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Art at the Mere

During a visit back to ‘The Old’s’ this summer, we took the kids to let off steam at the beautiful glacial lake, gardens and historic parkland on the edge of the medieval market town of Ellesmere. The mereside promenade, gardens and Boathouse Visitor Centre and Café have recently been restored. It was here in a fit of coffee deprivation and an excuse to escape the fractious children, that I discovered an exhibition of lovely ‘Merescape’ paintings by local artist Paul Byatt. Ahhhhh, peace, caffeine and art.

Strandbeests

Dutch artist Theo Jansen has been developing mechanical, skeletal-like structures for the past 20 years. They walk independently, powered by wind captured by wings that pump air into lemonade bottles that in turn drive the creatures along.

They even incorporate logic gates that can reverse the structure’s direction if it senses water or sand where it might get stuck. More images and footage at strandbeest.com.
Photo by Loek van der Klis.