Wednesfield Art

the-project

The Project

Find out more about the project, and how the art trail came to be…

The Background

Local community group Hands on Wednesfield (formerly Wednesfield & Fallings Park Local Neighbourhood Partnership) were approached by Wolverhampton City Council in 2012 to oversee the spend of £35K of section 106 public realm money that had been earmarked for public art near Bentley Bridge Retail Park.

After appointing project manager Sophie Heath from Bilston Craft Gallery, Hands On Wednesfield worked to commission artists Planet Art, helped with consultation and decision making and saw the project through to it’s completion – over a period of 3 years.

The Consultation

Over 1,000 people from Wednesfield were involved in the consultation between December 2012 and Summer 2013.

Following a consultation event which took place on a market stall at the 2012 Wednesfield Christmas lights event, Planet Art went on to deliver a number of workshops with local schools, as well as community & faith groups, including the Scouts.

An exhibition of drawings was held at Wednesfield Library to encourage further public feedback on the plans for the artwork.

The Artwork

The pieces were created by artists Ron Thompson & Julie Ward aka Planet Art, who are based in nearby Walsall Wood.

The overarching theme from all of the consultation, when people were asked what they associated with Wednesfield and what the sculptures should represent wasn’t the heritage (the Battle of Wodensfield) or the area’s industrial past (trap making and heavy industry), but the people.

The majority of those consulted associated the people in their lives as being the thing that reminded them of Wednesfield, so the artists responded to this by creating sculptures featuring people in typical local scenes.

the-art

The Art

Five pieces of stunning art, made from Cast Iron, Steel and Granite.

The 4 pieces featuring everyday scenes in Wednesfield are made from Cast Iron and secured to granite plinths – these were cast at a small family-run foundry in Willenhall.

The 5th piece – the wayfinder is made from marine-grade steel and features hand-made signs pointing to local landmarks.

The Reader

An elderly man reading to a young child outside the Library.

This man in this piece is based on working group member Roy Campbell.

The Bus Stop

A typically diverse group of people waiting for the bus.

Located on the path between Wednesfield Library & the Pyle Cock / Rookery St.

The Shoppers

Family & friends enjoying each other’s company whilst shopping.

Located on the path between the Rookery St bus stop & the path to Sainsburys.

The Market Stall

Wednesfield tradition – a mother and her child visit a market stall.

Located on the grass verge outside the Gurdwara, on the corner of Well Lane & Alfred Squire Rd, near to where Wednesfield Market once stood.

The Wayfinder

A steel lamp post-style piece, it’s ornate arms decorated with characters point to local landmarks such as the Village and the nearby canal.

Located near to The Reader.

wednesfield-public-art-map

Wednesfield Public Art Map

An ever growing map to highlight public art, in and around Wednesfield.

Go to the Map

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The People

Over 1,000 people were involved during the project which was managed by a small number of volunteers…

The following organisations were involved in the project:

City of Wolverhampton Council, AXA Bentley Bridge, Hands On Wednesfield, Planet Art, Bilston Craft Gallery, Wednesfield Library, Wednesfield High School, Coppice Performing Arts School, Primary Schools, Scout Groups, Faith groups, The Pyle Cock Inn, The Dog & Partridge, Purbright Castings, Sainsburys Wednesfield and many more!

Individuals we would like to thank include:

Ron Thompson & Julie Edwards, all the members of Hands On Wednesfield and the project working group, Sophie Heath, Simon Lucas, Jo Onions, Simon Hamilton, Sue Lindup, Richard Franks, Peter Jackson, local Councillors, the people of Wednesfield and anyone else we’ve forgotten!

the-artists

The Artists

Planet Art is an arts partnership based in the Midlands.

Julie Edwards & Ron Thompson have been working together for the past 20 years. They specialise in the consultation, design/making, installation of public art works for a variety of clients.

All the Public Art pieces involve community engagement, research, design workshops and consultation. Many of the projects form part of a larger re-generation master plan.

Consideration for surrounding Architecture, landscape is always paramount. Working with the community from the outset, forms an important link, which enables the Art to be understood, respected and relevant. It restores a sense of pride and place.

Find out more at planetartsculpture.co.uk

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