Stories appeal for buoys art

The Boston Buoys is a project that will involve three artists creating six new installations around the town using large historic navigation buoys.

Supported the University of Lincoln, Arts Council England, Centre for Culture and Creativity, Boston Borough Council and Boston Big Local, the aim of the work is to celebrate the town’s maritime tradition in a unique way.

One of the artists, Jo Chapman, who has been commissioned to create two of the buoys, is appealing for people to tell her their stories of journeys and migration – which is the theme of her work.

Jo said: “I would love to have your contributions to incorporate into the sculpture, I am looking for stories, a letter or diary entry about a journey that holds some personal significance, whether that is about coming to Boston, or leaving, or travelling somewhere else.”

She recently held drop-in sessions at the Guildhall, Black Sluice Café, Len Medlock Centre, Boston Library, and Willoughby Road Allotments, and special post boxes have been set up in these venues where people can leave ideas. People can email to [email protected] or message them on Boston Buoys UK Art Commission Facebook page.

“Parts of the stories will then be used as details on the metal sculpture, the stories will give a human dimension to the buoy sculptures and a voice to local people,” Jo said.

The other artists are Bex Simon and Carrie Reichardt.

Alison Fairman, chair of Boston in Bloom, said: “The Boston Buoys are an exciting project for Boston, unique and using buoys from The Wash. Boston in Bloom wholeheartedly supports this and we hope that residents will share their memories of the fishing, maritime and sailing history of our town.”