"REGENERATION BIRD" by TIM WARD

The return of the column to a prominent position in the Town after 14 years!

Tim Ward, a well-known local blacksmith/sculptor was commissioned by the Society to design and make a sculpture to top one of the Victorian cast iron station columns a popular item from the Town's heritage.

We felt that Tim Ward's style of work would be especially appropriate for Wolverton. The exhibition of photos of his work that formed part of the display, that was held in the local library to canvas local opinion about the idea of the project, received an enthusiastic response.

The Society felt that the large substantial iron railway column required a significant, robust sculpture with a definite structure to provide balance. Tim's brief was that "the design should be accessible and be one that people will enjoy - something that is figurative, something that people can relate to, understand and recognise without any need for explanation. To give a real lift to the part of the town in which it is sited and create a feeling "of pride of place". We feel that this has certainly been achieved with this artwork.

Tim also suggested that lighting the sculpture would provide another dimension and could be easily installed in the "fire-dish". "Regeneration Bird" depicts a phoenix surmounting flames, delicately poised above the fire-dish. The sculpture is made from stainless steel and then heat burnished. The dimensions are about one and a half metres across the wingspan and about a metre high.

The completed work is now installed in Wolverton Square and it is hoped that it will become not just a landmark but a symbol of regeneration for a community that has been receiving Single Regeneration Budget and Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme funding. The column and bird is intended to be a major town feature celebrating the on-going regeneration of the town and giving a symbol of a fresh start and hope for the future, whilst giving a continuity within the special heritage of the Town.

The sculpture was unveiled at an Arts & Heritage day on Sunday 4th May. A colouring competition was devised so that local children could colour in their own version of the phoenix.

We received arts funding from Milton Keynes Community Foundation to pay for the artwork and installation. Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council applied for planning permission on our behalf. We have also had an enormous amount of help from local businesses (some credited on "columns page". Holophane donated a superb lighting system to highlight the sculpture and went to enormous trouble to get the lighting systems air freighted from America in time for the installation schedule. Wolverton Company, Lafarge donated concrete and local photographers Photoworks have also got involved. Equipment loan for unveiling donated from installers Aylesbury Mains together with technical advice. Colouring competition prizes donated from Ottakers, City Centre branch.

"Night" photograph by Stuart Isaac Photoworks

 

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