Allium - Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria, UK
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N 54° 35.751 W 003° 08.361
30U E 490996 N 6049828
A bench and accompanying sign called Allium are outside the Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria.
Waymark Code: WM55X1
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/16/2008
Views: 20
Made by sculptor William Pym in 2000. The bench and sign are both 2 metres high.
They were commissionee by the Theatre Trust with support from the National Lottery. Budget Circa £15,000.
The theatre asked for a design that was both functional and truly sculptural. The bench and illuminated sign are supported by growing forms from bulb bases based on the Allium family of plants. Their flowers are represented as globes with lakeside rocks suspended within, the bench slats are Cumbrian oak.
William Pym is a sculptor working in metal. Over recent years he has specialised in work that is very site specific, sometimes collaborative with communities, architects and designers and often highly functional. His work is mostly ‘to commission’ for inner city regeneration projects, local authorities, public art agencies, schools, hospitals and private clients.
William uses the traditional techniques of wrought iron, welded steel, increasingly combined with other less obvious materials such as glass, light, and growing plants. He sees his work as fitting within a history of making but in a contemporary idiom. Although he uses the term sculptor to best describe his commitment to including art in the built environment, he is happy to being variously described as a ‘blacksmith, a craftsman, a public artist, a metalworker, a designer, or even an artisan’.
William has built up a significant practice, employing two part time assistants and has won grants for Cultural Business development. He has acted as Lead Artist, consultant and artist in residence to projects across the North East. He has served on the National Artists’ Association National Committee and is currently a member of Arts Council (North East. William is a steering group member for Art Tour, Northumberland Visual artists, open studio event. William is a member of the British Artists Blacksmith Association.
Web site of William Pym: (
visit link)