Recreating The Swan of the Exe

ART TO COMMEMORATE CAPTAIN GEORGE PEACOCK (1805 - 1883) 

Artists are needed for this project to create a replica of The Swan of the Exe 

Teignmouth Trail Recycled Art in the Landscape      HAVE OFFERED A SPACE ON TEIGNMOUTH SEAFRONT for an artwork to commemorate Captain Peacock.

If you would help with this project, please comment at the bottom of this page. 

Thankyou

Captain George Peacock (1805 - 1883) lived at Regents House in Starcross

The Swan of the Exe. Launched in 1860.Destroyed by fire inbetween 1918 and 1939 Thankyou https://archive.org/ for this image

CORRECTION: The Swan of the Exe was used in the garden of Captain Peacock's former residence;  Regent's House, on The Strand. Living memory of this goes back to the early 1960s.

Captain Peacock invented many things including the screw propeller, and built the Swan of the Exe, which was a luxurious,  10-berth, sailing yacht, and 4 Cygnets. Just one of the cygnets was used as a tender to the Swan of the Exe. The other 3 were sold. 2 went to Paignton, and 1 to Bournemouth. (Dunlop,T internet, accessed Feb 20th 2015) Only the Exe cygnet remains, (unless anyone knows differently) and she was rescued and preserved by, and is the pride of, nearby Topsham Museum

The last Cygnet?? Saved by Topsham Museum. Thankyou to http://www.devonperspectives.co.uk/ for this photograph

Link to article; 'The Swan of the Exe' by Tony Dunlop

The Swan of the Exe moored at Starcross, with her tender, The Cygnet, near to Starcross pier, where Starcross Fishing and Cruising Club have recently built their new pontoon. Photolink  from  http://www.syntagmamedia.com (scroll down for pictures 'courtesy of Les Gibbings')

Liverpool Record Office hold papers relating to Captain George Peacock 1805 - 1883

Captain Peacock’s machine for converting seawater into drinking water is still in use on ships today. This is a picture of the scale model in Merseyside Maritime Museum

Here's some of Trail Recycled Art in the Landscape's art on Teignmouth seafront in 2014

The palm trees made from green plastic bottles, and the exotic orange and green cactus, were created by  Gatehouse Primary School, Dawlish and Surestart's Teignmouth Dads Club Stay and Play with lead artist Melissa Muldoon








Perhaps our artwork for Captain Peacock could incorporate a recycled screw propeller, which could surely be sourced locally? Captain Peacock invented many other things,including a Nautilus Bathing Dress,  and so there is plenty of scope for ideas, but the most visual seems to be The Swan of the Exe : Place an old dinghy on the site; use driftwood, and  any other flotsam&jetsam,  to represent the sails and the swan's head&neck.

The sculpture site in Teignmouth is fully insured. Visit  the archives on Trail Recycled Art in the Landscape's website to view all the terrific art created over the last 10 years.

After the summer season, our artwork could be transported to Starcross, - if we can find somewhere to display it.

We've had help from Topsham Museum     

who have kindly sent us a wonderful diagram of  The Swan of the Exe, to help us with this project, and invited us to see the documents they hold about our Captain Peacock. Topsham Museum opens again on April 1st.

Here's the brief from TRAIL 

Sculpture Trail  

Artist Brief 2015  

1. Sculpture Trail  

2015 will be TRAIL’s 11th year and we are again inviting artists to submit one or more proposals for the Site Specific Sculpture Trail on the South Devon Coast at Teignmouth, this is an area of outstanding natural beauty as well as a holiday resort. The sculptures will be sited in flower beds which are cared for by the parks department of Teignbridge District Council. For more information on past events go to www.trail.org.uk No submission fee. New website will be www.trailart.co.uk. If you have a specific location in mind please contact us about this asap. 

DATES 

Proposals in by Friday 1st May 2015 

Installations of sculptures from Saturday 11th July to Saturday 18th July 2015 

Sculpture Trail starts Sunday 19th July finishes Sunday 30st August 2015 

Sculptures to be removed by Sunday September 6th 2015 

Awards 

Award for sculpture with best environmental message £200 selected by sponsor 

People’s Choice £100 selected by public vote. 

Community Award ‘Scrapart challenge’ £100 selected by sponsor 

Artist Award £100 selected by public vote 

Artist Award £100 selected by previous winner  

2015 Design Brief and Conditions for sculpture trail  

The sculptures and work in the exhibitions will need to address one or more of the following criteria 

• To be constructed from 70% recycled materials  
• To reflect concerns relating to recycling / landfill / water / waste / global warming and can include political or global issues.  
• To reflect the site by using or harnessing the natural elements.  

2. The sites are exposed to the elements so the sculpture needs to be well constructed and weather proof. The sculptures will be inspected by the Health & Safety Officer from Teignbridge District Council. The sites are within flowerbeds but can be accessed by the public if they are determined. The sculpture should have no sharp edges, fall over or have pieces that can break off and cause damage. Artists must be prepared to make changes to comply with Health and Safety issues if necessary and work will be withdrawn if the Health & Safety officer is not satisfied.  

3. The fixings for the sculpture will be ‘metposts’ (fence post fixings) knocked into the ground. The sculpture or plinth must be designed with legs which will fit into these fixings and be bolted or screwed for stability and security. The installation will be carried out by the artist. Any special requirements or fixing methods  can be discussed with the organisers and a TDC officer if necessary.  

4. The sculpture will be covered by Teignbridge District Council for Public Liability Insurance but not for material damage. This is the artist’s responsibility or risk. There is no compensation for damage through natural or man made means. 

   

5. The artist or a representative must be available throughout the exhibition period in case repairs are necessary to the sculptures or for restocking in the exhibition venues. There is no submission fee for Sculpture trail. 10% commission on sales.  

7. The committee’s decision on selection is final. 

What to do Sculpture TRAIL  

Submit copies of proposal for outdoor sculpture by email or hard copy as soon as possible. Final deadline midnight Friday 5th May. Submissions by email please label each attached document with your name and trail15. Submissions by hard copy - put your name, contact details, and title on the first page and title on each subsequent page to avoid loss. The proposal should include:  

1. Drawings or photographs of the sculpture/exhibition entry 

2. Detail of the fixing  

3. Size including height, width and depth 

4. Brief description of inspiration for work, be as informative as possible 

5. Include images of past work photographs/CD/website address. Only if new exhibitor. 

6. Your Contact details, name, address, telephone and email contacts. 

ENQUIRIES TO: 

Trail Recycled Art in the Landscape, in Teignmouth