PUBLIC ART IN SHEFFIELD
Paula
Haughney
'The Gift', 1995
The Crucible
stone
Currently not on display
Crucible Theatre. Opposite Chapel Walk. The work was designed for the entrance to Chapel Walk, it would have been on the side of a church wall next door to a shoe shop. Unfortunately the church subsequently decided that the finished piece was not suitable for a number of reasons and The Crucible Theatre, which is immediately opposite the original site, agreed to take the work. (A-Z p5 3F)
[Update 2001]
The sculpture has now had to be removed from the Crucible because of a technical
problem with one of the services to the theatre, which was unfortunately
located in the wall immediately behind the sculpture. . Understandably The
Crucible are not keen to reinstall 'The Gift' as it could cause further
difficulties if the technical problem happened again. A new site is being
sought for it; we'll keep you posted.
[Update 2005] Still no sign that this
piece will be re-erected; surely the City can find a site to display work
of this quality.
Description:
The relief shows an angel
descending through clouds bearing a shoe, she is surrounded by other shoes.
The shoe held by the angel is modelled on the artist’s own wedding
shoe.
Commission:
One of the pieces made
during the Stone City Symposium , (19th June and 16th July 1995). The plaque
by the piece records: 'Sponsored by Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Sheffield
City Council, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Development Corporation.
With Thanks to Sheffield Theatres & Chapel Walk Traders'
Comment:
The working title was ‘The
Angel and the Shoe’.
Artist’s Statement:
(from the publicity leaflet
for Stone City) "My sculpture often depicts figurative subjects; simple
large rounded childlike and naive, with benign faces. I hope they relate
to the viewer in a spiritual almost unconscious way. Expressive and emotional,
sometimes with a sense of humour. Not contemporary in a modern sculptural
way but dealing with timeless issues and feelings."
