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Magic jug’ sculpture For Fountain Street Belfast

Monday, 29 March 2010

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, today announced the commissioning of new public art, the ‘Magic Jug’, for Fountain Street in Belfast City Centre.

The Jug, which will stand five and a half metres tall, is based on an antique Irish water jug from around 1700, the time when George McCartney, Sovereign had Muny’s well at Sandy Row diverted to supply water to the poor of Belfast at what is now called Fountain Street.

The Triskelion, which is a symbol within the ancient megalithic art of Ireland, will be made from polished aluminium with a silvery reflective appearance, and will appear like water miraculously spouting from the jug. The Kingfisher at the top of the sculpture will be a dramatic accent at the top of the sculpture and act as a symbol of good fortune for the city and its bright future.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This is a fascinating link between the rich history of old Belfast and the dynamic, attractive modern city centre that we are producing. Belfast city centre is well on its way to having a streetscape which compares highly with other regional capital cities across Europe. Public art plays a key pivotal role in that. Tourists are very attracted to public art, be it a little mermaid in Copenhagen or a magic jug in Belfast.

“We must keep on embracing public art to help showcase our capital city to the rest of the world. Not only will it improve the attractiveness of the streets for visitors, investors and citizens, but it will connect the history of its past for future generations to come. I am confident that this new piece will become an integral part of a new Belfast like its predecessors, the ‘Spirit of Belfast’ in Arthur Square and the ‘Big Fish’ at the Lagan Weir.”

The art sculpture is the final piece of the Belfast Streets Ahead regeneration project. It has been designed by the London-based sculptor Joss Smith, and will act as a symbol of good fortune for the city and its bright future.

Notes to editors:

  1. DSD commence the procurement process to commission an artist for Fountain Street in March 2009. The method of selection is as follow:
  2. Following the publication the Brief to Artist, the Public Art Selection Panel short-listed the submissions.
    · The short-listed artists were invited to develop concept designs
    · The Selection Panel considered the concept designs and selected the Magic Jug
    The Selection Panel was made up from representatives from the following organisations: Department for Social Development
    Belfast City Council
    Planning Service
    EDAW (Belfast Streets Ahead design team)
    Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce
    Arts Council NI
    Royal Society of Ulster Architects
  3. The ‘Magic Jug’ artist, Joss Smith, is from London. He has designed monumental works for highly sensitive sites such as the Historic Dane John Gardens in Canterbury. He has worked with a variety of public authorities throughout the United Kingdom (e.g. Canterbury City Council (Font & Silent Table), Colwyn Bay District Council (Veil), Skelmetsdale District Council (Gateway for Hope Island), and Crawley Borough Council (Golden Tree)).
  4. The art piece will be 550 cm in height with a 138 cm diameter and will comprise a polished granite jug with a Triskelion, or never ending double helix tri-spiral, rising from it and a Kingfisher at the top of the sculpture. The estimated cost of the art piece is £100,000 to be installed in Autumn 2010 and is subject to planning permission.
  5. A Public Art Selection Panel selected the artist, Joss Smith, after a competitive tendering process, overseen by DFP Central Procurement Directorate. Mr Smith is a well-established sculptor who has worked on many large-scale public sculptures for a number of local authorities. His commissions can be seen in various in locations throughout the UK such as in Canterbury (Font & Silent Table), in Colwyn Bay (Veil), and in Crawley (Golden Tree).
  6. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07669 715 440 and your call will be returned.