City Centre 2 ( The Central Scenic Art Trail )

The City of Milton Keynes (Part Two Central Section)

Si monumentum requiris circumspice. ( If you seek a monument, look about you )
Central Section covers From the Milton Keynes Saxon Gate (V7) up to Secklow Gate

Just a reminder, as a word of caution, when navigating through the city centre, always proceed alongside buildings. Sometimes following a pavement in a parking area leads to dead ends or long drops which don't do much good to most mobility scooters.

A map of centre of the centre is recommended and this can be obtained from the information desk in the centre, which is just on the left of the intersection of Deer Walk and Silbury Arcade.This happens to be on our route later on in this ramble. Alternatively it can be down loaded from the web.
I also want to point out that the photographs in this ramble are not cropped to be perfect, but so as to give a sense of naturalness.

Now we continue our journey by crossing under Saxon Gate on Silbury Boulevard and the first building one sees is the Council Office Block. In the stairwell there are two paintings, acrylic on canvas, by Stephen Gregory, who was an artist in residence in Milton Keynes between 1977 and 1979.

Catwalk



City Centre 1

They are known as "Catwalk and City Centre 1" and they examine the building of the new town and celebrate its contemporary architecture. (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest).

Still on Silbury Boulevard, cross over North 8th Street to the Library. Take the lift to the floor above and overlook the stairwell. There hangs an acrylic on canvas painting called "Someday" and were created by Fionnuala Boyd and Les Evans in 1984.

Someday

"Someday" shows scenes from life in the 'new town' of Milton Keynes.
In 1982, Fionnuala Boyd and Les Evans were invited to Milton Keynes as artists in residence.They have lived and worked in the city ever since.

Take the lift back down to ground floor and go to the stairwell. There suspended is the painting, also by Fionnuala Boyd and Les Evans, called "Fiction, Non Fiction & Reference".

Fiction, Non Fiction & Reference (Left side)

Fiction, Non Fiction & Reference (Right side)


This large scale painting draws its reference from hundreds of documentary photographs of Milton Keynes and shows local estates and local people.Its title refers both to a book  section of a public library and to the content of the work, which mixes fictional and real events.







The shear size of  "Fiction, Non Fiction & Reference" is very impressive and awe inspiring.For further information about the artists see ( Historical Notes and Items of Interest)










Exit the library turning left and immediately one is  confronted by the sculpture "The Whisper" by Andre Wallace in 1984.

The Whisper


"The Whisper" is ideally suited to be outside the public library, a space where people meet and socialise. Wallace's distinctive heavy figures, larger than life size, sit relaxed and at ease, watching the world go by.For more info see ( Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Now to move on to an insignificant feature with a highly significant history. Turn left down North 9th Street and continue to North row. On the corner a grass mound appears with three large trees surrounded by  shrubbery. This is the only historic site in the city centre and is known as Secklow meeting mound.
  Most people walk straight past and do not know it's real historical significance. In appearance it is just another mound with grass on it. However there is a plaque which explains its yesteryear importance.

 Secklow meeting mound.


In 1978 The moot mound of the Secklow Hundred was found, excavated and reconstructed, prior to it being overlain with the development of central Milton Keynes. It is on the highest point in the central area.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Across the road we can see the MOTH (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) memorial where each year members assemble and lay a wreaths for their comrades.

MOTH  memorial

This order was foundered in South Africa but has branches called shellholes in the UK.
 The only local reference of note that I can glean, is an article by the Citizen published on the 22nd September 2003. For this and some MOTH history, See Historical Notes and Items of Interest.




Continue along North Row in an easterly direction and after two blocks the Row veers right. Follow this direction which heads back to Silbury Boulevard. On the corner is a plinth with "The Black Horse" on it.This picture was taken after someone decided to make him more colourful.

The Black Horse


"The Black Horse" a bronze sculpture by Elizabeth Frink in 1978, is sited outside Lloyds Bank, echoing its iconic logo. Elizabeth Frink gained recognition in the early 1950s. She used animal and human forms to express the anguish of the post war period.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Time now to move on into the centre's main shopping mall. A plethora of  shops, restaurants and a few open air spaces and enclosed/halls are set out to attract the most discerning of shoppers. It is very Mobility Scooter friendly with abundant space in its wide walkways.

Inside MK Shopping Centre


Turn left on silbury Boulevard and just a short way along the underpass of Seclow Gate turn right and head over the access roads to the entrance of the shopping centre called Deer Walk. On entering the mall,look to the left and mounted on the wall are the remains of  one the Roman Mosaics recovered from the Roman Villa in Bancroft.

Roman Mosaics

The history of this Roman villa is covered in another ramble encompassing Bancroft, which is penned in for future construction.

