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Public Art coming to Amblehurst Green
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ince the start of the project in 2018 (see Village Tweet April, June and August 2018 – you can read them online via VT’s website) , the public art has like many things been overtaken by events, not least by COVID-19. In the early stages of the project the artist Helena Roden concluded workshops with local schools and pop-up art workshops as part of the Billingshurst Show and Billifest. The resulting designs were approved by stakeholders and the planners. Since that point, the development has slowly taken shape under COVID working practices. During the process there were large soil heaps stored onsite which made it difficult to visualise where the sculptures would be best placed. As the development has taken shape this has been resolved, and the foundations for the sculptures were finally installed in February this year. They will be placed to give an element of surprise and interest when viewed through the hedgerows or across the vale. The pieces reflect the previous uses of the land; this included hay and grazing, and the contrast between the neatly mown lawns and the wild meadow grasses. Three forms: a hay bale, a traditional stook, and small houses. Each piece has a neat and tidy side with the grass forms breaking out through the shape to give the contrast between ‘wild’ and controlled elements. Due to all the uncertainty, Helena and her colleague Gideon Peterson have been working on other projects, but are now focussing on the works for the Amblehurst Green development. Public art in new developments is included to create places with character that belong to a
specific location. Often these elements are the most unique part of the site, the most handmade and reflect the character of the place. Helena is an experienced public artist who believes that community engagement is an essential ingredient in the process; she has extensive experience in running creative workshops and consulting with groups of people. She also works as an art outreach tutor for an adult education centre in London in collaboration with the British Museum. The ideas for the works being created relate closely to the conversations and workshop contributions held earlier in the project. The indigenous grasses are one of the most noticeable elements in the public open space within the development, and they are one of our most overlooked but essential plants as they are closely related to wheat. Painted metalwork is the material Helena most often uses for exterior situations as it is durable and low maintenance, but the main reason is that a painted finish brings colour and atmosphere into the sculpture and its environment. Gideon is a highly talented and experienced blacksmith; working on the pieces requires both physical strength and an artist’s eye. Despite Helena living in London and Gideon living in Wales the two of them have successfully collaborated over the past 15 years on a variety of projects ranging from giant flowers to school gates. Alison Turnbull, Alison Turnbull Associates, Public Art Commissioning Top: Helena Roden and Gideon Peterson Bottom: Bronze sculpted panel uses wheat as its inspiration
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