Once again, the streets of Cambridge prove to harbour a wealth of artistic talent and creativity. Along with fine musical instrument makers, painters, printmakers, ceramicists and photographers, Harry Gray creates work on an altogether different scale.
Having specialised in Public Art at art school, Harry knew the importance of acquiring the necessary skills required to produce work of the highest possible standard and so moved to Cambridge to train as a stone carver. The training gave him the confidence to take on some major public work such as the Battle of Britain Monument at Dover, a joint project with Landscape Architect Jamie Buchanan, which ignited an interest in war and how it is commemorated. His approach to this brief was a more contemplative rather than combative look at warfare, but he also believes it's right to sometimes take a critical and more reflective stance, particularly towards heavily controversial conflicts.
On a more local level, one of Harry’s Cambridge-based projects was creating a row of stacks of bronze books outside the Cambridge University Library. A challenging commission with such a powerful architectural backdrop, but with an open brief and a supportive client, the result with its interactive swivelling towers of books, has proved a popular attraction.
The other strand to Harry’s work has a strong figurative element and he makes sure he finds time every week to draw as it is fundamental to everything he does. A recent creative interest has seen him casting figurative elements from historic buildings to make new sculpture for exhibition. This type of non-commissioned sculpture is something Harry is keen to do more of in the future.
Studio 53a St Philips Road
Cambridge
CB1 3DA
Tel: +44 (0)1223 410751
W: www.harrygray.co.uk
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Find out more by visiting the Independent Cambridge website:www.independent-cambridge.co.uk/
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