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Faces sculpture - what YOU think
Last week we reported that the Reflections Of Bedford sculpture was nearing completion in Bedford. It cost £100,000. This was what you had to say
Gary Bower, Bamford Road, Bedford
From a distance the facial side looks impressive, but when you get close up it looks like it's been welded by bunch of trainees after the Christmas party.
Round the other side of the statue there is nothing but sheet metal. At least if the statues were full faced it would not give the impression that money ran out or the artist didn't get bored.
The bust of Trevor Huddlestone now looks upon this latest pile of trash from his new position near the telephone kiosks. This position will no doubt ensure that he becomes a late night urination post.
Mick Litchfield, Main Road, Biddenham
Art for art's sake is all very well, but there are more pressing and important things to do with our money.
Anthony Lamm, Melchbourne
A massive and bold statement – and a magnificent engineering achievement. I wish I could weld like this.
Pity they don't look happier. If it does anything to regenerate the High Street it will have been worth the cost.
The demotion of that great man, Trevor Huddleston, is most regrettable.
Amanda Scorer, contemporary artist, St Augustines Road, Bedford
It is distinctive and dramatic, unusual and contemporary. There are so many talented artists in the area, it's about time their skills were acknowledged.
I am very much looking forward to seeing the statue lit up!
Pat Gates, Silver Street, Great Barford
I was shocked to see that this 100,000 artwork was influenced by the history of lace making as well as Silver Street being the historical site of a mint in the 10th and 11th centuries.
Excuse my ignorance but I fail to see how these stainless steel faces connect to either.They look completely out of place.
Jonathan Jeffs, Grange Road, Blunham
I am shocked and dismayed to see such a hideous blot placed in our town centre. Not only do I dislike it but I feel it has a frightening element to it, especially with children in mind. It is an obscene waste of public money, especially in the present economic climate.
Penny Tomalins, Putnoe Street, Bedford
I really like it, it will certainly encourage debate. I also prefer the new position of Trevor Huddleston's bust.
John Roberts, Butler Way, Kempston
An absolute waste of money. Wait until the drunks of the High Street get their hands on it. This is an absolute eyesore and deeply saddening.
Richard Green, address supplied
It's a waste of public money. At least choose an artist from Bedford – Mr Kirby was born in Kent and has probably only been to Bedford to look at the site and sign the contract. I am sure that a suitable exhibit could have been commisioned locally for a lot less than 100,000.
Vicki Baxter-Barnett, Bedford
Surely 100,000 could have been better spent on something to cheer people up, not two miserable faces – there are enough of those about already.
Linda Barber, High Road, Cotton End
My husband and I were shocked to see such a hideous looking sculpture which is far too big for its site. I cannot see any relevance to lace making or anything else of historical value related to Bedford.
100,000 could have been spent on more parking spaces in the town centre or repairing the roads and pavements.
Steve and Ruth Prosser, address supplied
We think it is quite refreshing and it's good to see something as thought provoking and Kubrick-esque in the likes of Bedford.
And therein lies the problem. A town that is probably the last place on Earth to get a chain coffee shop suddenly gets a injection of art and futurism – suddenly it jars. Let's applaud the monument as a vision of the future, and pull down the rest of Bedford town centre around it.
Mrs M Ormerod, Putnoe
I love the sculptures, something to catch the eye and very well done. The bust of Trevor Huddleston is much better with the wording around the base, but who took the crass decision to put phone boxes in the middle?
Katherine Williams, Bedford
At a time when every single resident in Bedford is experiencing severe spending constraints, and some real hardship and poverty, what an outrageous waste of money.
There was nothing wrong with Silver Street that minor refurbishment could not have remedied.
Whether I like the piece is irrelevant. What I do know is that without consultation a statue of real historical significance, unveiled by one of the world's most revered and respected men, has been removed and replaced with something wholly inappropriate.
Richard White, address supplied
How is it that Bedford Borough Council can place excellent new market stalls in St Paul's Square that totally fit in with their surroundings, and then come up with a horror at the top of Silver Street?
It dominates the space to the extent of creating a claustrophobic atmosphere. Anything less likely to conjure thoughts and reflections of lacemaking and a mint are beyond the wildest imagination.
Alan Thomas, Bedford
What a waste of public money. 100,000 could have been spent removing chewing gum from pavements and graffiti from walls, or helping to finance a lick of paint to the ever growing number of empty run-down shops.
Bedford is slowly developing a Third World image. 100,000 would have made a good start to the regeneration fund.
Richard Compton, Bedford
It would probably work well situated in Milton Keynes, but not Bedford. I do appreciate contemporary art, but wouldn't it be more enhancing to have something that could be of more benefit – like a clock tower or even seating surrounding a piece of art in Silver Street?
M A Pane, Bedford
It can only be described as monstrous. The view of the faces from the High Street is bad enough, but from the other side it's even worse.
When I realised the 'half-heads' were actually quarter heads, I felt quite sick.
Bedford was such a lovely town when I moved here five years ago, but I see less and less to be proud of. Here's your chance to take part in our new weekly vote on the issues that matter – for less than the price of a stamp. Our weekly text vote taking the pulse of Bedford opinion makes it easy for you to make your mark.
All you need do is text BDNEWS, followed by a space, then type STAT 01, 02, 03, 04 or 05 depending on your preference and send your message to 81800. You can add further comment if you wish.
An 81800 text costs 25p plus your standard network charge. This will be charged to your mobile phone bill. Voting opens today and will close at midnight on Tuesday, October 27
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Friday 25 May 2012
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