 Carry on and turn right at the intersection on Silbury Arcade and proceed down the left-hand walkway. Cross over Crown Walk and over Borough Walk. On the left is Cafe Rouge and  on the right in the centre jardiniere pot is the sculpture called "Flying Carpet". This was sculptured by Philomena Davis and was  completed in 1989

Flying Carpet
                                       

Continue in the same direction and a little further on and in another centre jardiniere outside The White Company, "High Flyer" is situated.This was also sculptured by Philomena Davis and was also completed in 1989
.
High Flyer

Once again continue in the same direction and in the centre jardiniere outside Patisserie Valerie, "Dream Flight" is sited.

Dream Flight

This again was sculptured by Philomena Davis and completed in 1989  and is the last in the series. These sculptures focus on the theme of flight. The artist describes as follows:- 'they depict man's fantasy with flight and escapism, in particular, the sorts of escapist dreams that come to us in childhood and adolescence'. (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Now we carry on in the same direction but this time we leave the mall and enter City square, where sunken in the corner, there appears to be a quarter circle amphitheatre with descending seating overlooking three panels called "The Meetimg" by Nicholas Moreton.

The Meetimg


"The Meeting" was made from Birds eye Derbyshire fossil limestone and bronze in 1995.
The outer panels Dawn and Reflection shows a man and woman separately contemplating
the day’s events. The Cup (middle panel) is described by the artist as showing ‘a man
and woman sharing thoughts and wishes, symbolised by the sharing of a drink from the
same cup'.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Turning to the right a Sculpture on a plinth named  "The Conversation" (also by Nicholas Moreton.) over looks the square.

The Conversation

"The Conversation" was made from Kilkenny black fossil limestone and bronze in 1995
and consists of two figures in conversation, raised from the ground on a plinth, away from the bustle of the people below. The plinth is their table, an intimate and private space elevated above the rest of the world.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

 OK, time to backtrack into the mall the way we came out. On entering, turn right along Sunset walk and exit the mall and enter Midsummer Place. You will come to Oak Court which is a circle of shops around a sunken area where the well known "Concrete Cows" are grazing happily. 

Concrete Cows

The original "Concrete Cows" were made in 1978 by US artist Liz Leyh with the help of local schoolchildren. The cows have been relocated around the city including the Hockey Stadium in 2007 where they became a mascot of MK Dons. They are currently corralled around the oak tree located in Oak Court, whilst a set of replica cows is at Bancroft and another replica set is in Interchange Park Newport Pagnell. (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Within the corral to the right of the above picture there is a stainless steel sculpture of "Acorns and Leaves"

Acorns and Leaves

Tim Ward’s sculpture of "Acorns and Leaves" relate to the location under the old oak tree in the middle of the Midsummer Place shopping centre, (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)


Continuing along West Walk this veers left into the south concourse.In the centre on the left the "Frog Clock" leaps into view.

Frog Clock

The "Frog Clock" Designed and created by the famous Kit Williams, The "Frog Clock" arrived at Midsummer Place Shopping Centre in 2002 where it has since attracted thousands of children and adults visiting the centre each week.
Try to time your visit as it performs on the hour, and is very popular with families, as the performance includes music and culminates in the frog blowing bubbles onto the crowd below. The clock weighs 4 tonnes, and is believed to be one of Britain’s biggest animated feature clocks.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)


Stay where you are because the "Midsummer Place Glass" by Anne Smyth is directly opposite the clock above the coffee shop.I strongly suggest you take the lift up to the second or third floor and view the glass window from there. This really gives a perspective of its size and amount of work that was required to produce it.

Midsummer Place Glass


This enormous glass was made from coloured, carved and etched glass.When the sun shines, coloured light floods into the shopping area. Designed around Milton Keynes’ geometric grid system, using the architect’s original road models for reference. Woven into the grid are images of historical and current activity such as the geometric patterns from the Roman Mosaic found at Bancroft. Enigma from Bletchley Park, train wheels from Wolverton and the Grand Union Canal.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Now head on around the corner into East Walk and on reaching the open food square, look on the right hand side. There outside Waterstones is "Sitting on History", a bronze sculpture by Bill Woodrow in 1996

Sitting on History

The ball and chain refers to the book as ‘captor of information’ from which we cannot escape. Woodrow proposes that although we absorb knowledge from history, it doesn't necessarily change our behaviour.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Continue in the same direction out of Midsummer Place and returning to the Centre shopping mall. At the first intersection, turn right and proceed down along Midsummer arcade in the left hand walkway. On reaching an open area called Queens Court  and in the right hand corner, you will find a sculpture called "Vox Pop". It is a delightful bronze rendition of the Family by John Clinch in 1988.
(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Vox Pop


A shortened form of ‘vox populi’ a Latin phrase meaning the voice of the people. Clinch’s work celebrates ordinary members of the public rather than the rich and famous.His multi-racial 'family' walk a dog, cycle and push a baby buggy following a circular path, encouraging visitors to walk round them and examine the detail of the sculpture. The sculpture was originally intended to show the diversity of people needed to make Milton Keynes a great city.

