‘Doughnut’ Introducing My Latest Commission
Introducing my latest commission ‘Doughnut’, the second of series of artworks commissioned by Legacy West Midlands, as part of their arts trail ‘Roundhouse to Chance Glassworks’. It’s always exciting to begin a new project within a new community environment. I know I will meet and work with new people and learn so much from the experience, as well as share the skills I have. This project is no exception! It was great though, to see some familiar faces, as result of previous projects. Participants from the Roundhouse lockdown project ‘Community Routes’ and the Midland Sailing Club project ‘ If You Can Sail Here You Can Sail Anywhere’ joined in the sessions alongside new participants, it was wonderful to see that they had continued to create collages independently following their participation in the ‘Collage Kits’ sent out them during the lockdown.
We began the design aspect of the project using collage as a medium and I was assisted by Rere Demerae, a young artist, who I mentored as part of the project. We talked around the theme of ‘Doughnut Economics’, an economic and practical theory conceived by economist and author Kate Raworth and activated by the work Civic Square undertake within the Ladywood area of Birmingham. Participants expressed the importance of self and community empowerment, how we can actively contribute to our own and each others wellbeing, working individually and together to make a difference to our environment both locally and connect with others globally. In my previous blog post, I shared some of the fantastic designs as a result of these engagements.
It seemed obvious then, the structure of this artwork should form a doughnut shape and reflect some of the positive affirmations expressed and questions raised during these design sessions. Our thinking was that this doughnut could be used as a learning tool onsite at Port Loop in years to come. Following the design sessions, I used digital media to capture the handmade collages and created files to enable the bespoke water jet cut porcelain tiles to be produced. We invited participation again to produce the handmade mosaic element of the artwork, which we created as part of Civic Square’s regular ‘Supper Club’ meet ups at the Midland Sailing Club. It was well attended and we worked together to complete this part of the artwork. Once the tiles were water jet cut in Coventry, they were sent to Stoke on Trent for print and firing and once the handmade mosaic sections were complete, I assembled all parts together at STEAMhouse, in their wonderful production space. Once the resin used to fix all sections cured, the artwork was collected by MJM Bespoke to install onsite. Adding a further and cutting edge dimension to the commission, I worked with artist, designer and educator, Luke Reynolds, to create an interactive augmented reality experience for the viewer, by pointing your phone or tablet at the artwork you can see it come to life and hear Kate Raworth speak – Find the QR code within the artwork and it will take you to the Doughnut Economics workbook, to find out more and see how you may become involved yourself. We’re now looking forward to the official opening of the commission at Port Loop on 13th February 2023, please do come along, all welcome!
