Newly conserved Sea Music sculpture in Poole to be launched in May

Donated to the town of Poole in 1991 by world renowned sculptor Sir Anthony Caro, Sea Music was made using local materials with support from local people.

Over the past 25 years years, the harsh weather and sea conditions have caused erosion and damage to the sculpture, which has needed restoration to ensure the sculpture returns to its former glory, and lasts for many more generations.

The Borough of Poole Museum Service, working in partnership with the New Art Centre, Roche Court, and the Caro Studio (Barford Sculptures Ltd), received grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England to complete the conservation works and deliver a celebratory arts and community programme.

The conservation works have also included painting the sculpture its original colour, with the viewing platforms in silver, as per the request of the artist before his death in 2013.

Over the months the conservation works have been taking place, Borough of Poole Museum Service has been working with the local community, artists, and Culture Volunteers Poole on an array of arts and community projects around Poole.

From Sea Music Stories, which saw local people share their memories on the iconic sculpture, to local artist Denise Poote working in partnership with Poole Housing Partnership to create unique and beautiful murals for housing block foyers, the Sea Music project has been supported by the local people of Poole.

Poole Museum also became home to artist in residence Jonathan Parsons for a month, who was inspired by Sea Music to develop new works which will be created throughout the summer period. Two other artists, supported by Arts Council England, will be invited to give their interpretation of Sea Music culminating in an exhibition of work in October 2017.

The artist David Ward, who will be exhibiting ‘100 views of Sea Music’ at Poole Museum this summer, has been working with members of local photography group the Happy Snappers to assist them with technique and composition. An exhibition of work by the local community will be shown in October at Poole Museum.

The re-launch of the Sea Music sculpture, which will take place on Saturday 13 May, will be attended by artists, experts and other visitors from around the world, and an exciting number of events will take place in celebration. These will include an exhibition of Anthony Caro’s ‘Concerto Series’ in Poole Museum, the display of another Caro sculpture on the terrace of the museum, the world premiere of a new composition inspired by Sea Music and performed by Kokoro (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s new music ensemble), along with the release of a new book about the sculpture.

Michael Spender, Museum and Arts Manager, Borough of Poole, says, “Sea Music is a superb work of recent contemporary art of genuine global importance which, thanks to Caro’s generosity, happens to live on our own quayside. I would like to thank the very many people in Poole for coming together to support this conservation process and participate in the arts and activity programme. I encourage everyone to visit the newly conserved and repainted Sea Music, with the sculpture far more distinct from the viewing platforms than before, in accordance with the artist’s wishes, and the exhibitions taking place at Poole Museum, to learn more about this wonderful work.”

Exhibitions at Poole Museum are free for all to visit, and will be open throughout the summer.

This post was updated on 03/05/2017 – 13:28 GMT.