Proceed in the same direction along Midsummer arcade in the left hand walkway until the intersection with Crown Walk. Stop and look skywards and "Circle of Light"will loom large into your view.
Circle of Light
 The 1980 creation of aluminium and copper wire by Liliane Lijn is very impressive indeed.
"Circle of Light" consists of 23 tubes creating  a curved, circular plane that relate to the shape of the sun, moon and human eye. The cylindrical tubes relate to the shapes behind the retina of the eye that convert light into electrical pulses.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

Now we go a short distance along  Crown Walk  to the exit of the Centre in the direction of Midsummer Boulevard. Turn left on the pavement and about three to four shops along, look to your right and you can't miss  "A Mighty Blow for Freedom**** the Media", Standing bold and aloof  in the middle of the open square just before the maze of Market Stalls. This 1988 bronze sculpture portrays the feeling of Michael Sandle.

A Mighty Blow for Freedom**** the Media


Michael Sandle’s work is a critique of the media, taking the logo of a well-known film company as its starting point. The strong-armed man striking a gong in the logo is replaced by a helmeted androgynous figure swinging an axe to smash a television.(See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

And now to the last artifact. Go back along the pavement and continue between Midsummer Place and the Centre until reaching the cycle redway just before Saxon Gate. Turn left and follow this redway through the Avebury Boulevard underpass. On emerging this underpass, the first thing seen is the sculpture "Essence" on a marble plinth.

Essence

Aptly, we finish this Central ramble with another Wendy Taylor bronze sculpture completed in 1982.
The artist describes her work as being ‘surrounded by a wide selection of shrubs which give a secret air to the area, providing a complete contrast to the bold outlines of Milton Keynes’ avenues. The soft enfolding lines of the sculpture are a response to the intimacy of the enclosed environment.’ (See Historical Notes and Items of Interest)

 There is another item of interest not in the itinerary, which is an unusual mechanical clock that stands about 5 metre high. It is sited in Midsummer arcade next to the open air market.

Mechanical clock



Historical Notes and Items of Interest : Central Section

It is not always the artifact that impresses but the story allied and/or alluded to it.

"Catwalk and City Centre 1"
For further information on Stephen Gregory go to :- http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/search/painted_by/stephen-gregory_artists


"Someday", "Fiction, Non Fiction & Reference"
The team of Fionnuala Boyd and Les Evans After meeting as students at St Albans Art School in the late 1960s, Fionnuala Boyd and Leslie Evans married and began to work collaboratively. For further interesting information go to :-
http://www.artfortune.com/fionnuala-boyd/artistbiographies-129488/


"The Whisper" 
One of the most expressive sculptures in Milton Keynes. It is graphic, poignant and certainly eye catching. For more about Andre Wallace and other works go to :-
http://www.andre-wallace.co.uk/public-commissions


Secklow Meeting Mound
"Secklow Hundred" is an ancient 'Moot Hill' in Milton Keynes.
A Moot hill is a hill or mound historically used as a meeting place. In early medieval Britain, such hills were used for moots, meetings of local people to settle local business. Among other things, proclamations might be read; decisions might be taken; court cases might be settled at a moot. Although some moot hills were naturally occurring features or had been created long before as burial mounds, others were purpose-built. During the Roman reign, transport links improved, and so more settlers gradually migrated to this area from around 500 AD.
The Angles, Saxons and Danes were the largest groups, establishing themselves in such places as Caldecotte, Wolverton, Bancroft, Bradwell, the Shenleys, Wavendon Gate, Pennyland and Great Linford. Boundaries around the manors developed into parish boundaries and these were grouped into 'Hundreds' for administrative purposes; the Bunsty, Moulsoe, and Secklow Hundreds. Meeting places were built as mounds where these boundaries met, and the Secklow Hundred Meeting mound can still be seen behind the City library where it was used up to the 13th century. For more about meeting grounds go to :- http://www.archaeologyuk.org/ba/ba120/feat6.shtml

 MOTH Memorial
Citizen extract
MOTHS have gathered again in Milton Keynes.
Ex-servicemen and women of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats assembled at the official memorial in the city centre for their annual service.
The day saw former members of all forces since World War 2 travel from all over the country to meet and salute their comrades.
This year was particularly special as it's the 21st anniversary of the memorial being established in the city.
The chaplain to the Royal British Legion the Rev Kevin McGarahan conducted the service, which was followed by a march past and salute.
The MOTHS are seeking new members. If you are interested then please call Terry Goddard on MK 227994.
Orther useful sites are  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorable_Order_of_Tin_Hats  and  www.moth.org.za/ 
"The Black Horse"
Dame Elisabeth Frink is internationally recognised as a major 29th century British Sculptor Her sculptures embody the great themes that she explored throughout her career:  The ambiguities of human relationships, injustice and impertanence that also have such impact on the animal world and the earth. Using the form of men, animals and birds, she employed their shapes as vehicles to convey emotion, vulnerability and aggression.   To find out more about this talented artist go to :- http://www.elisabethfrink-estate.com/


