Asked to explore wayfaring ideas and artistic interventions for Coventry which is the City of Culture 2021. Working in collaboration with Creative Giants, ideas were proposed for a city-wide scheme that sought to install a series of experiential, cultural, narrative and artistic interventions that speak of Coventry history, heritage and culture along with contemporary expressions from Coventry communities to create an exploratory and engaging series of artworks.
Explorations
Making bold large sculptural supergraphic letters spelling ‘COV’ along with an invitation/vision word that includes the letters ‘C-O-V’. These are two-word poems, known as kennings, would be part sculpture, part seating and part narrative with the monolithic giant letters decorated with artworks, historical and community narratives. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
The City of Coventry was walled around the 14th Century. The wall was constructed of red sandstone and included 32 towers and 12 Gateway Houses. With its walls, Coventry was described as being the best-defended city in England outside of London. Only two of the medieval gates survive – Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate around Lady Herbert’s Garden, along with some small sections of walling. The idea to install a scaled-down version of the 12 Gateways and the wall at one location to create a sculptural, informative and expressive artwork that people could move between and engage with – to include local artist works and histories. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
To create a Coventry timeline along the length of Spon Street – to ‘walk the history of Coventry’ by creating an engaging and interactive experience as one becomes part of the timeline. Dates with historical descriptions along with opportunities to include illustrations and artworks.Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
'Lady Godiva's Walk': according to a local Coventry historian the line between Broadgate and along The Burges and back was the route that Lady Godiva took. This installation proposed the idea to celebrate the strong women of Coventry incl. Mo Mowlam, Pru Poretta, Pearl Hyde, Alice Arnold, St. Osburg, Alice Ellen Terry, Lady Herbert and others. A single embedded intervention line that runs the length of the route with information, illustrations, and moments of community contributions would celebrate the women
of Coventry with a contemporary and important narrative for the public realm. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
of Coventry with a contemporary and important narrative for the public realm. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
Narrative ‘breadcrumb’ interventions – embedded into or onto the ground surface – would express and inform Coventry heritage, interesting place facts, along with possibilities for community creative writings – poetry and colloquial expressions of Coventry, along with illustrative artworks. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
Where the Coventry Cross will be relocated; an idea to place on the ground around the Coventry Cross a circular ring and
a cross to indicate the four cardinal directions along with a description of how Coventry is the most twinned City in
the UK. Each twinned place is also shown by indicating the global direction and distance. Coventry Cross throughout its history was the place in which people came to meet, for market and also as an attraction. People came from all over (from the four directions) and this contemporary design suggests how much farther we can make connections with people and places from around the world –
a global village. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
a cross to indicate the four cardinal directions along with a description of how Coventry is the most twinned City in
the UK. Each twinned place is also shown by indicating the global direction and distance. Coventry Cross throughout its history was the place in which people came to meet, for market and also as an attraction. People came from all over (from the four directions) and this contemporary design suggests how much farther we can make connections with people and places from around the world –
a global village. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
‘The Forgotten Man’ refers to John Kemp Starley who was the inventor of two-wheeled cycle as we recognise it today. He was responsible for making the first ‘Penny Farthing’ along with tricycles and in 1888 he designed a bicycle that became the blueprint for all modern-day cycles which he called ‘The Rover Safety Cycle’ as a rider could place both feet firmly on the ground. Following his invention other manufacturers began to make their own versions based in John Kemp Starley’s original design. Groundwork designs that tell the John Kemp Starley story which are located in places where cycle paths are present. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
The River Sherbourne runs through and across Coventry – from east around the Skydome to west Gosford Gate and bowing north around Palmer Lane. Largely underground except making an appearance around Palmer Lane, the idea to indicate the location of the river where possible by installing markers and interventions on the ground surface – revealing the location on where the
river runs below the ground. Either a simple marker – an artistic design – or a poem celebrating the river where the reader has to follow the rivers course, a trail, across the city to read the poem in its entirety. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
river runs below the ground. Either a simple marker – an artistic design – or a poem celebrating the river where the reader has to follow the rivers course, a trail, across the city to read the poem in its entirety. Visuals are designed to express the idea and intention and for the purposes of visualisation include library art and precedent images to give a sense of direction.
A lighting strategy was developed for the route from Greyfriars Green – Warwick Road end – through the park and along Warwick Row to Bull Yard. Asked to review the scheme and develop colour lighting palettes I proposed options that ranged from a single year-round colour palette, to an option that allowed for colour changes and is more flexible. Rather than a linear vignette of single colour to single colour, the proposal that the colours could be more ‘random’ so that colours have a flowing relationship. The scheme in which lighting could be changed in the more 'random' format was adopted.
A palette of colours that reflect and enhance the green landscape with greens and blues with ‘splashes’ of warm highlight colour –
orange – to attract attention as wayfaring direction and to also highlight places for more safety awareness, such as the crossings. Green
lighting along Warwick Row would enhance the green spaces.
orange – to attract attention as wayfaring direction and to also highlight places for more safety awareness, such as the crossings. Green
lighting along Warwick Row would enhance the green spaces.
A range of colour schemes – whether to reflect the time of year – seasons – or moments of celebration, festival, holidays, events or even random. Themes include: Spring (seen here), Summer, Autumn, Winter, City of Culture 2021, Christmas, New Year, Festivals, Pride.
Christmas, Pride, City of Culture 2021