National law firm Shoosmiths has advised pre-eminent sand artists, Sand In Your Eye, on sculpting a poignant tribute for Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle’s national event which marked 100 years since the end of the First World War.
Headed by partner Laura Harper and assisted by associate Carol Isherwood, the Shoosmiths Intellectual Property and Creative Industries team advised Sand in Your Eye on the project with 14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme to mark the World War One centenary.
The event, titled Pages of the Sea, was commissioned by 14-18 NOW to commemorate the Armistice centenary on Sunday 11 November. The organisation commissioned film maker Boyle to lead the special gesture.
The public was invited to assemble at one of 32 beaches at low-tide to take part in a series of community-led events. Sand artists from Sand In Your Eye designed 28 large scale portraits of service people from the First World War which were drawn into the sand at each location and gently washed away by the tide.
In addition, the public was invited to assemble at low-tide to watch the drawing, as well as create their own silhouettes of people in the sand, remembering the millions of lives lost or changed forever by the conflict.
Shoosmiths’ IP and Creative Industries team advised on the negotiation and drafting of contracts on behalf of Sand In Your Eyes.
Laura Harper, partner at Shoosmiths, said: “Pages of the Sea was a very special moment to honour the memories of the millions of men and women whose lives were taken or transformed forever by the First World War. We’re very proud to have worked with Sand In Your Eye to help them deliver this once in a lifetime project with 14-18 NOW.
“As we marked 100 years since the end of the First World War, these stunning portraits captivated communities on shorefronts around the UK, allowing us all to take a moment to reflect and say thank you to past generations for their sacrifices.”
Jamie Wardley of Sand in Your Eye, added: “This was a significant project that we are honored to have been involved in and the support of Laura from Shoosmiths in such a large project was considerable and allowed us to concentrate on the art piece.”