About The Project

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I have over 25 years of experience working in this field producing high quality, innovative, robust artworks that have stood the test of time. I understand and embrace the involvement of community groups and individuals in the development of creative ideas and the design processes of artworks to produce pieces that are sympathetic to their environments while giving the audience, participants and the local community a real sense of ownership.

Monday 31 December 2012

Initial phase: A Creative Concept Emerges



At the initial meeting between myself and Graham Honeyman it was clear that a there was a fixed visual concept that he was looking for: A sculpture of a Scorpion, made out of robust re-claimed materials and around the size of a Double Decker bus and in the style of the Pan Figure that Forgemasters had previously commissioned (see image).



"Pan"
The location is planned to be at Gate 2 on Brightside Lane looking out towards the road and in full view of the passing public.

However there were concerns: By parachuting a large piece of artwork into position there would be little real connection to the company and its employees and so having considered the brief and the projects potential we decided to give it a very different slant.

 Sheffield Forgemasters International is a large company with many employees and a significant number of apprentices. It has loads of workshop space and equipment for the production of major fabrications.  We should embrace these resources and incorporate them into the project.  Furthermore it would be fantastic learning opportunity for the apprentices to be fully engaged with every element of the project. So, in short the sculpture will have a holistic approach to the company, we will:
  •  Use reclaimed materials from the site
  • Use apprentices to develop, create and install the sculpture
  • Produce the sculpture “in-house”
  • Pull together a management team to oversee the project
    This will enable Sheffield Forgemasters International to have full ownership and real connection to this long lasting legacy
Onto the drawing board....