Of all the art produced for the 2008 Folkestone Triennial, the one piece that captured Folkestone’s love / hate relationship with our local gulls, but still put a smile on many people’s face was Mark Dion’s ‘ Mobile Gull Appreciation Unit‘.

The basis for the piece was to provide facts about the much unloved birds, and offer information about the evolution, ethnology, natural history, environmental status and folklore of these remarkable animals. A handy pocket guide was also available, from the bowels of this oversized gull, offering more instruction to hopefully change the minds and opinions of the non gull lovers.

The work gathered mixed opinions from locals and visitors alike, some thinking it was stupid and a waste of money to others revelling in the concept and asking questions to the on-board experts.

But now our gull has fallen on hard times, languishing in a gated off car park by the now empty coastal watchtower, gazing towards the Burstin Hotel, the future looks bleak for our once famous artwork.

Don’t fret, we have a plan. We want the gull to take up residence in a new home, and have been scouting out locations in Folkestone, to find somewhere beautiful where she can relax and enjoy the view.

We really think this could be an excellent attraction/talking point for the town, and would put a good use to this piece of work, before possible vandalism or the tides of time take their toll.

Find below a few of our ideas for a potential new home :

How about on the top of the multi storey car park just above Asda?

Or possibly atop the Saga building just by the bus station?

The apartments above Pelosi’s could also be an excellent location.

How about above Phones4u, keeping an eye on the centre of the town?

Or my favourite, at the very top of the stairwell on top of Number One The Leas. To me, it’s the perfect location.

Do you have any other locations where our gull can reside? Please do send them in.