PENNYWELL ALL CARE CENTRE
This interactive glass artwork was created for a public art commission for Pennywell All Care Centre, built by NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council, through the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership. The new health centre is in Muirhouse, North Edinburgh – an area going through intensive regeneration.
‘I wanted to work with glass for this commission to create an artwork that explored a material that is both fragile and robust at the same time, qualities that could be seen as similar to our own humanness. Each piece is unique, all the makers choosing their own colours, shapes and blowing their own glass. These differences come together to create a beautiful collection of colour and light. Key to the artwork is that it responds to people’s presence, the lights give back some energy to the people and to the space.’
The glass in this permanent installation was hand blown with people from the local community and NHS staff who work in the new building. Each of the 52 pieces is unique in its colour and/or shape as chosen by its maker, personally blown and formed in workshops in the glass department of Edinburgh College Art. Supported by glass maker Ingrid Phillips, these workshops were incredibly exciting and creative. When all these highly individual pieces come together they form this ‘community’ of remarkable glass lights. Glass makers have engraved their signatures on their pieces, underlining the artwork’s sense of local identity.
The artwork is interactive, responding to service users and NHS staff movements below. Light animations are triggered and play out within the lights, colours ‘chasing’ around the lights, waves of warm glows and more. Waves of rich colours and reflections impact the new health centre’s entrance space. Designer-maker, Mark Kobine designed the beautiful gantry which supports the glass as well as coding the interactive element using Arduino.
In October 2019 this project won the Award for Best Collaborative Arts Project (Static) in the Patient Environment Class from
Building Better Healthcare Buildings, along with Hans Clausen’s work, also sited in PACC’s Atrium.
There are several talented artist and designers that supported my commission, and I appreciate their existence! Collaborator on this project is awesome designer-maker Mark Kobine, who also worked with me on the Roost Project last year. Glass making supported by the also awesome, Ingrid Phillips at Edinburgh College of Art. Grinding was done by fab Meg McGregor and super Vicky Higginson. Structural Consultation was from ace David Narro Associates.
This public art commission was hosted by the fantastic North Edinburgh Arts and funded by:
– Making The Glass –
