Coralent Eastleigh
Funded by Developer’s Contributions for Public Art in Bursledon, Eastleigh Borough Council is working with artist Emma Smith on Coralent Eastleigh.
The first iteration of Emma Smith’s artwork, Coralent was commissioned in 2022 by Brickworks Museum as part of Arts&Heritage's Meeting Point programme generously supported using public funds by Arts Council England.
Originally created as an installation of hundreds of small handmade bricks suspended on steel cables, the artwork was specially designed by Smith “to remember all the women, men and children that made the bricks that created the homes we live in, the places we work in, and the built environment all around us.”
Each brick carries the initials of an individual brickmaker found in the Brickmaker’s index of 78,114 brickmakers, created by British Brick Society member David Cufley; and access to the Brickmaker’s Index accompanies the artwork so visitors can look for the names of ancestors or other brickmakers of interest.
For Coralent Eastleigh the artist will be consulting with Bursledon Parish Council and with local residents to adapt the design for new seating in Great Down Park, in memory of makers from the local area. There will also be opportunities for residents to get involved with further research into local brickmaking history and have a go at making their own bricks.
For further information about this project please contact [email protected]
To find out more about the Brickworks Museum commission and to watch a short film about the project visit Arts&Heritage’s website here.
Who is the artist?
Emma Smith is an artist based in the UK, working internationally. She creates installations, performances, temporary and permanent works with a social focus. Previous commissions include works for Tate Modern, Barbican, Whitechapel Gallery, Arnolfini, Bluecoat, HOME Manchester, MAAS Sydney, Kunstmuseum Luzern and Matadero Madrid among many others. Smith is based near Cambridge and has local family ties to Hampshire.
Meet the artist
Join artist Emma Smith at Great Down Park, Bursledon, to find out about a new artwork celebrating Bursledon's brickmaking heritage; view the initial concept drawings, ask questions and share your ideas.
This is a FREE event on Saturday 01 June, 11am. No booking required.
Credits: Emma Smith, Coralent, The Brickworks Museum, 2022. Photograph by Pascal Vossen