Parklets

During lockdown Window Artists were commissioned by Colmore Bid, Birmingham to design and paint two long pieces consisting of four boards each to go on the newly erected parklets which allow for outdoor seating in place of car parking spots. The locations of each point were our starting points, one by the Cathedral square on Colmore Row and one on Church Street.

The Colmore design is placed facing St Philips Square, locally known as pigeon park. Incorporating our colour palette of choice (red, blue, yellow and white) we wanted it to be vibrant and visible from across the square. It’s a bustling location with bus stops, shops and bars lining the area and we wanted to represent this energy using stylised motifs and architectural forms relating to the immediate area.

The second is placed outside Hotel du Vin, which used to be Birminghams eye hospital, the Church Street artwork plays with the history of the location. Close to the art school which is known for its terracotta Arts & Crafts frontage and also the Museum which houses an impressive Art Nouveau collection, these elements we aimed to be represent within the work, adopting a tangled depiction of care and attentiveness reflective of the hospital and nature.