A GATEWAY between the old Wokingham town and the new is brighter thanks to three new pieces of art, which were unveiled last week.
Erftstadt Court is an outdoor art gallery. In 2021, a new map mural was unveiled, featuring local landmarks. Now, it has been joined by these original paintings by Calina Lefter.
Wokingham Town Council’s Elms Field and Howard Palmer Gardens Working Party identified the Erftstadt gateway as a location which could be improved through the introduction of art.
Due to scale and complexity of creating murals in these spaces, the Arts and Culture Committee decided to commission a local artist early last year to create three paintings and reproduce these as large weatherproof panels.
Calina Lefter was chosen for her use of semi-abstraction, bold use of colour and textured painterly style.
The pieces aim to highlight the connectivity between Wokingham and its twin town of Erftstadt, in Gemrany, as well as the town’s natural environment. The pieces are called Heimat, Hope and Home.
Hope use the coat of arms of Erftstadt and reimagines it as a tree filled with light, with deep roots; Home is based around a small town or village surrounded by green fields and natural features, while Heimat is the German word for home.
Ms Lefter said: “All of the artworks have names beginning with H. It was important to me to keep the titles short and straightforward to the concept, to highlight and support the images with all its emblematic meaning. If I look at the “H” shape I see two connected lands.”
The town council was pleased to see the panels unveiled, and said they have been given a special coating to protect them from sunlight and graffiti.
Cllr Sally Gurney, Chair of Art and Culture Committee at the town council, said: “Erftstadt Court is an important gateway to the town, connecting new facilities, businesses and infrastructure with the historic heart of the town.
“The new artwork celebrates our connection to the area’s namesake Erftstadt, bringing interest and light to the gateway and we hope many will stop, interpret and admire them on they way across town.”
She added: “We’ve also been working with other Town Council committees, Wokingham in Bloom and local businesses to enhance the connection of the Erftstadt gateway to the rest of the town through the introduction of Christmas lights, planters and hanging baskets. ”
The original paintings will be placed in Wokingham Library on public display.
For more details, log on to: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/public art/
