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The Cutty Sark as Sculpture, Regina King and an Elegy for an Eyesore

Sculptor Michael Speller looks at the Cutty Sark, 150 this year, as a sculptural work. Regina King on acting in the film of James Baldwin's novel If Beale Street Could Talk.

The Cutty Sark was launched 150 years ago this year. The acme of sailing technology, now she floats not in the sea but in the air in Greenwich. People walk around on, in and under her. So the ship has become a monumental public art-work. The sculptor Michael Speller, who has made public works for Greenwich, tours the Cutty Sark with Kirsty Lang and the ship's curator, Hannah Stockton. They start beneath the keel, Michael considering the the shape and heft of the hull, then venture into the hold, where the iron ribs to which the huge planks are attached, are akin to the armature of a sculpture, and finish up on deck, where Michael is struck by the delicate filigree of the rigging and the powerful shapes described by the masts and yards.

Regina King is sweeping up awards for her performance in If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins’ adaption of James Baldwin’s novel set in 1970s Harlem. She talks to Kirsty about police violence in America, how the awards season resembles a political campaign and why she used her Golden Globes speech to issue a challenge to the industry.

Demolition of the former Royal Mail sorting office in Bristol began last week, as part of the regeneration of the city’s Temple Quarter district. Vanessa Kisuule is Poet-in-residence on the project and has written a poem, ‘Brick me’, to capture the history of the site which has been derelict for more than 20 years. It at once celebrates the erasure of an eyesore, and is an elegy for the loss of a familiar landmark.

Presenter: Kirsty Lang
Producer: Julian May

Available now

28 minutes

The Cutty Sark as sculpture

The Cutty Sark as sculpture

EventsÌýcelebrating theÌý150th anniversary of theÌýtake place throughout 2019.

Images:

Main image above: Cutty Sark - dry berth evening in house lighting

Image to the left: Cutty Sark at night

Both images credit: National Maritime Museum, London

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Regina King

Regina King

Regina King is in the film , certificate 15.

It opens in UK cinemas on 08 February 2019.

Image:Ìý Regina King as Sharon Rivers and Colman Domingo as Mr Rivers

Image credit: courtesy of EOne

An elegy for an eyesore

An elegy for an eyesore

SeeÌýthe University of Bristol's video ofÌýCity Poet Vanessa KisuuleÌý performing herÌýpoem , about the demolition of the city'sÌýformer Royal Mail sorting office by Temple Meads station

Image:

Image credit: Vanessa Kisuule

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  • Mon 4 Feb 2019 19:15

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