I worked with property developers to develop the artists brief and shortlist and to commission American artist Jeffrey Sarmiento, who was Reader in Glass at the University of Sunderland to create two permanent glass artworks by the River Wear near the new HM Passport Offices in Durham City. The illuminated glass sculpture entitled Confluence uses local imagery to chart Durham’s history and the use of water power on the riverside from the 11th century up to the present day and the new Archimedean screw at Freemans Reach.
Four long glass panels display Jeffrey’s ‘Durham Mill Encyclopaedia’ of landmark moments in the site’s history. On the other site lenticular glass prisms reveals an image of the Archimedean screw when viewed from one angle and an image of Archimedes and Durham Bishop Hugh De Puiset when viewed from the other angle.
Commissioned by the development consortium of Carillion, Arlington Real Estate and Richardson Capital LLP, the permanent public art sculpture forms part of the high quality public realm area at Freemans Reach, which includes a new Riverside Walk.
