The Commonwealth - Here and Now
HERE & NOW
Here and Now
A fairground waltzer car was the inspiration behind the bench. An interactive piece of art work for all to enjoy.
The artwork was commissioned to mark the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. Handsworth Creative wanted something that was bright and visual; reflected the joy and pleasure people have in the park; was truly interactive; and would inspire and delight children of all ages.
A fairground waltzer car was the inspiration behind the bench, which is made from galvanised steel and highly durable, bright plastic wood-effect slats. The bench has a playful and welcoming feel, large enough for family groups and friends to sit and admire the view of the recently restored lake.
The bench is surrounded by stylised two-dimensional figures that were created following interactive workshops with children from Welford Primary School and the local community. The figures illustrate the links to Commonwealth countries many local communities have.
The faces were cast from clay models of local artists who work with Handsworth Creative: Eleanor, Hunt, Jan, Ola, Pauline and Surjit, along with four people well known in Handsworth: Father Bob Stephen, Kash ‘the Flash’ Gill, Lee Southall, and Xhosa Cole. The ‘peep holes’ enable you to be part of this group and share their enjoyment of being part of the Handsworth community.
The Artist: Tim Tolkien
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. Tim also worked with Graham Jones to create the Roots and Branches sculpture that can be seen nearby in Handsworth Park.
