Title:
All Hands
Date:
2001
Artist:
Brian Fell
Location:
Customhouse Street, Cardiff
Background:
The Canal’s importance within the history of Cardiff is under no doubt.  Built at the end of the 18th Century, the opening of the canal provided the first successful transport link between the coal mines in the South Wales Valleys and the tidal harbour of the River Taff. Norwest Holst Construction Ltd., recent winners of an Arts & Business award for sponsorship of the arts, see the installation of the final public artwork under the Bute Avenue Public Art Strategy.
Commission:
The sculpture, inspired by this almost forgotten piece of the city’s history and installed in the centre of Cardiff has two fists tightly clenching a rope, standing 10ft high and fabricated from galvanised and treated steel. The main theme informing the design of the sculpture has been its location on Customhouse Street and the corner of St. Mary’s Street, the site of the former Glamorganishire Canal and the movement of canal workers pulling their boats down the canal using ropes