This sculpture echos the form of the Lockkeepers Cottage that once sat at Carpenters Road Lock – a historically significant lock over the River Lea located in the heart of the Park. Named after C. Newton, the last keeper of Carpenters Road Lock, the project celebrates the history and heritage of this unique site and the waterways of London!
Throughout October and November, there will be a number of free workshops at Newton's Cottage. Why not come along and explore more about this exciting project and the history of the lock? Click the links below to find out more and book a place.
Newton's Maker Day
4 October, 12noon – 5pm
Come along to take part in a series of hands-on making workshops led by local East London makers and try your hand at throwing a pot, carving a spoon or working with stone.
Walk: Exploring the Waterways
15 October, 1.30-2.30pm OR 13 November, 1.30-2.30pm
Join historian and enthusiast Neil Morley to learn more about the waterways and their importance to East London through a guided walk. To reserve your free space on the walk, please click here.
Talk: The Ins and Outs of a Lock Keeper
25 October, 2pm – 3.30pm
Join former lock keeper Jeremy Batch to learn more about the daily life as a keeper of the canals and waterways.
Newton's Floating Cinema Afternoon
8 November, Stratford Pier, 12noon – 6pm
Come aboard the magical Floating Cinema for an afternoon of tours and screenings exploring the waterways of East London in collaboration with UP Projects.
Newton's Narrative
23 November, 12noon – 4pm
Join students of the MA Narrative Environments course from Central Saint Martins who will be leading activities that weave a narrative relating to Newton's Cottage and the history of this unique and historically significant lock.
Newton's Dance
29 November, 4pm – 8pm
Come and enjoy a performance specially commissioned by East London Dance responding to Newton's Cottage. This immersive piece of dance will interact with the artwork and bring it to life for its final afternoon on the Park.
For all other events: http://www.newtonscottage.org/
Sculpture location: number 8 on the park map http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/the-park/plan-your-visit/park-map -
This large scale site-specific work, commissioned by the London Legacy Development Corporation in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, is a wooden structure in line-form of the original lock keeper's cottage, which last stood next to Carpenter's Road Lock in 1967.
The wooden cottage structure will be installed over the canal and be in place for two months, hosting a series of events and workshops, free to all, exploring the themes of craft, design and technology. The wood will then be re-used to create further smaller scale structures and objects on and off the Park.
This striking architectural sculpture will transform the currently non-functioning lock into an attractive point of communal focus, debate and learning, raising a longer term awareness and interest in this unique and historic landmark.
The design by Observatorium was translated into a modular flexible woodcraft system in collaboration with carpenter Jan Kroes in Zweelo-Drenthe (NL) who added three students of the London Building and Crafts College to his team.
See also: http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/
For short interview with Ruud Reutleingsperger: http://www.dezeen.com/?p=572798
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