Plan Projects was appointed by Cambridge City Council in 2009 to project manage the commission of two important art projects to be sited in prominent locations in the public realm within Cambridge City Centre. One of them memorialises Snowy Farr, an unusual character who raised money for charity in the city centre; the other forms part of the on-going restoration of Mill Road Cemetery.
After a lengthy process involving research into artists, community consultation and development of detailed strategy and briefing documents, both projects have now passed a key milestone with the appointment of artists Gary Webb for the Snowy Farr project and Gordon Young for Mill Road Cemetery to work up initial sketches into ‘detailed proposals.’
Gary Webb’s appointment follows an earnest debate both within the Council and the community at large about how best to memorise this popular and charismatic figure. While there was reported to be a call for a traditional bronze statue, the Council, working with a project steering group including several members of the City Council, made the brave decision to select Gary Webb. It was felt Gary, through a partially abstracted interpretation of Snowy, came closest to capturing the quixotic and eccentric character of the man. Furthermore, it is hoped it will represent an important addition by one of Britain’s most promising younger generation of sculptors to the city’s growing collection of contemporary art sited in the public realm.
Gordon Young’s proposal for Mill Road Cemetery makes use of nature within the cemetery by recording bird songs and seeking to engrave these onto a series of forms to be dotted around the cemetery. These may take the form of public seating and other simple sculptural projects designed to make the use of the park easier and more pleasurable.
