Flash @ Hebburn
An installation by artist Charles Quick
In 2001 the artist Charles Quick was invited to propose a piece of artwork for Hebburn Riverside Park as part
of the Tyne and Wear ‘Art on the Riverside’ programme.
After an initial period of research and consultation, he became aware of the almost invisible industrial history of the area and the pride that the population felt towards their community and its past.
He began to realise that in the past Hebburn had been an important industrial centre with a large number of heavy industries including
coal mining, ship building, steel works, chemical works, coke production, high voltage electrical engineering, along with many others.
Flashes of light could be associated with all these industries whether it be sparks, flashes of the arc welding or the dramatic lights of the shipyards on both sides of the River Tyne.
He also identified that the industries of Hebburn had in their time all been at the cutting edge of innovation.
He decided to focus on the themes of light, innovation, regeneration and celebration to inspire his unique design with its original use of light that echoes the proud industrial heritage of Hebburn.
Using the idea that flashes of light could be seen as a common link between all the main industries, the artist decided to propose a piece of work that would use sequences of flashes.
Engaging with the people of Hebburn including apprentices from Swan Hunter and former employees of VA Tech Reyrolle and Hawthorn and Leslie Shipyard, he worked with these groups to create a range of flash sequences that will be used for the artwork.
Through the design process the artist has developed a number of proposals that have responded to feedback and dialogue with the community.
The final artwork
The final artwork will take the form of 12 x 8 metre columns powered by sustainable energy through photovoltaic panels.
Cutting edge radio technology will be used to control the light sequences that will use blue and white LED lights to create industrial flashes of light.
The light display will comprise of several thirty second light sequences throughout the day, and one fifteen minute sequence at night.
One of ten different sequences will come on throughout daylight if triggered by the sensors on the footpath leading up to the artwork, and one of the eight different fifteen
minute sequences will come on automatically at dusk each night emitting flashes from the riverside.
Once a year a special midnight sequence will celebrate New Years Eve, to coincide with the ships sirens and flares along the river which once populated the river at this time.
Visible from as far as Newcastle, Gateshead and Wallsend it will give Hebburn a distinct identity from
other riverside communities along the Tyne.
Flash @ Hebburn is at the cutting edge of new technologies in public art and will reflect the long history of Hebburn being a place of innovation.
It will complete the final piece of Art on the Riverside, the major programme of public art concentrated along the banks of the Rivers Tyne and Wear featuring works by local and international artists.
Register your interest
If you would like to register your support for Flash @ Hebburn please send us your comments using our comments form.
