Part II: Tour Hereford's Public Art Trail
A colourful, cultural walk
Look up and you'll find eight special sculptures which celebrate 170 years of creative education in the city. They draw inspiration from 17th and 18th century laws that required shops to display visual representations of their trade, crafted by artisans.
Through these commissions, Hereford College of Arts and Meadow Arts have reinvented this tradition for the modern day and brought to life previously disused signage brackets all around the city centre.
With many thanks to Herefordshire Council, Hereford College of Arts and Shooting Reels for the fantastic images, see end of article for link to downloadable trail.
9. Cloud Palette #1 by Matthew Cornford
Location: Sarah Jane's Joy of Flowers, 1 King Street
Matthew Cornford's work is inspired by his exploration of the Hereford College of Arts archive. During his research, he discovered an artist's paint palette was used on posters and prospectuses to promote the art school. The addition of a blue sky over Hereford acts as a 'trompe l'oeil', an illusion that symbolises the transformative power of art to encourage 'blue sky thinking'.
10. Diamond by Lothar Götz
Location: Chave and Jackson, 6 - 7 Broad Street
Lothar Götz reimagines a simple shop sign that responds to others on the street but advertises only itself. Broad Street has a rich history as the site of local festivities and significant events. The pattern harks back to a folk art tradition of costumes and flags, celebrations and parades, in a bold and contemporary way.
11. The Sturgeon and the Artist by Nicholas Stevenson
Location: Grape Tree, 1 High Town
Nicholas Stevenson's work is inspired by the giant sturgeon held in the Hereford Museum collection, captured in 1846. Stevenson reimagines this local story, likening the creative process to catching a wild animal, perpetually evading capture.
12. Unleashed by Laura White
Location: Printer and Tailor, 35 Widemarsh Street
Laura White likes to investigate the world of materials, pushing and playing with whatever material she encounters. In this sculpture, White has explored what wrought iron may do if it were free to go its own way. Flowing out from the hanging bracket and fixings, the formal design begins to unravel, taking on a journey of its own.
13. Bangin' the Drum by Mark Houghton
Location: Faith's/Neal's Yard, 22 Widemarsh Street
Mark Houghton's work is inspired by The Pretenders' drummer Martin Chambers. The sculpture resembles Chambers' icOnic drum kit, honours the band's Hereford roots and aims to boost the local music scene as well as promote education in the arts. Crafted by DW Drum Workshop and Mark Houghton.
14. Wonders by Celia Johnson & Wigmore High School
Location: Trinity Square
Working with Year 10 pupils from Wigmore High School, artist Celia Johnson was inspired by David Garrick's famous quote "Wonders will never cease". Born in Hereford in 1917, Garrick was an influential English actor and playwright, commemorated with a blue plaque on Maylord Street. Referencing the word 'wonders' this text-based sign embodies ideas of creativity, art and education.
15. Plough by Daniel Moss
Location: 34 Church Street
Daniel Moss' sculpture celebrates Herefordshire's agricultural heritage. The design references the parts of a plough and reimagines them in a new, sculptural way. It almost looks like the skeleton of a living thing or the metaphorical 'body' of a community. The plough is the backbone of Herefordshire - a testament to its hardworking communities and agricultural history.
16. HR_101 by Rich Makin
Location: No.28 Fabrics & Interiors, 28 Church Street
Rich Makin's work merges Hereford's creative education, wartime manufacturing and contemporary engineering. Drawing inspiration from the Skylon, fabricated in Hereford by Painter Brothers for the Festival of Britain in 1951, the artwork pays homage to the city's rich industrial heritage.
Stunning Street Art: Part I of the Public Art Trail
Stroll Hereford's streets, passageways and underpasses to find amazing art from local and international artists. Uncover the city's cultural story, from heritage to nature as you spend an hour walking the trail.
