The Etched in Time arts trail was developed as part of the Experience Boston project. Working with Creative People and Places project Transported and Boston Borough Council, artists Neil Baker and Steven Hatton of Electric Egg have created eight permanent artworks which celebrate Boston’s heritage. The artworks respond to the themes of Travel, Trade and Influence.
The artworks are etched brass with a black inlay and bronzed finish. The choice of medium is inspired by the monumental brasses found in churches across the United Kingdom, particularly in areas like Lincolnshire which, because of its proximity to the coast, benefitted from the ease of importing the latten metal needed for their creation.
As with the monumental brasses, we hope that residents and visitors to Boston will take away their own version of the artwork through rubbings, thus reviving a once popular pastime and encouraging people to create their own interpretation of the artworks. The artworks were hand drawn digitally and are designed to weather with time and become an established part of the street landscape with the patina of the brass evolving.
The Etched in Time arts trail was developed as part of the Experience Boston project.
Funded by Boston Town Deal Accelerator Funding from MHCLG
Etched in Time artworks by Electric Egg
Commissioned by Transported for Boston Borough Council
Installation by Jamie Hawker of JRH Services
Get involved
Download the trail map here, or pick up a physical copy from Boston Borough Council and explore the route.
Create a brass rubbing!
The brasses on the trail are perfect for the rediscovery of the artform of brass rubbing. Simply place a sheet of paper over the artwork and gently rub using a wax crayon. The result will be an inverted image of the artwork. Try different colours and paper and experiment to create your own unique take on the artwork. Remember, paper which is too thick will be harder to work with and may not create a good result.
Learn more about each of the brasses here…
Well-bred
Pavement near the seating on the corner of Park Gate and Wide Bargate. Much of the historic prosperity of Boston can be attributed to the wool trade and the export of fleeces to Europe from the port of Boston. Boston also hosted huge sheep markets, where the bargate area of the town would be packed with sheep of various breeds. Chiefly among them was the Lincoln Longwool, whose fleece was highly regarded by textiles merchants and weavers.
