Emergence, Loki Symes

Making Connections, Kate Lavender

Have a Humbug. Go on, Take Two!, Nanette Madan

Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Zoe Forster

Connections

Four artworks for Workington Railway Station

Displayed above the ticketing window

Four micro-commissions were funded by Workington Town Council, enabling four further artists shortlisted during the selection process to develop work in response to the theme of Connections.

Responding to the brief with a modest budget and a short timescale, these projects enabled the artists to start exploring Workington, finding inspiration in the town’s natural environment, heritage, transport links, and conversations with the community.

Northern Rail and Cumbria Community Rail have generously supported and arranged the installation of the work.

“Micro-commissions are important - they allow artists a bit of experimentation.”
— Zoe Forster

  • Emergence expresses how the buildings, people and places in and around the area all come together to connect and build the atmosphere of Workington as a whole.

    The town is unassuming, but has influenced the rest of the world in significant ways, primarily through industry and transport, as a large percentage of the railway tracks around the world originated here, as well as the UK’s first ever bus stop; not to mention that an NHS-style public healthcare system had some of its first rumblings of success in this town.

  • This preparatory sketch for a stained glass panel celebrates Workington’s deep-rooted connections between its people, place and history.

    The landscape provides the foundations: Vulcan Park, the coast, and of course the town’s industrial heritage. Winding plants symbolise the Grow Well Community Garden, reflecting Workington’s inclusive community projects. At the centre, an industrial wheel represents the ironworks and transport heritage, with a lifebuoy symbolising Workington as a refuge for seafarers and settlers, past and present.

    Between the wheel’s spokes, images and words highlight local connections, traditional LMS rail colours and station names from the Workington line will eventually encircle the wheel, emphasising the importance of rail links, always leading back home.

  • “Have a humbug. Go on, take two!” is a quote from an illustrated letter by Workington-born artist, Percy Kelly.

    The writing of a letter, and the offering of sweets, bring people together creating shared experiences and joy. Percy Kelly lived just a stone’s throw away from Vulcan Park, which has recently seen the opening of The Bee Happy Garden.

    That connectedness with nature is so important for our wellbeing. A humbug reminded Nanette of a bumble bee - both have the power to make many connections.

  • This is a bold and humorous text-based piece, playing on the “Wukington” dialect and encapsulating the local spirit.

    The image in the background is locally sourced rocks from the coast of Workington. These were collected from the beach, then ground into a pigment, and finally made into ink to print the word MARRA.