AN ARTIST who has designed work for movie director Steven Spielberg and worked across the globe has been chosen to create a stunning new sculpture for Wokingham.
Nicola Anthony’s Arc will be installed outside the new Carnival Hub in the town centre, a gateway landmark for the borough.
And as part of Ms Anthony’s brief from local charity Arts4Wokingham, the work will be devised following community input from residents across all 17 towns and parishes in the borough.
More than 60 distinguished and internationally acclaimed artists express an interest in this commission. The charity whittled that down to a shortlist of five, each of whom gave a presentation to a judging panel which included Wokingham Today editor Phil Creighton.
A key part of the process sought to establish how the artists would develop their ideas and secure as much involvement from the local community as possible.
The award-winning Ms Anthony was chosen following her vision for a special metal sculpture. Each of the arches that comprise the work will have words and phrases relating to Wokingham borough cut into them.
Some of the more accessible text will be in braille as Ms Anthony is keen that her work should be as inclusive as possible.
The arches will combine to offer a pathway into and out of the building.
This follows on from a recent commission in the United States, initiated by Spielberg. who unveiled the finished work.
Ms Anthony said she is relishing the challenge ahead.
“I’m thrilled that I’ve been selected to create this major new landmark work of art for Wokingham,” she said.
“I can’t wait to embrace the local community and secure their input into helping me shape my initial ideas into something that is both relevant and meaningful to all those who live in the borough.”
Arts4Wokingham said it is very much looking forward to working with Nicola as she progresses and refines her design in the coming months.
The cost of the sculpture will be raised through donations.
For more details, log on to https://arts4wokingham.com/
For an interview with Nicola Anthony, see this week’s print edition of Wokingham Today, on sale from all good newsagents, petrol stations and supermarkets across Wokingham borough
