Lea Hall Miners
Welfare Centre and Social Club, Rugeley, Staffordshire UK
Jaqueline
was
appointed one of six artist residencies intended to
show how
working in new environments can support artists in creating inspiring
work. The finished artworks were then shown as
part of
the Making Moves touring exhibition of contemprary
craft at
different venues across Staffordshire.
as
part of the Making Moves exhibition of
contemporary craft,
touring community venues across Staffordshire. The
residencies
were
As part of their redevelopment plans, Jaqueline was asked to make a
piece of public art for the Lea Hall Social Club. The Club was
built in 1960 and has been a place where Lea Hall Colliery miners and
their families could meet and socialise. Since the Colliery closed, the
venue has worked hard to remain an important focus for the whole
community. Jaqueline was asked to design a welcoming, contemporary
piece that might challenge the traditional club members. Lea Hall's Art
Club members were encouraged to experiment with kiln forming
techniques, creating small glass panels that influenced the design of
the finished artwork.
Jaqueline used high coloured glass panels to create a 'painterly'
process of fusing layers of glass powders and grains. The colour
palette moves from hot reds, yellows and oranges that represent the sun
setting on the mining industry and the closure of Lea Hall Colliery, to
cooler colours such as blues and purples signifying the community
looking toward the future and the dawn of a new day.
The glass forms a backdrop to the dramatic depiction of a miner, a deer
and the cooling towers of the nearby power station. These refer to the
local history, natural beauty and industry of Cannock Chase. The black
powder coated, laser cut steel are symbolic of coal.
The finished artwork is a combination of traditional craft techniques,
hand decorated glass and modern, high tech, laser cut metal processes.
These techniques reflect the community's respect for it's history and
the forward looking direction of Lea Hall.
