Talking Public Art

In our final episode we talk to artists Nicole Mollett and José den Hartog.

About: the rewards of community engagement and tapping into local knowledge; making things that people can use in their everyday lives; a shared love of books and drawing; and the importance of trust and letting artists do their job.

Plus: fountains and follies, grotesques in old churches and a stuffed cat called Willem. 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode we talk to Caroline Hicks, Director of Growth & Community for Dartford Borough Council.

About: the days when local authorities still had money; getting young creatives into Canterbury Market; commissioning bronze sculptures of Mick and Keef for Dartford Town Centre; the fear of a blank canvas and stretchy parameters.

Plus: capturing the magic, measuring wow and glass fusing! 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode, we talk to Paul Cowell, Head of Culture & Libraries at Medway Council.

About: growing up in Bradford and being inspired by his Mum’s involvement with Am Dram; creating environments and loving pavilions; the importance of words in public art.

Plus: the positive power of beauty, dreams of a giant bobble hat and Take That. 

We talk about links to several projects mentioned by Paul:
Peveril Gardens by Sanchez Benton
Together by Lucid Creates
You & Me & Me & You by Anthony Burrill
Me. Here Now by Mark Titchner 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode, we talk to artist Kerry Lemon

About: escaping being pigeon-holed as an illustrator and getting into public art; being a one-woman B Corp; mentoring and supporting women to do what she does; leaving a societal and environmental legacy.

Plus: being open, honest and sharing; why she can’t believe her own luck, and tap dancing! 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In our first episode, we talk to Mark Osborn, Assistant Director of Housing at Gravesham Borough Council.

About: the role of public art in giving a place an identity; why a landscape-led development is usually a more successful one; and why public art should be thought-provoking and never designed by committee.

Plus: reinventing town centres, a funny story about the Flying Geese in Ashford, and the joys of getting out a sketchbook. 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Writer Mark Hewitt about their own work as Public Art Consultants at FrancisKnight and: 

• the challenge involved with keeping public art as a priority on large-scale projects 
• the importance of bringing artists in at the beginning of a development  
• understanding how artists work  
• reflecting on the key themes that have emerged in this Talking Public Art podcast series 

Plus: work/life balance, having fun, the wow factor and whether or not their hometown of Maidstone is still beige 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Maria Amidu about: 

• why she turned from craft-maker to working in the public realm  
• the importance of rooting a project in the community 
• the interplay between the initial brief and what you eventually decide to do  

 Plus: looking out for Wivelsfield on the London to Brighton train and the delights of Agatha Christie 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Chris Tipping and Landscape Architect Mark Fisk about the importance of: 

- not always having a plan and allowing processes to evolve  
- responding to local flavour and the feel and history of a place  
- the High Street and outdoor space 
- making places distinctive  
 
Plus: biscuits at long meetings, swimming in the sea and Rochester Riverside Phase 3

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with Artist Katayoun Dowlatshahi about: 

• how being an outsider can add value to a development 
• working around the challenges of budget limitations 
• being environmentally conscious and our role as caretakers for the planet 

Plus: bee-keeping, fungi and willow weaving 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

In this episode Louise and Laura talk with planning director Kathy Putnam about: 

• her journey from being a Conservation Officer in Liverpool and Hampshire to overseeing urban design in Medway  
• working as a woman in a male-dominated sector  
• why Anywheresville and mediocrity is no longer good enough 

Plus: Conningbrook Lakes, being Irish and talking to sheep 

Contact Talking Public Art Podcast:

Tweet us at @artbirds
Instagram us at @artbirdsfk
Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!