Poetry installation and sculptures unveiled at Birmingham’s new student residence that fuses art with architecture.

A new sculpture garden and poetry installation curated by Birmingham’s poet laureate, has being unveiled in a new state-of-the-art student building, Pershore Junction on Dogpool Lane, Selly Oak. The poetry and art was commissioned by  Alumno, who have a unique reputation for involving poets to make permanent work for their new buildings.

The new student residence, Pershore Junction, is a new 127-bedroom purpose-built student building in the heart of Birmingham designed by Birmingham’s  RIBA Stirling shortlisted architects, Howells

A Practice for Everyday Life has created the ceramic signage and wayfinding within the building that was then produced by a historic ceramics manufacturer, Craven Dunnill Jackfield (who have been producing ceramics in the West Midlands since the 1870’s).

Arts Curator, Matthew Jarratt worked with Writing West Midlands to engage Birmingham’s Poet Laureate, Casey Bailey to write the poem entitled, ‘In motion’ especially for poetry garden and it will be first be revealed and featured at the launch in the foyer of the new development.

The poem has been cast using materials which relate to the historic rolling mills in the Dogpool Lane area by sculptor Russell Coleman who has also produced three sculptures for the buildings’ courtyard. The sculptures relate to Birmingham’s history of jewellery making and the area’s history of heavy industry, ‘yellow metal’ production and rolling mills.  Russell’s gilded sculptures combine polished stone with gilded surfaces and they sit on his ‘Total Waster’ plinths which are case from recycled blast furnace waste and recycled glass and plastic.

Artist, Russel Coleman said: ‘Once upon a time I made gravestones, they marked the lives of people past. The stone and carving of letters were just the medium to convey and mark a life. 

Nowadays I celebrate the stone itself each sculpture is a conversation with a found boulder, in a process of shaping and polishing i try to bring out the form and shape dictated by the stone.

The gilded facets celebrate the cracks scars and cleaving that the rocks have incurred on their journey through earths mantle to its present form. Like us the rocks are on a journey to dust, only they take Aeons to do it. I feel I have beautified part of their journey.’            

Casey Bailey, Poet commented: “This poetry is about a journey, I know this area around Dogppool Lane well and spent my youth around here. I came to the site to write the piece, it’s full of different roads and junctions and places to travel. I felt that ‘In motion’ reflects the lives of the students living in the new building itself,  they are starting a journey or maybe ending one and their lives are constantly in motion.”

David Campbell, Alumno managing Director said: “It is wonderful to see this dynamic building come to life and provide accommodation for Birmingham’s expanding student population. Over many years , Alumno have supported and promoted new and burgeoning  talent in the cities and communities in which we build.  Integrating artwork into our student residences brings a sense of place and a commonality, that  can showcase a  community’s story, to inspire reflection and create connections. The Birmingham event will reflect the vibrant arts and culture in the city through poetry and pictures and brings talented young people together – a fitting addition to our new building.”