Shapes of a City
A John Hemson Associates short film about the sculptures in Milton Keynes. The film is narrated by Kate Moon with pieces by Ernest Bottomley and Robert Koenig. It was commissioned by Edna Reed, Artistic Director for Art in Milton Keynes and was written and produced by Michael Francis.
The film starts with the title screen of a green background and a black triangle with the letters `AIM` below this the words `ART IN MILTON KEYNES`. The scene opens with a cows head eating grass loudly, music starts to play as the camera pans across a field full of cows, Milton Keynes Village church and the pub, The Swan, are pictured. The camera cuts to the canal where barges are seen travelling up and down. The scene changes to Stony Stratford Crown pub, near the courts. Kate Moon the narrator provides background information on Milton Keynes whilst shots of the parkland in Milton Keynes are shown, including Campbell Park and the surrounding area.
00:01:22 we see Central Milton Keynes in the distance and the words `SHAPES OF A CITY` appear. The views change to outside The Centre MK shopping area, Queens Court and the outdoor market, the music plays on in the background. The narration continues, talking about the policies of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation to include art in the city. We see views of the Peace Pagoda near Willen Lake and the statues outside the City Library and in Queens Court.
Kate Moon tells the history and meaning of the concrete cows created by Liz Lay and we see views of these cows. She goes on to talk about the building of Milton Keynes while scenes of a building site are shown.
00:03:01 while the narration talks about the artwork and sculptures and the involvement of the Development Corporation, City Gallery Arts Trust and AIM (Arts In Milton Keynes) shots are shown of the Black Horse sculpture by Elizabeth Frink; DB, in Lloyd’s Court; Octo by Wendy Taylor; Triceratops by Bill Billings; Head by Allen Jones; Circle Of Light by Liliane Lijn; Essence by Wendy Taylor; The Whisper by Andre Wallace; Space Between by Elis O’Connell; Dream Flight by Philomena Davis; Equatorial Sundial by Wendy Taylor; 3B Series No.5 by Bernard Schottlander; Chain Reaction by Ray Smith; Wings Of Enterprise by Walter Ritchie; Sheep by Judith Bluck and 2M Series No.4 by Bernard Schottlander.
00:04:04 Robert Koenig, a sculptor, talks about how good Milton Keynes is to work in for a sculptor whilst scenes of his workshop and sculptures, including Metropolis, are shown.
Ernest Bottomley then talks about how by having the sculptures outside in public places they are seen by more people than they would be in an art gallery. During this we see people looking at and climbing on Vox Pop by John Clinch and the installation of Ploughman’s Lunch by David Mach in the centre:MK.
00:05:33 we then see a children’s activity taking place in Middleton Hall in centre:MK as part of the seven week Carnival of Animals followed by shots of animal sculptures in various locations and sculptors at work. Kate Moon talks about this project, a public art exhibition, and how projects like this enable people to interact with and appreciate the art work in Milton Keynes.
00:07:46 the film cuts to views of Campbell Park whilst the narrator talks about the sculpture park. We see several of the Tai Chi sculptures which formed the exhibition by Ju Ming.
The film ends with the installation of Locking Piece by Henry Moore and views of the sculpture from several angles. Kate Moon talks about the potential of Milton Keynes to become a “great European open-air gallery and centre for sculpture”.
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