Feathership
by Annabel McCourt & Adrian Riley
Feathership is a sculptural multisensory artwork based on the Norfolk legend of the Brotherhood of the Grey Goose Feather.
Legend has it that any Norfolk resident carrying a split grey goose feather and speaking a secret word could request help. We will work with the local community to restore this legend by creating a new secret word that is only revealed under certain conditions in an artwork inspired equally by legend and the present day environment of Boal Quay.
Biography:
Annabel McCourt is an international contemporary artist based in Barton upon Humber. Her work ranges from lens-based gritty social-realism, through to public & installation art, moving image and architectural interventions inspired by fact, folklore & legend. Her latest public art commission draws on public engagement and participation, culminating in a huge ‘Human Murmuration’ in copper.
Adrian Riley has a track record of over 25 years working in the public realm with artworks across England. Response to place and people is central to his work as is the use of text both as a means of communication and a way of developing meaningful creative engagement for the community in projects that have a high quality end result. Birdsong and flight has been a continual theme in several commissions. His work has resulted in winning the Northern Design Awards (2016) and commended at Leeds Architecture Awards (2013).
McCourt and Riley were the lead artists on the £1.5m redevelopment of St James’ Square in Grimsby. Selected by a steering group of key stakeholders and art in the public realm specialists they were selected for their community-facing approach, intergenerational engagement and expertise in liaising with manufacturers to deliver the highest-quality artwork. They have been working together on public art commissions ever since.
Annabel
Adrian