Two Rivers now run along Newbury multi-storey wall
Michael Fairfax’s Two Rivers public art commission was finally installed on the wall of the multi-storey car park next to Newbury railway station on Friday, after a few hitches along the way.
In December, N2 reported at the beginning of the project when the Somerset sculptor, who grew up in Eling, near Hermitage, and worked from a studio in Bothampstead, had prepared large-scale drawings and was carving sections in wood before sending them to the bronze foundry for casting – “A long process of pleasure and the devil” as he said at the time.
Michael was approached by Grainger PLC, who were developing the car park near the station as part of the Market Street development, after being referred to them by Newbury Town Council – Two Rivers was their favoured design.
“I love the abstraction of the design and yet the logic and integrity behind it; the two rivers that come into Newbury, the River Kennet, including the Kennet & Avon Canal and the River Lambourn, the importance of rivers and waterways to the growth of a town is fundamental, the flow of water in the design also links to the textile industry so prevalent to Newbury the twisting and turning of waters it flows through the town,” Michael explained.
However, setbacks come with the job on large scale projects like these, but Michael is philosophical about the lengthy process involved.
“As with most public art projects, installation can prove to be more problematic than at first envisaged – mix-up in orders for components, Covid delays, weather and sometimes it just proves more complicated.”
Thirty heavy pieces of bronzes weighing up to 25 kilos a piece takes some manipulation on a scissor crane, drilling holes into a reinforced concrete wall with pinpoint accuracy, bolts and sleeves in the correct positions.
“But it’s now up, aligned perfectly and I think looking rather splendid and exactly as I envisaged when I created the design – well actually better – the textures on the bronze have been brilliantly cast by MBfinearts in west Wales, they have every nuance of the wooden patterns I created and the patina is lovely.
“I really hope that Newbury is as proud of their Two Rivers as I am.
“Huge thanks to Grainger PLC for commissioning me and Newbury Town Council in choosing and supporting this design.”
Michael is the son of the late poet John Fairfax and Esther Fairfax, the author and daughter of Lotte Berk, pioneer of the revolutionary Lotte Berk technique, which Esther still practices and teaches. His brother Jo is also well-known for designing work for public places. Michael went to Hermitage Primary School and The Downs School, Compton.
“It’s a great feeling to have created something in my home town that will last for many years,” Michael said.
Some years ago he was involved with a public art strategy, when he proposed artworks throughout the town. The Peter Randall Page commission Ebb and Flow, by Newbury Lock, was the only one that made it before the recession hit all councils.
He moved away some years ago, but has maintained links to the area and is a regular exhibitor in group sculpture shows here and had a memorable show at Greenham when the sounds of Newbury town and Greenham Common were recorded over a six-month period to create an aural landscape played out inside a fuel tank.
“I am so happy to be creating a sculpture for the town I grew up nearby.
I have public artworks throughout the UK and abroad and now that I have one in my old town makes me very happy.”
Grainger PLC associate director Rebecca Crow said in December: “Michael has combined his creative vision and his in-depth local knowledge brilliantly to design something genuinely meaningful for the local community to enjoy for years to come.”
