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Castleford's Cratehouse: Farewell to controversial sculpture
It was loved and loathed and now it's leaving 'home'.
Fans of modern art installation Cratehouse for Castleford reckoned it cast a shaft of artistic light on the former mining town.
But the sculpture – installed on Sagar Street three years ago – also attracted derision from detractors who branded it an eyesore.
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Now the 30ft tall light-filled creation of yellow plastic bottle crates on top of shipping containers is to be transported to a new home at the end of the month.
The sculpture's creators, German artists Berthold Hrbelt and Wolfgang
Winter, have been invited to show their 'public space' sculpture at a new exhibition in Kielder, Northumberland.
But before it goes, the Cratehouse will be treated to a leaving party organised by Castleford Heritage Trust.
Trust chairman Alison Drake said the sculpture put Castleford on the arts map and attracted visitors to the town. She explained: "It hasn't cost the community anything and has been used for all kinds of things. Our arts development has taken off since.
"The first morning it opened, town was at a standstill, everyone was talking about it and modern art in Castleford – and that is priceless.
It will be a shame to see it go because it will leave a big hole in that part of town.
"I think people will realise then that although they didn't like the Cratehouse it did improve that site."
The Cratehouse cost 25,000 and was commissioned by Arts Council England as part of the Castleford Project regeneration schemes.
A string of events, including exhibitions and group meetings, have been held inside the Cratehouse.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which managed the sculpture, extended its stay in the town from the original timescale of just six months. Sculpture park curator Helen Pheby said: "The Cratehouse has made people think and talk about what art is."
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 18 May 2012
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