An art installation that aims to highlight a “deprived” street in York has been unveiled.
‘Swarmgate’, created by Pocklington artist Gemma Wood, was lit up on Thursday 11 December.
It features two large hives of resin-cast bees powered by solar electricity, and can be seen on the side of buildings in Huby Court on Walmgate.
Gemma was inspired, she said, by York’s “rich” beekeeping history.
“Bees are essentially the epitome of community. They all work together for a common goal,” she said.
“Walmgate’s history has been quite transient with lots of communities passing through, and that made me feel like bees were the perfect vehicle.”
Swarmgate is part of the wider Walmgate Reframed project, which aims to celebrate the area’s history whilst increasing footfall.
Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith said: “By lighting up the street with this unique artwork, we are creating a buzz for visitors and celebrating the local identity that makes York special.”
The project was led by the University of York and York Creatives. It received funding from the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets fund, launched by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority last January.
Project lead and managing director of York Creatives Sarah Williams said: “We wanted to see if we could rejuvenate an area and bring people to it with art.
“Walmgate is in the city centre, but not many people go down there and stay down there.”
She added that Walmgate is “quite deprived” by York’s standards.
“There’s a lot of work going on in the area, and [Swarmgate] is one of those small parts of it,” she said.
Alongside Gemma’s illuminated display, the Art of Protest gallery launched an accompanying exhibition which includes poems and artworks by Walmgate residents.
There is also an interactive art trail that can be accessed by scanning QR codes in shop windows. It leads from the top of Walmgate down to the Huby Court installation.
Swarmgate will be in position until February.