JUMP 2 DE-Light Exhibition   A Flea, (plague flea Xenopsylla Cheopis), cartoon characters, Superman, the flying super hero and Calimero a little black chick whose catch slogan cries out “it’s an injustice, it is!”, an Albatross and a Phoenix are all protaginists in the exhibition entitled JUMP 2 DE-Light by artist Shaeron Averbuch, set within the first floor and lamp area of The Lighthouse at Granton. An unbelievable cast for a deadly serious comment on life today.   A series of ideas and social commentaries are threaded together in this exhibition. Broadly speaking there are three main themes; Birds, Contemporary Culture and issues relating to Planning. The Flea logo and JUMP (Joined Up Master Planning) concept were initiated by Shaeron Averbuch in December 2007. JUMP are all for development but wish to see the best possible outcomes for the city and individual places. JUMP became, and still grows as, an open group of people who share concerns about their urban environment. In particular, JUMP, a constituted group since December 2008, make comment on and are proactive on issues relating to planning, regeneration and the missed opportunity of the Edinburgh Waterfront – as well as city wide - in relation to overall design, quality and effective input of contemporary culture. The resulting development that has so rapidly emerged along the Edinburgh waterfront during the economic boom now lies predominantly as overpriced, unsold and part built, effectively the destruction of the very places local people previously enjoyed for their intrinisic qualities of sea views, shore, nature, history and range of waterfront activities. To date, the only evident effect of whole Edinburgh Waterfront regeneration has been the mass destruction of place as oppossed to the making of it. All the more reason to pose the question. Now, what can the future possibly hold in terms of delivering socially affordable housing, over all quality in the creation of better environments achieved through stronger design input, seamless infrastructure, public space and placemaking?   CAN WE RESCUE THE WATERFRONT ?   Planning issues, landownership, governance and the general mountain of bureaucracy tend to force the need for endless debilitating legislation, rules, and guidelines. Common sense and the need for creative individuality have become increasing squeezed out in the need for compliance. Perhaps in the current economic downturn the time is finally right for thinking out of the box, pushing the boundaries or simply making effective decisions in relation to changed circumstances, need and demand.   IS THE CURRENT DOWN TURN THE TIME FOR CHANGE ?   Planning procedures are out dated and over complex, chocking the system with a “marathon” amount of costly, ineffective and totally debilitating Red Tape. The process forces compliance, box ticking and pigeon holing, all ultimately influenced and decided by monetary deals. By contrast, one installation in the JUMP 2 DE-Light exhibtion proposes a Cultural Marathon, executed in Yellow Tape, depicting a marathon length of the Edinburgh coastline, 26 miles and 385 yards, a Cultural Marathon of events to reignite the Edinburgh Waterfront regeneration programme. The Lighthouse, Granton being the cultural hub referred to as  – 0 – Centre Point, then West – 13 miles and 194 yards to Blackness Castle and East – 13 miles 191 yards to Cockenzie Power Station. If to be successfully reignited a second time round, the Edinburgh Waterfront regeneration must deliver an urban design programme where design and culture are intrinsic to progess and where the outcomes  sensitively address a legacy of contemporary culture in terms of event, place making and city building to deliver for Edinburgh and the region the heritage of the future.  The ripple effect of each project, whether major or minor, transitory or permanent should touch the hearts and minds of people who encounter them helping to negate souless environments, bureaucratic compliance and short term profiteering by landowners and developers under the auspice of job creation for construction workers. A Sea Change is required within the The City of Edinburgh and related organisations to meet the desperate and dismal Development and Environment that has recently been delivered. Wall.htmlWall.htmlj2d_2.html