Market Square Colonnade, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton was
given City status as part of the
Millennium, and to celebrate this event Wolverhampton Partners in
Progress wished to commission a public art piece that involved
community members in it’s creation. Funding for the commission was
provided in part by the Single Regeneration Budget.As a local glass artist with a growing international reputation, Jaqueline, was chosen to create the art work, now permanently installed within a new colonnade constructed as part of the City’s Market Square regeneration. From the outset, both Jaqueline and the commissioning body shared the vision of community involvement in the design and making of the piece. Graham Evans, the chairman of Wolverhampton Partners in Progress, said: “This is a very exciting and important work of art for Wolverhampton. It is essential that the community be involved in it’s design”.
For almost a year, Jaqueline carried out various community workshops to create a quarter of the 250 panels required. Groups as diverse as local schools and a day centre for people with visual impairment took part in the project. Participants made clay moulds from which Jaqueline created individual and colourful cast glass panels (examples above). Most of the panels measure approximately 30cm x 40cm and, when installed, create a jewel like effect around the fenestration of the colonnade.
The community panels depict aspects of Wolverhampton life, both past and present, that were important to the participants. These include participating school emblems, symbols of ethnic diversity and religious organisations, as well as imagery from everyday City life. Jaqueline also created her own designs inspired by local architecture, and showed the City’s previous and current motto on each of the colonnade clock towers. The panels were made using a variety of glass techniques that include casting, fusing, laminating and sandblasted designs.
Installation of the art work was completed in December 2003.
