Sir Wiliam Stanier Community School

Part of my original proposal for artwork for the new school was to create banners, which were to be positioned on either side of the main driveway into the school. The rationale was that the shapes of the external bris soleil would be echoed by the banners, and also in the subsequent banner-like designs for the library glazing.

During February 2008, I conducted two two-day workshops with Year 8 pupils at the school. We decided to base the workshops around making collages, which could then be developed into designs for the intended banners. The pupils were first encouraged to produce free and energetic paintings to express their own natural exuberance. Afterwards, they worked in groups, and used the paintings as collage papers, to create large-scale designs for banners.

The external banners were never realized, but sections of the designs generated during the workshops have been used directly in the external Library windows.

The colour scheme for the external bris soleil echoes the school colours, and was designed to be a welcoming feature to the entrance of the new school.

The designs for these colourful windows were derived and adapted from the painted collages made by Year 8 pupils during the February workshops.

For internal windows in the Library and IT suite, I created a frieze of active figurative silhouettes in a variety of poses. Contained within the silhouettes are inspirational texts, which were proposed by the different departments of the school.

Commissioner: Children’s Services Department, Cheshire County Council

Public Art Consultant: Cathy Newbury

Address: Coronation Street, Crewe

Architects: Aedas, Leeds