Thursday 24 May 2012

NITA WALTERS - 'BEACONS'




( Above ) Portal: Charcoal, graphite, and white chalk on Fabriano paper, Nita Walters, 2006

Both of these sit on the same hill at a place called The Beacon in Sedgley; it is the second highest peak in the West Midlands ( England, UK ). There is no higher point between The  Beacon and Russia’s Ural Mountains to the east, 2400 miles away.

Even though the technology is centuries apart, the beacons still have to occupy the same space in order to communicate to a wide audience. The original beacon was lit on the invasion of the Spanish armada in 1688, and the 'new' beacon was rebuilt in 1840.

The Friends of the Beacon want to light all of the Beacons across the country to commemorate the The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. I hope they can pull it off. 

- Nita Walters


Beacon: Charcoal on Fabriano paper, Nita Walters, 2006