Sensory Sound Posts

Walking past, the posts spark into life telling local tales

2004 - 2005 - 2010

Original order for eleven unique ‘talking’ solar sound posts were installed in the Port of Blyth, Northumberland. They were the culmination of a year-long project - gathering stories of the local people and their memories and aspirations.

The posts are Douglas Fir - a wood used extensively in this marine location - which weathers to a soft silvery grey. Each post has a different subject focus: in the garden on each post takes one of the human senses; on the Staithes one of 7 key activities associated with the Port. At night the illumination reacts to the talking, footfall or a freshening wind using this innovative technology.