Marcus Vergette

Time and Tide Bell, Devon
by Marcus Vergette

Marcus Vergette

Marcus Vergette, musician, bell-maker, sculptor, was born on the banks of the Mississippi river in Southern Illinois. He grew up in the UK. Much of his recent work involves making large bells (up to 3 metres high) in bronze, - his Time and Tide Bells. These are hung in specific locations around the coast and rung by the action of the sea at high tide. The first was installed at Appledore, Devon, in 2009. Subsequent sites range from Trinity Buoy Wharf, on the Thames, to the Outer Hebrides. Marcus is an accomplished double bass player, active on the jazz scene, and he is a composer.

His creativity is rooted in the duality of being both sculptor and musician, spurred on by his belief in the democratisation of Art.The installation of bells often takes place to specially composed music. His performances are art ‘events’ combining music, text, visual art and theatre, as in the Marsyas Suite (Leo Records), inspired by the painting by Titian. In Tintinnabulation (nonclassical records) sounds of several bells are collaged with field recordings from the coast and fragments of vocal and instrumental improvisation.