"Flying Carpet", "High Flyer" and "Dream Flight"
Philomena Davis (AKA Philomena Davis Davidson) was elected the first woman President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1990. For further interesting details go to :-
http://www.rwa.org.uk/rwa-artists/academicians-listings/d/davidson-davis-philomena/


"The Meetimg" and "The Conversation"
To find out more about another talented artist and his works, namely Nicholas Moreton,  go to :-
www.nicolasmoreton.com/sculpture/commissions/


"Concrete Cows"
Milton Keynes has become famous if not infamous for the replica concrete cows that live in a field in Bancroft. Like much of the New City the concrete cows have now acquired a history of their own.
They were made by Liz Leyh, a Canadian born artist/sculptor at Stacey Hill Farm, now the home of Milton Keynes Museum, when the farmhouse was used by various artists and writers in residence who were employed by Milton Keynes Development Corporation.
During their lifetime the cows have lead a rather adventurous lifestyle, kidnapped and held to ransom on occasion, placed in somewhat compromising poses, not to mention the occasional wanton vandalism and periodic repainting. They have often featured as headline news to the national media, keen to brand the city with a rather quirky image. Today they graze in peace close to the place of their birth, in relative anonymity apart from the occasional glance from the passing motorists.
Over the years a number of unfortunate things have happened to the cows, they have been stolen, had 'pyjamas' painted on them, BSE graffiti and Lesley has even had to rebuild them after they were beheaded.
The cows continue to be visited by dog walkers and passers by and attract the constant amount of attention they deserve. It seems that all children that visit cannot resist climbing on these lovable friends to Milton Keynes.

"Acorns and Leaves"
For more on Tim Ward go to :- http://www.artworkersguild.org/member/timward/


"Frog Clock"
The man behind this fantasia project is Christopher 'Kit' Williams (born 28 April 1946 in Kent, England)  who is an English artist, illustrator and author. For more about this and other works,see more detail on  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Williams


"Midsummer Place Glass"
Anne Smyth is a decorative artist, who works mainly with glass and other architectural materials.
An interesting guide to her and her projects can be found on http://www.annesmyth.com/index.html


"Sitting on History"
‘Sitting on History’ was proposed in response to a commission first discussed in 1990 and to Woodrow’s Tate Gallery exhibition in 1996, which gave him the opportunity to realise a sculpture which could function as a seat.
Woodrow had made three Marquette based on a book form: one with coins as the seat backs, another featuring two crows on the spine of the book fighting over a gold coin and this version, entitled ‘Sitting on History’. Woodrow's idea was to have a sculpture that was only completed conceptually and formally when a person sat on it.
‘Sitting on History,’ with its ball and chain, refers to the book as a receptacle of information. History is filtered through millions of pages of writing, making the book the major vehicle for research and study. Woodrow proposes that although one absorbs knowledge, one appears to have great difficulty in changing one’s behaviour as a result.
The real books from which the original Marquette were made came from a box of books given to Bill Woodrow by a London bookseller, discarded, as they were no longer saleable. To Woodrow’s wry amusement, in this haul were three volumes on the history of the Labour Party, which he chose to use for the Marquette. Woodrow finds books one of the most powerful democratic tools in the world and still the most advanced form of communication.

"Vox Pop"
An obituary for John Clinch aptly describes him and his works and can be found at http://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/apr/14/guardianobituaries1


"Circle of Light"
One of the many fantastic works by kinetic artist Liliane Lijn. Her illustrious and artistically adventurous life so far, can be followed on this link ;- http://www.lilianelijn.com/archive/cir01.html


"A Mighty Blow for Freedom**** the Media"
The multi talented Michael Sandle RA (born 18 May 1936) is a British sculptor and artist, "widely recognised as one of the finest sculptors in the world". His works include several public sculptures, many relating to themes of war, death or destruction. His work has been critical of what he describes as the "heroic decadence" of capitalism and its involvement in global conflict. For more on his life see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sandle.

 "Essence"
There are some exciting sculptures on the Wendy Taylor website.This website showcases the impressive range of large-scale, site specific sculptures, such as the well known Timepiece at Tower Bridge To learn about Wendy go to wendytaylorsculpture.co.uk/
This completes the central section and the final Eastern section which is under construction will be published in due course which, is hopefully shortly.