Thurs Oct 4th Big Breather
Today I focussed on corrrespondence between the APG and the British industries with which the artists had, or proposed placements.This interests me because it has close parallels my own projects and experiences. APG DEVELOPED CLOSE RELATIONS WITH MANY DIRECTORS OF POWERFUL COMPANIES WHO WERE SURPRISINGLY AMENABLE TO POTENTIAL FOR NEW WAYS OF PROMOTING AND PUBLICISING WHAT THEY DO AND WERE OFTEN INVITED TO AND INVOLVED IN PANEL DISCUSSIONS.
“…We feel that tangible financial support from the Nations purse should be forthcoming to keep alive and promote the APG concept. If it withers away the nation will have lost a valuable idea, an idea which could materially help us to live more fully and so lessen frustration and release us to be more creative in our work….. It is now being said by Management Consultants that industry which does not recognise its social responsibility will not, in this decade, survive, and that it literally ‘pays off’ to recognise this dimension. To support researching into the ‘pay off’ of the APG concept is a closely allied and constructive activity…that could well during these crucial days of change, spark off a new renaissance in the UK….” Letter to Arts Council from Chairman of Scott Bader , Godric E.S. Bader TGA 20042/1/2/3/1/1
Artist John Latham worked with Proteus Bygging, a marine construction company based in Chester. He proposed “Big Breather”, an artwork harnessing tidal power and looked like one of those hospital ventilation machines. This was very forward-thinking for 1973-an example of how APG was a predictor of tastes and priorities in the time to come.
Barbara Steveni was being taken round industrial plants such as British Leyland in the mid-60s-must have been really unusual for a woman then.
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