John Street Installation

SHINE

A

LIGHT

DMC

STEWY

Project proposal 2023

EMILY RICHARDS

THREE BRISTOL ARTISTS

EMILY JOY RICHARDS

DUNCAN MCKELLAR

STEWY

ONE BRISTOL ICON

SARAH GUPPY

INVENTOR - ENGINEER

Sarah Guppy - 1770 - 1852.

Overlooked heroine of Bristol's past.

Teacher of Brunel Jnr.

Suspension bridge patent holder.

BRISTOL ICON

Sarah Guppy's contribution to Bristol's heritage is largely overlooked.

A female engineer in Victorian Britain, her influence may be greater than you think.

She held a patents on a chain suspension bridge, barnacle resistant copper nails and a home gym which also boiled your eggs!

Intriguingly, she was friends with Brunel senior and taught young Isambard.

Her son worked with Brunel on the SS Great Britain, the Great Western Railway and the Clifton Suspension bridge.

(Although impossible to verify, it seems likely that she influenced the final design.)

DUNCAN MCKELLAR

Bristol based sculptor Duncan Mckellar is internationally known for his large scale installaltions involving mirrors and sunlight.

Monumental pieces include a kilometer long line of people with mirrors spanning the U.S/Mexico border.

Each participant wore a mirrored mask which reflected the sun to create a 1000m line of light symbolising unity and togetheress.

Ray of Hope - 1000m line of people with mirrors

U.S/Mexico border. 2018.

Esperansa - Circular mirror installation

U.S/Mexico border. 2019.

STEWY

Legendary Street Artist Stewy is internationally known for his stencil work in Bristol and around the globe.

His iconic artworks often reference historic figures who have been overlooked whilst simultaniously bringing them back into prominence.

His famous image of Sarah Guppy is based on a pencil drawing by Isambard Kingdon Brunel.

STEWY mural - UpFest, Bristol

STEWY mural - Emirates Statium, London

STEWY mural - The Oval, London

EMILY JOY RICHARDS

Emily Joy Richards is a Bristol based painter and founder of Peace of Art (a female Street Art collective based in the city.)

Emily's work specialises in text and is visible throughout Bristol with recent commissions including a large-scale mural on the corner of High Street and Wine Street in association with UpFest 2022. This painting raises awareness of female sexual harassment and safety on the streets.

You Are Not Alone - UpFest 2021. Tobacco Factory Bristol

John Street

The three Bristol Artists are proposing a collaboration which will commemorate

Sarah Guppy in a permanent Artwork.

This triple portrait in paint, steel and light will illuminate a true Bristolian heroine, promote renewable energy, and create a legacy which will inspire women to study STEM subjects for years to come.

STEWY will paint a 15m portrait of Sarah on the East facing wall of Thermal Energy Internatiol.

Mckellar will install 15 stainless steel mirrors on the South facing wall of the Clayton Hotel.

Each mirror will have a section of Guppy's portrait painted on its surface. They will be arranged and angled to reflect sunlight and create a projection of her full portrait onto the street below.

This portrait in reflected sunlight will be constantly moving as the sun passes overhead and only visible during certain times of the day. The transitory aspect of this Artwork will add ephemeral beauty and intrigue whilst creating a ground level installation which takes up no physical space.

Emily Joy Richards will produce a hand painted description of Sarah Guppy which will describe, highlight and record her extraordinary life and work.

The Artwork will compliment recent projects in the area and contribute to John St. becoming an important heritage tourist site. These projects include the opening of the historic burial ground at St. John on the Wall, the conversion of the Everad building and upgrade of the Clayton Hotel, as well as the painting of the Bank Tavern Passage and future use of the Guildhall building.

The installation will also become a feature on Bristol's Street Art landscape, will feature on various walking tours and provide a regular stream of social media publicity for local businesses via Instagram and other channels.