Just in time to celebrate a bumper day of events on 19 July with the Andover Farmers’ and Crafts Market and the Andover Carnival, the High Street will be strung with bright and colourful bunting to add to the festival feel. There are ten bunting designs in five bright colourways. The designs have been drawn directly from artwork, photographs, collages and stories created by local people at last summer’s successful Encounters Shop project in Andover High Street.
The project sought to find out what people valued about the town and the aspirations and hopes they have for its future. Hampshire artist Eileen White was commissioned to create the eye catching bunting by drawing inspiration directly from the Encounters legacy. Eileen said, “My work specialises in creating layered silhouettes of pattern, shape and colour. For this project I took images from the Encounters collages, such as the clouds, houses, St Mary’s Church and a bicycle, as well as abstract elements such as the curve designs taken from the Norman Arch on Marlborough Street, to create layered illustrations that represent the feelings of the community. “From the archive, I selected these main themes and images which I transformed into hand cut, graphic, paper silhouettes and layers of pattern that were then digitized and printed to become the final bunting.”
The themes identified have been shaped from recurrent mentions in the stories and written material gathered last summer. They highlight the importance of Andover’s green spaces; that the town is a good place to call home; and a place where lasting friendships are made. Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Carr, said: “I am delighted that the first of the outcomes from the Encounters project will be brightening up the High Street in time for this weekend’s programme of events. “The bunting is a direct result of people caring about Andover and sharing their thoughts and dreams for the town.”
The project is funded by Section 106 developer contributions, and is the first public art commission to result from the Encounters project. Future plans include temporary public art installations and the zoning of the town centre for special events. All of the projects seek to enliven Andover town centre, connecting communities with the natural and built environment, and helping to create a sense of community for all.