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Drones to photograph 32 mile long artwork after successful appeal; DATE: Sunday 21st of September 2014
[September 17, 2014]

Drones to photograph 32 mile long artwork after successful appeal; DATE: Sunday 21st of September 2014


(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aerial photography of the largest artwork ever to be commissioned in the UK, a 32 mile long drawing in Bristol, will be carried out by drones following a successful appeal by organisers of the HighWaterLine project.



cid:d5d3f1e5-7369-4343-b484-51545ee047c9@local Residents from each Bristol neighbourhood are marking a section of the 32 mile route before handing on to the next to show what the city will look like underwater. Photos: HighWaterLine & Pete Bedwell From the air, the drawing will look like a contour on a map. It represents the high water point of future flood predictions.

Alice Sharp, Director of Invisible Dust said: "I feel the only way to properly appreciate the size of this artwork will be when viewed from the air. It is vast. We are delighted that Bristol Drones have stepped in to help us." Philippe Francken, Director of Bristol Drones said: "The UAV (drone) I am using for the HighWaterLine project will be a DJI Phantom 2, with a DJI H3-3D gimbal that holds a GoPro Hero3 camera. Attached are also a DJI Ground Station transmitter and a video downlink module. It is a quad-copter, i.e. has 4 spinning propellers, which are controlled by a logic board inside the aircraft." Time is running out Time is running out as the drawing is only temporary. It is being drawn in chalk and although it looks permanent is designed, somewhat ironically, to wash away after a few heavy downpours.


The line marks the highest point that floodwaters will reach, it represents a worst case scenario and is the Environment Agency's best possible prediction of current highest water levels from tides and rivers. Flooding is likely to increase in frequency and severity as a result of sea-level rise and increased rainfall but the predictions currently involve a lot of uncertainty. Knowledge, therefore, of the high water mark for an area is particularly useful when making preparations for flood surges.

Bristol has been chosen because it is one of the world's most vulnerable places to flooding. The area has been subject to massive flooding disasters in the past due to its proximity to the Bristol Channel, which has the world's second highest tidal range. (1st Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia 15.4 m (Spring range) 2nd Bristol Channel 12.6 m).

Art mimics real life Although the project is using drones, in this case, to capture the size and scale of an artwork, drones could actually start to be deployed across the UK by water companies keen to avoid the severe floods like the ones that hit the UK earlier this year.

Invisible Dust asked Philippe Francken, Director of Bristol Drones the following quesions: 1.What footage would we get from this project? "I believe we can get some amazing footage (video and photos) from high up showing the High Water Line and it would put more into perspective what would be under water and what would not be. A line on the pavement from a person's perspective does tell us that this is where the boundary is, but as soon as you have an aerial view, you suddenly realise how devastating it could be if it were to flood. It will definitely have a big impact on people." - Philippe Francken, Director of Bristol Drones 2. What are the future use of drones? "There are so many applications for UAVs/drones, it is hard to name them all. For this project it will highlight the issues when flooding would occur and make people realise what they need to protect or do in order to avoid damage to their property and livelihoods.

Another example of where UAVs can be used is in the farm industry. If a crop field can be surveyed from above and the farmer can be told that a particular spot might need more fertilising, they can then be more precise with what they need to do, without having to blanket their whole field.

A further example would be for search and rescue. A UAV can cover a bigger area in less time than a search party and can, in most cases, come lower and closer than a conventional helicopter." - Philippe Francken, Director of Bristol Drones About HighWaterLine Initiated by the artist Eve Mosher, the project entitled 'HighWaterLine' has empowered communities in other cities around the world susceptible to flooding disaster. This is the first time it has come to the UK. Residents from each Bristol neighbourhood have taken part in resilience workshops and are marking a section of the 32 mile route before handing on to the next to show what the city will look like underwater.

Eve Mosher's original 'HighWaterLine' public artwork involved the artist herself marking out a line 10-foot above sea level around the coast of New York City. Whilst en route the artist engaged inquisitive local people in conversations about flooding, climate change and its potential impacts. When subsequently parts of the route were flooded after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and the artist was proved right, people began to see her artworks as innovative ways to visualize the future impacts of climate change. The collaboration with communities around the world who use the project as an innovative way to devise solutions to climate change, has deepened the impact of HighWaterLine as a tool of engagement.

In 2013 in Miami residents created a line the length of a marathon (26 miles) that showed houses and historic buildings that could potentially be underwater in the future. Since then the project has become international and community driven.

Most people are unaware of the threat they are facing. Eve Mosher's long term vision is for communities to be empowered by replicating her original project in their own cities around the world.

Commissioned by Invisible Dust in association with Creative Catalysts Contact Simon Steven Invisible Dust Press Office (UK) [email protected] +44 (0)1843 596 194+44 (0)1843 596 194 cid:0969efd1-a5c5-4762-bcec-e6cedc9eb958@local HighWaterLine | Bristol is funded by Arts Council England, LUSH, The global HighWaterLine project has been supported by The Compton Foundation and Invoking the Pause.

NOTES FOR EDITORS: Photos: http://Bristol.HighWaterLine.org Link to the above photo: Photo Credit: Residents from each Bristol neighbourhood are marking a section of the 32 mile route before handing on to the next to show what the city will look like underwater. Photos: HighWaterLine & Pete Bedwell Eve Mosher Eve Mosher is an artist and interventionist living and working in New York City. Her works use investigations of the landscape as starting points for audience exploration of urban issues. Her public works raise issues of involvement in the environment, public/private space use, history of place, cultural and social issues and our own understanding of the urban ecosystem. Her work has been profiled in international media including the The New Yorker, New York Times, ARTnews, Miami Herald, L'uomo Vogue, and Le Monde. Her public and community based artworks have received grants from New York State Council on the Arts and New York Department of Cultural Affairs, both through the Brooklyn Arts Council, and The City Parks Foundation. Collaborative works with Heidi Quante (Creative Catalysts) have received support from The Kresge Foundation, The Compton Foundation, The 11th Hour Foundation, The Whitman Foundation, and Invoking the Pause. She has a serious interest in urban ecologies and sustainable development.

http://www. EveMosher.com HighWaterLine http://Bristol.HighWaterLine.org http://www.HighWaterLine.org Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=660319294039607 Twitter: BristolHighWL Twitter and Instagram: #HighWaterLine Invisible Dust Invisible Dust is a commissioning organisation that works with leading artists and scientists to produce new and exciting works of contemporary art. It provides the opportunity for both disciplines to share and explore common ground on environmental themes.

Currently Invisible Dust is working in three leading UK Museums. Turner Prize 2012 winner Elizabeth Price is collaborating with a space scientist at the Royal Observatory, artists Owl Project are in residence with the Manchester Museum and Laura Harrington is creating a film about peat bogs for Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland.

Invisible Dust aims to produce significant and far reaching artists commissions in the Public Realm both in the UK and internationally, as well as supporting the creation of new scientific ideas whilst engaging audiences with large scale events, education and community activities. It was founded by Alice Sharp who previously managed the Fourth Plinth and has worked as an Independent Curator since 1997.

http://invisibledust.com Twitter: Invisible_dust Creative Catalysts Creative Catalysts brings together experts from diverse disciplines: art, science, experiential learning, storytelling and multi-media to design innovative ways to raise awareness, inspire dialogue and spark action on pressing social and environmental issues. Our passion is to engage people where they live, work and play in order to engage diverse sectors of our society in greater social change.

http://www.creativecatalysts.orgCallSend SMSAdd to SkypeYou'll need Skype CreditFree via Skype .

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