Date:	2008
Artist:	Heather Parnell, David Mackie, Andrew Rowe
Location:	Riverside, Cardiff

Striking sculptural works inspired by a food theme.

As part of Cardiff County Council’s Strategic Planning Department environmental improvement scheme in Riverside/Grangetown the Neighbourhood Planning Department decided to commission a public artwork that would contribute to the enhancement of the area. The corner of Fitzhamon Embankment was identified as in need of regeneration for social, cultural, economic and environmental reasons and it was recognised that this was a suitable site for an artwork.

Community involvement and participation was a key objective of the project at Fitzhamon Embankment, therefore it seemed appropriate to appoint local artists to the project. A group of 3 artists - Heather Parnell, David Mackie and Andrew Rowe were commissioned to undertake a thorough community engagement phase, which was to feed directly into the development and design of the final artworks.

The artists worked with local schools and adult residents groups that reflected some of the ethnic diversity that exists in the Riverside area of Cardiff. Food emerged as a theme with which people of all ages and backgrounds could identify. Recipes were shared and the artists led drawing workshops based around ingredients.

Designs were developed from some of the drawings made during the workshops and the artists created 4 sculptural artworks each one representing key ingredients of recipes suggested by local residents during the workshop period.

The sculptures were fabricated in steel at Andrew Rowe’s workshop in Carmarthenshire. Circular bronze inlays with text from the recipes written on them were also made and placed round the foot of each sculpture. The sculptures are lit with LED lighting in a range of changing colours at night.