Picture taken in Oct 1990. "Stefan Gec has explored the subject of the sea and its contemporary uses throughout his career. In Trace Elements, a project begun in 1990 and still ongoing, Gec purchased metal from a group of eight decommissioned Soviet submarines being scrapped at Blyth, a small port in northern England. These submarines were part of the old Soviet fleet and had played a major part in the early days of the Cold War. He used this metal to cast eight bells which were then suspended from the High-Level Bridge over the River Tyne, in Newcastle. As the tide rose they slowly became submerged beneath the waters, mirroring their past role as submarines. The bells sounded as the flow of the tide activated their clappers, their ringing carried out to sea".

"Blyth, a small port in northern England."

We could take the huff at that description!

Amazing what happens on the Tyne. Brian and Ian could correct me on this one but I don't think there were Eight Submarines, I think there were only four. But there were other vessels from Russia.
Perhaps it should have said 'Eight Russian Warships'.

The submarines arrived on the BOABARGE 7 in 1990 and I'm reasonably certain she only made one trip with four submarines.

Amused by this, did they actually ring?
Could have been only a few rings while the tide was at right level before flooding or emptying the bell?
And damned sure the sound would not have 'carried out to sea'!
Typical modern artist gimmickry, must have had an grant from the Arty-Farty Council.
I do believe the bit about Blyth though .....

Has someone dropped a clanger here!

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls (not) ...."

Looks as though there were at least 5 submarines.

See Michael's photo at Blyth: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15303

Now up to the full eight courtesy of Dennis' photos at:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=15303&p=32854#p32854