Hourly chime artwork aims to celebrate city

An artwork which changes every hour will be aiming to celebrate a city's identity and bring back memories of its past, the creators have said.

Timepiece will see different 50-second long collages made from archive film, photos and audio chime on the hour through Sunderland's newly opened Culture House from 16 November.

Artist Jeremy Bradfield said he hoped the pieces, which would be accompanied by an original soundtrack from The Futureheads' Ross Millard , would "stir" a lot of memories.

A total of 72 chimes were created and Millard said each celebrated a different element of Sunderland's past, present and future.

"They're like these little moments that last for 50 seconds," Millard said.

"We had so much material to work with that we feel like we've got a good spread of Sunderland's identity.

"I'd like to think that people would see one or two in the building and try and time their visits so they can see more."

Themes include a 1950s bus ride through the city, the building and launching of a Hindustan Shipping Co ship at Doxford shipyard and glassblowing in the 1960s.

Brewing beer at Vaux Breweries, football at Roker Park and the Stadium of Light, and city landmarks such as the clock on Joplings department store and Penshaw Monument have also been featured.

The first chime will sound at 10:00 GMT on 16 November, with a different time signal playing every hour on the hour thereafter.

The team used glass instruments and sounds which capture the atmosphere of the city, including the sea and the roar of the football stadium.

Archive material was also provided by the University of Sunderland, The Bunker, Ashbrooke Sports Club, Friends of Roker Pier and Lighthouse, Ryhope Engine Museum, Sunderland Libraries and the North East Film Archive.

Bradfield said the oldest photo used in the artwork dated back to about 1913.

"I hope it will stir lots of memories and nostalgic reflections on the city," he said.

"There's a lot of change happening in the city at the moment but there's also lots of constants as well.

"It's a chance to to experience lots of memories and beautiful artefacts from the history of the city."

Timepiece will run for a year.

Culture House Director Leanne Littlewood said the venue was "incredibly proud" one of the first major artworks in the building "draws so deeply on the people, places and history that make Sunderland what it is".

The multi-purpose venue, which opened in September, features a library, exhibition and events spaces, bar and podcast studio.

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