PAINTINGS AND PRINTS OF ICEBERGS AVAILABLE IN REWARDS!
SEE WWW.THE-MELT.CO.UK FOR IMAGES OF REWARDS BEFORE PURCHASING ON THIS PAGE. THANKS ALL FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT!
About Anthony Garratt
Anthony Garratt is an artist who is exploring the idea that the action of landscape painting can build an emotional response to unfamiliar or vulnerable landscapes. His previous, large scale public installations have garnered much attention from an audience who encounter the artwork, engaging a wide demographic who would perhaps not usually engage with landscape painting.
With the exhibition of painting being largely limited to conventional interior spaces, these public interventions offer an interruption to a view of the landscape, and a thought-provoking take on environmental, or historically poignant topics.
Anthony is passionate that our future generations are able to link the emotional benefits of creativity, and it's ability to build empathy with landscape and the natural world. Accompanying workshops, talks and encounters linked to these projects are an essential part of communicating this message.
About The Melt
(website www.the-melt.co.uk)
'The Melt' will float giant (5 x 2.5 metre) paintings of icebergs at tidal locations in South Devon. The iceberg footage will be sent by inspiring, modern-day explorers of the Arctic landscape during their adventures.
'The Melt' was inspired by Ella Hibbert, who is attempting to become the first person ever to circumnavigate The Arctic, non stop, and solo, on a self-sufficient sailing boat.
This modern adventure sends an important message; it indicates that the North West and North East ice sheets open up enough during the Summer months, to make the challenge and record attempt feasible.
During Ella's voyage, she will exclusively be sending Anthony pictures of icebergs she encounters along the way during the 5-6 month voyage.
Anthony will paint giant, 5 metre long depictions of these monumental, melting calves of ice and then mount them on specifically designed structures to float in tidal locations on their own dedicated swinging moorings.
As the paintings swing on their moorings, and on the switch of the tide, the reverse of the painting panels will depict images of icebergs sent to Anthony by another expedition which is taking place concurrently; Ice Warrior, a citizen science project run by Arctic explorer Jim McNeill.
The project stands as a poetic nod to the demise of these geographical marvels and also a tribute to the spirit of adventure.
The Locations
The floating platforms which will house the paintings have been designed, and all permissions granted for two spectacular tidal locations in South Devon. The encounter or these enormous iceberg paintings amongst lush, temperate foliage is sure to engage both a nautical and pedestrian audience. After a couple of months on The River Dart, the paintings will then move to locations visible from the GWR trainline along the Teign and Exe Rivers, capturing and unsuspecting audience from the train window.
What the Crowdfunder is for
This is your opportunity to be part of the story and help build the project
All of the monies raised by the Crowd-funder will enable the build and installation of four such structures, alongside which will run a programme of school and community workshops in collaboration with the explorers. A film of the project will also be made, and shared amongst followers and media.
The structures / rafts are designed in such a way that they can be disassembled, stored and re-used for different subjects / contexts in the future.
In preparation for the large-scale public artworks, Anthony has been rehearsing the oil painting of icebergs, sent to him by Arctic explorers. It is important that Anthony does not visit the Arctic himself, with a focus on the fact that the majority of the audience shall never themselves witness an iceberg. Therefore, these depictions need to offer vicarious emotionally vivid experiences of these glacial monuments. These painted 'rehearsals' are available as paintings and prints for sale as rewards in the Crowdfunder, and you can see some examples below:
To view images of the rewards listed in the Crowdfunder, please visit The Melt website and navigate to the Crowdfunder page
Thanks for your kind support, and enthusiasm for this ambitious project which Anthony hopes will bring something thought provoking, unusual, gentle and emotionally persuasive to the height of Summer, on lush, English, tidal waterways...
We very much look forward to sharing the photographs, and film of the project which you have all been a part of making.
Anthony x