Installation

Installation of the benches

The day of the lorry
It has been a long time planning and finally the benches are here! We had to get the wooden benches removed from the square and replaced with brand new concrete benches. We ordered special concrete benches as mosaics like to be attached to stone surfaces, rather than wood. 

Our benches get delivered on a special lorry with a lifting arm so that the benches can be picked up from the lorry and placed on the square. Here are some pictures of the benches being delivered and also some film! 

Rob is on site with me today (he is wearing the high-vis jacket in pictures) and he is an expert in mosaic art. He helps to position the benches and once in place, we begin to prepare the benches for a mosaic installation! 

We lay-out all the mosaic sections and measure up the artwork for the benches. It's pretty damp and rainy today and the paper of which the tiles are stuck too are getting really wet and delicate. In fact we're pretty worried whether we can pick up the mosaic without causing damage. Anyway we decided to mix up the tile adhesive (it's really black!) very quickly and get the mosaic stuck before it rains anymore. But then disaster strikes the first section of mosaic collapses in our hands, causing all the cut pieces to spill over the floor. No good. We had to pack up and get the mosaics into the dry before anymore damage happened. The installation today is aborted. 

We spend another 2 days with hairdryers in the studio, drying out the damaged sections, and re-sticking all the lost tiles. In the meantime the autumn weather really settles in... it seems to have rained for days continuously. 

ATTEMPT 2
Two weeks later we arrive on site to attempt a 2nd install. Here are some pictures of our very sunny day working on bench 1. 

Here we have Rob mixing up the tile adhesive, ready to stick the mosaics onto the benches. Rob describes the recipe for mixing this glue as a 'big black hole'. He has got a point when you look in the tub!

DAY 2, BENCH 1 

When we return on day two, we start by peeling off  the paper to reveal the mosaic. This is the first part to be uncovered - can you guess what it is?

Here you can see the mosaics of bench #1, with all the paper removed. We are working under the gazebo. 

The rest of the day is spent mosaic-ing along the round corners of bench, connecting the mosaic already stuck to top and side of the benches. It's pretty tricky work and we have cut the mosaic tiles to small little pieces to make them fit over the curve. 

Here is Rob working on the benches. 

BENCH 2 

so while bench #1 is drying in the sun, we crack-on with bench #2. We start the same process, of fixing the mosaics onto the benches with adhesive. Here you can see where there is a gap between the side and top. We will have to fill in the gaps later.

You can actually see how sunny it was this day we started bench #2. There are shadows on the bench and working area. Lovely! BUT it didn't last for long. 

On return the next day, I endured heavy rainfall. here is bench 2 before the rain downfall it's looking good!) 

 

This is my favourite bit of both benches! 

And here are the rain storms that stopped my installation today. You can see how heavy the rain is. I survived 2 downpours, but didn't chance another. I'll have to come back another day.

FINAL DAYS OF INSTALLATION 

I am rather blown-away with all  the lovely comments from the general public. So many people have stopped to chat, share their creative experiences and ideas with me and also enjoy watching the bench finally be completed. 

One particular lady came along and was so delighted by the work, that she has visited every day that I have been working on the bench. We have had some wonderful conversations and I have made a good friend from this meeting. I would like to think  that there will be many more people who will sit and meet friends, and future friends on these benches. That really would be a lovely result from this project. 

Ruth - my new friend, during her visits, offered her help. Kindly  she has helped clean, scrub, grout, provide tea by the flask load and even chatted with other passer-bys as they too stop to look. For the record THANK YOU Ruth for your help and support! 

So I have a few pictures from the final days. I haven't included any pictures of the final, all complete artworks because a.) there will be a special unveiling event in December (yes they are all wrapped up for now!) and b.) I want you to come to Hythe and see them in the flesh! But as a sneak peel, here we go..

Here is Rob using special chemicals to give the bench #1 a final clean

Here is a side profile of bench #2... and then it struck me......

after all these weeks working on site, I noticed a funny connection between the mosaic and it's location. Can you see in this photo what I mean?

and finally here is a picture of bench #2 looking from the street side. This is my favourite part. I like t he pebbles and bones. 

In the background you can see Truly Scrumptious Cafe who have been very friendly and provided us with warm water when we needed to scrub down the benches. Thank you! 

So see you all in December. I will add unveiling dates to this site when they are fixed. Keep watching!