A sculptor will fashion a striking new look for Redcar on Friday, July 18th with the town’s Regent Cinema as his backdrop.
Famous film legends Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne will be among the stars from 100 years of cinema bursting out of the Regent’s gable end.
The dramatic piece of work, entitled showtime, commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Council in collaboration with the cinema and Cleveland Arts, will be put into place by the creator, nationally-renowned sculptor John Clinch.
A second phase, carrying on the cinema’s centenary theme, will be created between the Regent and the end of the Esplanade and installed, hopefully, in the second week of August.
Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Arts Development Officer Bill Sinclair said
“It will wonderfully complement the existing railing features along the Esplanade, hopefully prove a talking point and put a smile on people’s faces”.
Cleveland Arts’ Public Arts Officer John Cairns, whose organisation has managed the project, said:
“We think it’s a unique piece of work, especially for Redcar and it links in very well with the town’s Gateway feature. And hopefully it will get people talking.”
Regent Cinema, manager Niel Bates said:
“I’m definitely looking forward to seeing it in position. And I’m sure it will attract a lot of attention.”
The £4,000 sculpture, made of steel and a form of glass fibre, is part of a £40,000 Public Art scheme, funded by Urban Programme money and European funding through a Resort Regeneration Pilot Scheme.
The sculpture will be unveiled at 12.30 pm on Friday, July 18th 1997.