Guernsey Ports is collaborating with local artists to brighten up the harbour terminal in St Peter Port and “bring a smile to people’s faces” as they head off on their travels.
Two new initiatives have been completed in the last week, with Guernsey Arts’ Piano
Project relocating to Guernsey Harbours and the installation of a new arts showcase designed by Tiffany Anna in the departures lounge.
As well as these, an ocean scene mural was designed and painted by Laura Morfett in arrivals earlier this year.
David Buddery, Commercial Development Project Manager for Guernsey Ports, said: “We’ve kind of on a bit of a mission to bring our terminals to life, whether that’s here or at the airport.
“The idea is that they’re places that serve a purpose, but actually we can make them a bit more fun, engaging, and a bit more of a nicer environment.”
These projects are the latest initiatives designed to improve facilities and brighten up the appearance of the terminal.
Performers from the Guernsey Street Festival have been providing live entertainment around the harbour estate during peak travel periods, whilst winning entries from the Guernsey Literary Festival’s ‘Poems on the Move’ competition are now displayed at the harbour and airport.
Tiffany Anna
A new arts showcase designed by Tiffany Anna is bringing a splash of colour and creativity to the departures lounge.
The display, which is adjacent to the newly-refurbished duty free shop and café, features some of Tiffany’s signature paintings, such as Tora the Tiger and Busta the Bee, and some marine-themed artwork, including her bloom of jellyfish from a recent project.
“I just love anything to do with brightening up the space, making people smile, hopefully making people happier before they get on a boat, and giving back to Guernsey, said Tiffany Anna
“I have such a strong support to network in Guernsey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without people in Guernsey. So I’d love to give back to them and make it nicer.”
According to Tiffany Anna, the outcome of her showcase was going to be different.
“It was supposed to be white, it’s now black or black beam, and I was supposed to have different images. But when I saw the wall, and after I painted it black, I thought it needed some pop of colour.
Tiffany Anna’s display includes an information board with a link to her website and full
gallery. It includes a French translation for visitors from across the Channel.
Laura Morfett
Laura Morfett is a member of the Port Security at Guernsey Ports. She is hoping to involve herself more in either graphic design or illustration.
“We didn’t have a lot of work in the winter, and I have been wanting to do a mural for a while, explained Ms Morfett.
“Jerome Davis, our Harbour Master, finally let me do a marine type one, just to get people into the harbour and know about all the animals.”
“I started and then went on holiday for a week, and then came back, she said.
“I think it was most of February, early March until I finally finished.”
She also mentioned the level of feedback she has received from those passing.
“You get children with their parents. They come up and they point to the animal, and people come up to me and they ask, have I drawn it? When I was in the middle of drawing it, you’d have passers by saying it was amazing when it’s done.”
Ms Morfett’s mural is near to the Brittany Ferries check-in desks in the arrivals terminal.
Guernsey Arts Piano Project
‘The Piano Project’ started in 2019 as an opportunity for local artists to put forward their
artwork for a piano, which would take centre stage in a public space.
Featuring a ‘dawn to dusk’ Guernsey landscape designed by artist Chris Simcox, the piano
was initially installed at Guernsey Airport, before moving to the Performing Arts Centre.
It is now on the move again, this time to the Guernsey Harbour Terminal where it forms part of a wider project to celebrate Guernsey talent and bring new energy to the departures lounge.
“In 2019 we hosted a piano project where we did an open call and then a public vote, explained Jade Kershaw, Community & Public Realm Officer at Guernsey Arts (Pictured: top right)
“The end result of that was this fantastic piano painted by Chris Simcox, who’s a fantastic artist, and it’s just a really beautiful display of round the island in some really bold colors. So it’s really attractive to look at, but it’s also telling a really fantastic story as well.
Ms Kershaw said that she has already heard lots of positive feedback on the piano
“It’s only been here a few days, but we’ve already heard that there’s lots of people playing fantastic music, including a 15 year old, and everyone in the terminal was really enjoying listening to that.”
