Artists’ murals brighten up Market Street arches
GIANT murals have been painted on the Market building in Town following a competition among local artists.
There were 21 entries, which were whittled down to four to fill the blank archways in Market Street.
The initiative was organised by Guernsey Arts and Adam Gillson, Bjorn Martin, Alisha Flouquet and Vivien Ferneyhough were the four artists selected. Each of them spent several days creating a mural based on themes which included the cosmos and wild animals.
Sonia Taylor, a director of Bailiwick Estates, which manages the Market building, said it was something she had hoped to do for years.
She originally thought of looking for artists from outside the island. But a conversation with Russ Fossey, head of development at Guernsey Arts, made her think about local painters doing the job.
‘Russ said we have some fantastic local talent,’ said Mrs Taylor.
At a gathering to celebrate the completion of the project on Friday evening, she said she and her colleagues were ‘over the moon’ with the look of the murals and hoped they would be the start of the Market showcasing more art, possibly inside the historic buildings.
Mr Fossey said public art was a key element of the island’s strategy for the arts.
‘It’s free, it’s accessible to everyone, and it’s here all day,’ he said.
Retailers were also delighted with the murals.
‘It all adds to the vibrancy,’ said Korrine Le Page, head of development at the Guernsey Retail Group.
‘We’re trying to increase and evolve the customer experience in Town and that’s not just about the shops.’
