The art work is inspired by Renoir’s painting ‘The Umbrellas’ which shows a bustling Paris street in the rain. Umbra:sonic sees umbrellas forming the physical art, whilst sound recordings made in Queenborough, both industrial and natural, provide the ambient noises. The extraordinary art work is part of the Art at the Centre public art programme for 2009. Art at the Centre’s lead artist Nicole Mollett has designed the three day event along with help from pupils at Queenborough School and local sound artists.

Umbra:sonic also draws links with the 60’s sci-fi series The Prisoner as strange spheroid shapes will appear on the surface of the Queenborough development site. Queenborough and Rushenden is currently undergoing a period of great change, the development site is land that has been cleared ready for regeneration. The long-term regeneration aims to create the potential for up to 2,000 new homes, two million square feet of employment space and around 3,000 jobs.

Lead Artist Nicole Mollett said: “Umbra:sonic aims to use art to engage the public with the regeneration in Queenborough and Rushenden. By showcasing Queenborough School pupils’ ideas and exploring the many possibilities within public art we are hoping that we will encourage a new generation to become inspired by art. Everybody is invited to come along to the exhibition and discover the many different ways that art can be produced.”