Cambridge Live has announced the details of the artists who will create a piece of public art to commemorate the life of Pink Floyd founding member Syd Barrett that will be displayed at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, the location of his final ever live concerts.
The selected artists, chosen following an open invitation for submissions and an interview process, have been confirmed as a collaboration between Suffolk-based artists Clare Palmier and Spadge Hopkins with fabrication from Gloucesterhsire-based Cory Burr.
The piece will be called CODA (referencing Syd’s last performance at the venue) and will use reflective surfaces and bicycle components (representing his iconic song ‘Bike’, as well as Cambridge). The piece will be interactive and people viewing it will be able to activate the bike wheel embedded into the piece that will spin to reveal LED images and lyrics of Syd. The reflective surfaces in the piece will be part of a visualisation of Syd’s favourite silver 1962 Fender Esquire Guitar, with its reflective discs.
The public art piece, which has been commissioned in collaboration with Syd Barrett’s family, will be officially unveiled at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Thursday 27 October 2016, followed by a live concert entitled ‘Syd Barrett – A Celebration’. The public art was made possible by Section 106 funding from Cambridge City Council and is being unveiled in the year that commemorates both the 70th anniversary of Syd’s birth and the 10th anniversary of his passing.
Speaking about the project, Cambridge Live Operations Director Neil Jones said “We were hugely impressed by the submissions that came in from artists not just in the UK but also from abroad. There were some tough decisions to be made but the project group were unanimous in their praise for CODA which captures both the creative and quirky spirit of Syd himself whilst also reflecting on the location of his final ever performances at the venue.”
Speaking on behalf of the Barrett family, Syd’s sister Rosemary Breen said, “This piece is so original and imaginative, I feel it really captures the essence of Syd”.
Book tickets here for the 'Syd Barrett - A Celebration' concert on Thursday 27 October.
Book tickets here for 'Syd Barrett - A Celebration Film Night' (part of the Cambridge Film Festival).
More info on Clare Palmier, Cory Burr and Spadge Hopkins