Shredded Wheat Big Ben
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | Cooden Sea Road |
| Town: | Bexhill on Sea |
| Parish: | Bexhill on Sea |
| Council: | Rother District Council |
| County: | East Sussex |
| Postcode: | TN39 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Outside building |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | Outside the entrance to the Cooden Beach Hotel. |
| In the AZ book: | East Sussex |
| Page: | 144 |
| Grid reference: | D3 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
| Previous location: | Best of British Landmark Exhibition, Leicester Square, London (1 October 2007). |
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Makers
| Name : | Steno Vitale |
| Role: | Assistant |
| Name : | Michelle Reader |
| Role: | Sculptor |
| Qualify: | assisted by |
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General Information
| Commissioned by: | Nestle & General Mills Cereal Partners UK |
| Construction period: | October 2007 |
| Installation date: | 20/02/2008 |
| Unveiling date: | 20/02/2008 |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Bexhill in Bloom |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
| Description: | A model of Big Ben created using British wheat. |
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Classification
| Categories: | Temporary, Sculptural, Free Standing |
| Object type1: | Sculpture |
| Subject type1: | Figurative |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Sculpture |
| Material: | British wheat on wood and metal frame |
| Height (cm): | 500 |
| Width (cm): | 80 |
| Depth (cm): | 80 |
| Part 2: | Plinth |
| Material: | Wood |
| Height (cm): | 35 |
| Width (cm): | 250 |
| Depth (cm): | 250 |
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Object Condition
| Overall condition: | Good |
| Risk assessment: | No known risk |
| Date of on-site inspection: | 20/02/2008 |
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History
| History: | ‘Cereal clock lovers rejoice at new landmark
A new landmark is due to be erected in Bexhill in a month's time. Thanks to the enterprise of Bexhill in Bloom chairman Sandra Melvin, the town is getting the Shredded Wheat Clock. The novel timepiece created out of the breakfast cereal and modelled on Big Ben, stands 2.5 metres across and five-metres high. Shredded Wheat have told Sandra the timepiece should withstand at least a year's Bexhill wind and rain. Sandra contacted Shredded Wheat immediately she heard that the firm had commissioned cereal models representing eight UK regions. She asked if Bexhill could have their representation of the Palace of Westminster's famous clocktower (correctly, it is only the clock's main bell which is called Big Ben). The model was sculpted by artist Michelle Reader. Sandra said of her coup: ''It's exciting! I think it's a wonderful opportunity for Bexhill. ''Hopefully, it will attract visitors.'' The model will be erected in front of the Cooden Beach Hotel, by permission of owner James Kimber. For Town Mayor and Bexhill In Bloom worker Cllr Paul Lendon, declaring the Shredded Wheat clock operational at a ceremony next month will add a new dimension to one of the guided walks he organises for the public. His current historic clocks walk includes such landmarks as the West Parade Clocktower and takes in a dozen town clocks. Soon this will be 13. The addition of the Shredded Wheat Clock to the town's attractions follows a move by the Bexhill In Bloom Committee, on advice, to enter in the Coastal Class for South and South East In Bloom this year rather than the Large Towns Class. This pits Bexhill against the likes of Littlehampton and Bognor and gives judges the ability to take into consideration factors like the town's exposure to strong south-west winds and salt spray when marking its floral efforts. (Hastings Observer 18 January 2008) ‘Land of Wheat and Glory Big Ben, Michelle Reader, October 2007, British wheat reed and other materials. People in the South East have voted Big Ben as the landmark which best represents their region, and a national poll has singled it out as the one landmark best placed to signify Great Britain. Artist, Michelle Reader says, “Simple materials have a wide creative scope for individual interpretation and wheat has proven to be a malleable material. Working with a material grown by British farmers seemed befitting to transform such an iconic British landmark as Big Ben.” Michelle Reader has a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from De Montfort University, and gained an MA in Scenography at Central St. Martin’s College of Art & Design. Michelle Reader’s previous work spans the disciplines of sculpture, installation and design for performance. Her sculptures are usually created using waste materials and found objects, and often include mechanical elements. She also collaborates with performance artists or theatre companies to explore the possibilities of materials within performance. This sculpture was created with the assistance of Steno Vitale, musician/songwriter. (From the information board at the unveiling) 'Land of Wheat and Glory Shredded Wheat, the iconic British breakfast cereal, is proud to present the “Land of Wheat and Glory” exhibition in association with British Food Fortnight. Shredded Wheat is made from 100% British whole grain wheat and absolutely nothing else. To celebrate its British single ingredient, eight leading British artists have collaborated on the project to re-create what is essentially a snapshot of Britain made from this British raw material grown by British farmers. Each artist has created an individual and distinct vision through their various sculpting techniques and different uses of wheat. All of these eight sculptures provide a fresh and truly British representation of the nation’s most iconic landmarks (as voted for by the people of Britain in a nationwide poll) which can now be appreciated by the public in one of London’s most famous squares. Susie Weisberger from Shredded Wheat says: “We really wanted to find the one single landmark that people in the UK feel best represents their region. The exhibition of wheat sculptures celebrates British Food Fortnight and emphasises the one single ingredient in Shredded Wheat - British whole grain wheat.” Below is the list of landmarks and the artists who have sculpted them: Big Ben, created by Michelle Reader Blackpool Tower, created by Su Blackwell Edinburgh Castle, created by Laura Antebi Giant’s Causeway, created by Jo-Anne Hatty Shakespeare’s Birthplace, created by Iris Bertz Snowdon, created by Dave Cushley The Angel of the North, created by Sarah Walton The Eden Project, created by Emma Churchill The “Land of Wheat and Glory” exhibition is displayed in Leicester Square on Monday 1st October as part of British Food Fortnight. (Information banner from original exhibition) |
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References
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Photographs
Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
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