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Leiza McLeod speaks out - 2006/03/15 21:46
A Bristol woman comments on Merchants quarterl
Lick the link below...
This is Bristol (Evening Post website)
------------copied from thisisbristol.co.uk
(click the link above for the orginal with comments)
I WON'T SHOP 'TIL NAME IS DROPPED
11:00 - 14 February 2006
A Bristol woman whose face was used in an art project at the centre of the £500 million Broadmead revamp is planning to boycott the shopping area because of its new name, Merchants Quarter. Leiza Mcleod, of St Werburgh's, featured in an art installation projected on the side of Tollgate House.
But she fiercely opposes the new name, believing it has links with the slave trade.
Ms Mcleod's face was projected on to the Newfoundland Way building, as part of artist Gem Noble's I Dream A Tower project.
The 18-storey skyscraper is covered in white canvas in preparation for its demolition and it formed the backdrop for a series of artworks that were beamed on to its sides.
Ms Mcleod said: "It is exciting as an art project but I don't agree with the naming of Merchants Quarter.
"I'm surprised and disappointed that name has come up.
"Next year, events around the city will mark the abolition of the slave trade, and one of the reasons Bristol did not get City of Culture status was the belief that it had not really dealt with the issue.
"There is all sorts of help they could have got on consultation and it should have been suggested by the public.
"I am quite willing to take part in work that looks at alternative names for the development.
"Bristol should own the issue and challenge the name while the development is still in its foundation stages.
"It needs to be something lively and vibrant but at the moment I would not want to shop there."
Ms Mcleod settled in Bristol four years ago and was drawn to the city's artistic scene, but said she was surprised that the issue of slavery had not been dealt with.
She looked at the slave trade as part of her degree course, using Liverpool as a case study.
She said: "Most people I mention my concerns to know exactly what I mean when I start talking about Merchants Quarter.
"Bristol has got fantastic architecture and buildings but there will always be an undercurrent if Bristol does not deal with that. It just seems to show that no one wants to address the subject properly.
"The new shopping development needs the support of Bristol to be successful."
The project was commissioned by the Bristol Alliance, which is behind the Broadmead redevelopment.
Bristol Alliance marketing manager Rob Graham said: "In developing a new identity for the expanded Broadmead, the Bristol Alliance looked for a name that would put the city's newly regenerated commercial heart on the map. A great shopping experience will be at the heart of our new development - attractive shops and enticing products are the key to a bustling trade - and retailers are today's merchants.
"A thorough research and consultation process involved spending two months interviewing local politicians, representatives from a range of local organisations and holding a series of focus groups comprising local people.
"Once shortlisted, the Merchants Quarter name and visual identity was presented to a range of local audiences.
"These individuals and groups were unanimously supportive of the name which resulted in its selection.
"The name Merchants Quarter is intended to provide a new identity to the entire retail heart of the city where many will live, shop and work. Our overall objective is to deliver to Bristol a city centre that everyone can take pride in, and where all are welcome.
"From the outset of the development, we have sought to engage in projects and initiatives that benefit the many communities that surround the development.
"This includes our programme of public art which was launched at the end of January with two week-long installations on Tollgate House.
"A key element of the launch event was to bring together the communities which neighbour the development site.
"For one of the installations, a local artist produced a film with Year 4 pupils from schools in St Paul's and Easton, who were then invited to see their work projected on to the skyscraper.
"We believe that our investment in Bristol's city centre can directly benefit the neighbouring areas and we will continue our dialogue with community groups in order to find ways of working together."[/url]
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