The Big Flag Galley Hill 2012

Thanks to Justin Rollings for this image to use for the Big Flag 2012. 

The flag will draw together many foundational elements of the locality such as maritime and military, regal, historical and global links. In this cultural Olympiad the sea is an obvious physical link to other countries. As an historic sea fairing nation the south coast reminds us of the physicality of connecting with the rest of Europe and the world, this edge creates an opportunity to signal a positive message of welcome as flags have been used throughout history and to remain in the future as a marker of our hosting the 2012 games in the Olympic spirit. 


The aim of the installation is to deepen the community cultural ownership and enrich the creative identity of Bexhill both locally and nationally by using a focus point that the local community can relate to and own. Influenced by the internationally acclaimed Warhol is Here exhibition at the De La Warr Pavilion, inspiring the notion that Bexhill is Here, The Big Flag will both enhance the landscape, harness the local climate culturally and geographically and be a point of welcome and symbolism for people from other countries. Located within sight of the Channel, the A259 and the train track it will provide focus for stopping off on the newly created cycle route from Bexhill to Hastings. With this position it is physically and culturally well placed to respond to the maiden voyage of the Boat Project. More info to come soon.....

January progress on the Big Flag Bexhill

The Big Flag 2012

The Big Flag Bexhill 2012 is an art gallery in the sky. Now to be located on
Galley Hill, Bexhill, it raises the question  'what is our cultural
identity in the year 2012?' and will showcase the ongoing legacy
through a curated biannual art competition open to Rother residents.

The first stage of the Big Flag is to fly a transparent flag
harnessing the elements,  commanding views to Hastings and Eastbourne
and beyond to the coast of France, signalling a question and
generating an artist led community response.
The second stage is to install a Big Flag in France to reflect the
project somewhere around the coast of Northern France.

Community engagement
Young people will prepare for the project through workshop engagement
and an artist led competition run by Radiator arts, during the summer
term, this will include Jerome Timmins, a sailor from The Boat Project
and the project links to Bexhill. The entries will be showcased in
either the Museum during the Jubilee. This competition will later
become the legacy of the Big Flag flying sky gallery in the form of a
biennial competition open to Rother residents.

The wider community will participate through drop in workshops at the
jubilee weekend June 7th during Family Week partnering the De La Warr Pavilion
and the Children’s Centre by running artist led activities exploring
identity. The Big Flag workshop will be held on the West Lawn (or in
the DLWP auditorium foyer if wet). Transparent flags and streamers
will be made for flotilla boats accompanying the Boat Project sail
past (expected July 6th) from Bexhill including the sailing club,
angling club and the rowing club.

On July 17th the Olympic torch relay will pass through Bexhill, the
wider community will be invited by the Big Flag to explore the concept
of identity through artist led drop in workshops creating transparent
Flags and by joining a parade to showcase the creative outcomes. To
compliment this there will be an innovative collaboration between SE
Dance, Rye College, Bexhill High and local sporting organisations such
as Bexhill Rowing club to perform a rhythmic and percussive
performance piece created specifically for this occasion this will be
choreographed, written and rehearsed beforehand. The aim of this
performance is to bring together sport and the arts and local
organisations that pursue excellence and achievement. Using repetitive
skills common in practise sessions for both sport and the arts this
performance will embrace the theme of signalling and communication.

The Big Flag project is supported by Rother District Council, the De
La Warr Pavilion, the Boat Project and Bexhill Museum, it will gain full media attention at the
time of the Jubilee and the Olympics as it is central to the
activities planned by Rother for the torch relay on July 17th.