I received an email yesterday from Garry Neill Kennedy. He's been commissioned by the Khyber Arts Society and the Halifax Regional Municipality to make an artwork of the 27 plywood inserts that are temporarily replacing the windows while they undergo restorative replacement and double glazing.
For And Still Counting, Kennedy counted the plywood inserts and numbered them sequentially in brightly coloured paints. The numbers begin at the ground level (left) with number one and continue to the top floor with the final count being number 27. Similar to his other projects, Kennedy uses household paint, selected for their names, and their potential relationship to the building. He suggests "names that are related to the Khyber building itself (Turret Brown, Archeological Treasure, Restoration Rose); or to its neighbour, the Neptune Theatre (Stage Fright or Playhouse Plum); or to Barrington Street (Party Place or Have no Fear); or to the City of Halifax (City Song or Council Bluff); or to the Province (Provincial Majesty or Ships at Sea) and so on.
"The font for the numbers is Superstar Shadow a typeface that Kennedy has used in many of his textual artworks, the original idea for which was derived from the bold black and white numbers painted on the bows of the navy ships that enter Halifax harbour."
Best part, besides the fact that Kennedy is doing something fantastic for Barrington, the planks will be auctioned off and proceeds will go to the Khyber ICA for equipment.
PIctures to follow.
