ROOTS AND BRANCHES

FOUR CORNERS SCULPTURE

The sculpture uses the natural form of oak branches, carved and shaped to fit with forged, fabricated steel. The artists created four tree forms that have extended roots on the ground in steel, which can be used as seats. The inner area provides a meeting point with paths leading in and out.  The combination of hot dipped galvanised mild steel and oak wood is dramatic and stunning in the park setting.

The detail of the design and choice of finials that crown the sculpture were developed through community workshops held in Handsworth Park during 2019. The metal leaves represent the many different trees in the park reflecting the different cultures and communities who use the park. The surfacing roots rise and fall, tracing the outer edges of the globe towards the four steel trunks - the four corners of the world. The oak is strong but flexes and twists in and out weaving together. This represents the community that becomes one great family.

image 6 by Ruth Fortner - Welford School

The Artists: Graham Jones and Tim Tolkien

Graham is a wood sculptor and lived alongside Handsworth Park for 12 years and has a strong emotional connection with the park and community. He has worked widely in the region and across the country.

 Tim has worked as metal sculptor on many community and public art projects across the West Midlands since the early 1990's. He was the lead artist for the James Watt Primary School fence and designed the award winning Sentinel, the Spitfire Gateway Sculpture at Castle Vale.