Gateway

RICHARD GIBSON

Gateway

Gateway was created by Richard Gibson and it cost £10,000. The National Lottery grant of £213,000 made it possible for communities that received less support than others. Councillor Matthew Lee, said, “The arch creates a real sense of entracne to what is one of Peterborough’s most important open spaces”¹.

Over the years, Richard has experimented with various materials to create a diversification of exciting commissions, site-specific works, and community-based projects. Stainless steel, brick, wood, concrete, glass, and a variety of other materials have all been examined^2.

The Gateway is located next to the Court House at the top of the path toward the Key Theatre car park. I recently spoke with Richard to learn more about his work and the background of Gateway. As with some of the sculptures throughout the city, no artist attribution is given, thus it took me a long time to figure out who the artist was.

Tuesday July 17, 2007, saw the inauguration of the Gateway to the Embankment by Peterborough Mayor Marion Todd. The sculpture, which is composed of two nine-meter-tall stainless steel loops shaped like a hitch knot. It was intended to be a representation of two mooring boat loops. Three sixth-form students from King’s School, Daniel Lumb, Rachel Snart, and James Whebbe, along with past students of Kings’ School Richard Gibson and Charles Clay, collaborated on the design of the arch³.

Richard believes that the two loops of non-meter-long stainless steel also represent how Peterborough’s rich past and promising future are bound together by the city’s growth plans. Regeneration, Regeneration (Acorn) and Earthen are three other sculptures by Richard that are listed on this website.

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