition in the gardens and grounds of the Grove Hotel
Client – The Grove Hotel
Sector – Hotel & Leisure
Location – Watford
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Planning
Project Management
Artwork Selection
Exhibition Layout
Caption and Brochure Production
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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Bromley College – Tree of Knowledge

Art Contact were appointed by Bromley College for a public art commission. The sculpture, entitled ‘The Tree of Knowledge’ made out of galvanised steel stands high at 5 metres.

The writing which embellishes the sculpture was inspired by a workshop held between the artist and the students and staff of Bromley College.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Source, select & commission sculpture for College garden
Client – Bromley College
Sector – Education
Location – Bromley
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Strategy
Planning
Community Arts
Art Selection
Commissioning
Project Management
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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PPD Development

Art Contact’s brief from MEPC- Granta Park and PPD was for a sculpture to be sited infront of the new PPD building. They wanted something clean and modern, and abstract in style. Virginia Grub of Art Contact, selected three artists who she felt would be perfect for the space. Each artist presented their brief to PPD and Granta Park, from which one artist was chosen to develope their concept further.

Title: ‘Family’
The work dipicts a Father,Son/Daughter and Mother figure, placing the work slightly leaning towards each other to show a family nurturing their young.
This is composed of three sculptures. Each sculpture is fabricated in grade 316 stainless steel with satin brushed effect finish.
The talest piece is 4m high, then 2.5m to 2m high.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Source, select and commission sculpture for outside new offices.
Client – PPD Development
Sector – Corporate
Location – Granta Park, Cambridge
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Planning
Community Arts
Art Selection
Commissioning
Project Management
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital – Bolsover Street

The brief is to develop and implement an art strategy that is relevant to the work of the hospital and the quality of care and expertise offered by RNOH specialists which also integrates with the approach taken to interior design.

The art work will support the internal approach to way finding and therefore needs to incorporate the principle colour schemes planned for the facility.

The long and illustrious history of the hospital and the dedication of its staff should be represented and where possible the art should include the opportunity to distract visitors by providing access to the ‘story’ of the RNOH.

In answer to the brief Art Contract developed a series of story walls to inform visitors about the RNOH together with a series of graphic images printed onto acrylic and floated on the walls with hidden fixings.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Source, select and commission various graphic works for the RNOH
Client – R.N.O.H
Sector – Healthcare
Location – Bolsover Street, London
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Strategy
Planning
Community Arts
Art Selection
Commissioning
Project Management
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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Whittington Hospital

A number of locations requiring art were identified and suitable artists were proposed and designs accepted.

The design and production of the pieces were all completed on time and on budget despite various ongoing problems with the build schedule outside our control resulting in several redesigns of several of the pieces.

Friezes were installed on the 2 and 3rd floors, a large montage was installed in the main reception and a colourful mural on the ground floor.

Outside a parralax sculpture was designed and installed depicting the Hospital’s logo of the Cat and the ‘W’ which assembled and then dis-assembled as the designed viewing point was passed.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Object – Sorce, select and commission artworks for previously identified locations though out the public areas of the hospital.
Client – NHS Trust
Sector – Healthcare
Location – London
Status – Completed

SERVICES PROVIDED

Consultation
Strategy
Planning
Art Selection
Commissioning
Project Management
Art Handling
Transportation
Installation

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The Waldron Health Centre

The Waldron Health Centre, based in New Cross, groups 5 local GP practices along with ancillary community services (Pharmacy, Mother & Baby services, Community Youth Programmes, etc) into a building at the heart of the New Cross locality. The building benefits from a full-height atrium, clad in beech veneer, being he chosen location for ‘New Cross’ montage which was commissioned for the 2nd Floor.

The montage, featuring local noteworthy architecture, highlights the rich mix of styles and forms that is the glory of urban London. The soft, pastel colourway was selected to harmonise both with the beech veneer of the atrium and with a dichroic film panel installation, installed as part of the build phase, on the 1st Floor.

In 2008 the Waldron Health Centre won the award for Better Primary Healthcare Building.