The Bath Riverside development has unveiled its latest work of art, a piece which is steeped in the site’s history, designed by a Bath artist and created by a collaborative of local companies.
Maid of the Bridge, designed by local artist Anna Gillespie, alongside Bath-based engineering firm Buro Happold, has been constructed using metal retained during the refurbishment of Victoria Bridge.
Local company Ironart of Bath has created the sculpture which takes the form of an abstract figure overlooking the new park from Elizabeth Parade.
Anna Gillespie said: “I was approached by Crest Nicholson to create a new piece for Bath Riverside using the ‘chains’ of wrought iron that had to be removed from Victoria Bridge as part of its conservation and reconstruction.
“The resulting sculpture, Maid of the Bridge, is the result of a collaboration between people and companies from the city. I’m really pleased with the finished piece and hope people will enjoy it for many, many years to come.
“My main hope for the sculpture is that it will create connections. Between the past and the present, between the land and the river, between one bank and the other.
“I hope too that in time, the people who are making their homes in this newly opened up area of Bath will enjoy the sculpture and find their own connections to it.”
Andy Thearle from Ironart of Bath added: “It is fantastic to see Maid of the Bridge in its rightful place after a lot of hard work over the past year.
“It has been brilliant working with Anna Gillespie and Buro Happold to bring Anna’s vision to life and as a local company Ironart is proud to have been involved with this project.”
This latest artwork forms part of the art strategy for Bath Riverside which has seen numerous pieces, many of which have been designed by local artists, incorporated into the development.
The artworks installed to date include stone carvings, etched windows, bronze castings and the popular Herschel Chairs in Victoria Bridge Square.
Local artist Peter Dickinson who oversees the Bath Riverside art strategy on behalf of Crest Nicholson said: “Maid of the Bridge is now in position at the heart of Bath Riverside.
“The piece echoes the sentiment of the whole development – a new addition which is steeped in the history of the site but looking to the future, and will be appreciated by Bathonians and visitors to the city alike for years to come.”