Shinfield Parish Council (SPC) will announce the winner of its public art commission in just a few months time.
A recent exhibition of local artistic talent offered by the council was also an opportunity for residents to see for the first time the work of three artists, one of whose sculpture designs will be installed in Shinfield’s new village centre.
It is a very exciting time for the council.
Its project to install a new piece of community art in Shinfield was launched last August, after it was approached by Wokingham Borough Council to consider managing a piece of public art for a new plaza to be built next to the School Green Centre.
The parish council consulted residents about what they would want to see in a piece of public art, and with support from community arts organisation and project consultant Arts4Wokingham, it has been refining its plans for a commissioned artwork for the village centre.
Artists from all over the UK were invited to submit designs for the public artwork, and three have been selected as finalists.
Paddy Haycocks from Arts4Wokingham said: “Shinfield is no ordinary parish.
“Not only has it been distinguished by one of the biggest film studio complexes in the country, but the British Museum and The Natural History Museum are among those who have also decided that Shinfield is the place to be.
“It’s not surprising, then, that Shinfield Parish Council wants to mark the identity and cultural significance of the area by commissioning a unique work of public art to be sited outside its community centre.
“Invitations have already gone out to artists and the selection of a winner is currently hotting up.”
The parish council intends the artwork to be a focal point for the local community, and wants it to be distinctive, inspirational and thought-provoking.
Cllr Bruce Winton, Chief Executive and Clerk to Shinfield Parish Council said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from Arts4Wokingham which has helped us arrive at the current position of a short-list of three artists.”
The three finalists are: Amy Jackson, Nicolas Moreton, and Tony Stallard.
Amy Jackson’s installations have been seen in Sloane Square, Kensington and Blackpool.
Nicolas Moreton has exhibited his work at the Royal Academy, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and the chapel of New College, Oxford.
And Tony Stallard works with mixed media and light to create urban sculpture trails and sculptural commissions.
“All the proposals we received would be great additions to the infrastructure of the parish,” said Mr Winton.
“But we have been so taken by these three finalists, that we have asked each of them to develop their initial proposal and to also come forward with a further two proposals.”
It is expected that nine proposals in total will be considered by a wider panel of judges.
“We displayed the shortlisted proposals at our recent art exhibition to give people an opportunity to view and express their preferences on the existing three proposals,” said Mr Winton.
“We want to make sure we are on the same wavelength as our residents, and to hear their views, because this is a sculpture for them.
“They will also have an opportunity to participate in workshops with the final chosen artist, to further refine and put a Shinfield stamp on the overall project.
To make the panel as representative of the whole community as possible, the parish council hopes that Oakbank Secondary School students and residents of Shinfield View care home will take part in overseeing the final selection.
The panel is expected to make its choice in April.
For information, visit: shinfieldparish.gov.uk
