AN artist who hit the headlines with a paper bridge strong enough to hold a car is getting ready to unveil his latest creation.

Steve Messam’s latest work Waterfall - a series of projections using whitewashed barns to appear as cubes of gushing water - has been inspired by the waterfalls of the River Tees and will run at the Bowlees Visitor Centre, in Teesdale, from October 14 to16 and 21 to 23.

Waterfall, which is sponsored by Northumbrian Water, is part of Durham County Council’s approach to visual arts.

Mr Messam has spent recent weeks filming each of the waterfalls of the River Tees - Cauldron Snout, High Force and Low Force - in high definition, slow motion video.

The films will then be projected onto all four sides of three whitewashed barns that cascade down the hillside to the east of Bowlees Visitor Centre, wrapping them in slow motion pulses of water.

Mr Messam, of Teesdale, said: “I will be filming each of the waterfalls in real time, but these films will be slowed down by about 20 times so that you can really see the power of the water in a way that just isn’t possible with the human eye.”

The artist will also be giving a talk at 6pm on Sunday, October 16, at Bowlees Visitor Centre.

Waterfall has been organised by Durham County Council in association with North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and is produced by kind permission of Raby Estates.

Durham County Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration and Culture, Councillor Neil Foster, said: “This is a really exciting project that brings together the history and heritage of Teesdale with the wonders of its natural environment and showcases it in a truly unique way.

"We hope that the installation will draw visitors of all ages, from far and wide who will enjoy the opportunity to experience art in a very different way.”

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