Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
Flighty Piece Photograph
Region ID | AH | |
Work ID | 549 | |
Manual Reference | CAER015 | |
Type | Sculpture | |
Title | Flighty Piece | |
Sculptor | Westerman, Julie Fay | |
Date of design | June 1994-July1995 | |
Year of unveiling | 1995 | |
Unveiling details | 1995 | |
Road | Windsor Square | |
Precise Location | At entrance to Windsor Street | |
A to Z Ref | 9 5E | |
OS Ref | ||
Postcode | ||
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | Not listed | |
Duty of Care | Caerphilly County Borough Council | |
Commissioned by | Mid Glamorgan County Council | |
Notes | ||
Wind animated sculpture - goose in flight set on top of tall thin pole on concrete base. | ||
On Cardiff Road the junctions with Stockland Street and Windsor Street are closed to traffic allowing the creation of smaller scale spaces for the shoppers to rest away from the traffic. These spaces are characterised by individual sculptures by Julie Westerman, the theme of which is 'guardianship' interpreted by a series of bronze geese. From 'The Jackdaws of Caerphilly': 'Jackdaws and geese have historical and contemporary resonance. At the turn of the century the people of Caerphilly were nicknamed Jackdaws by the inhabitants of nearby towns. The origins probably lay with the ruined castle as home to flocks of the birds .. The goose has a wild and domestic persona. From earliest times people have been impressed by the spectacle of huge flocks of geese passing overhead in late spring. The return of the geese has always heralded the start of the summer. On the domestic front geese have been famous for their talent as 'watchdogs' since the Romans used them to defend their capital. Caerphilly's new Windsor Square is now animated by its own guardian geese.' Information from Cywaith Cymru : Artworks Wales: 'Artists have been working alongside landscape architects (Camlin Lonsdale) and planners to transform the centre of Caerphilly, helping to revive the spirit of the town. The bronze sculptures in Stockland and Windsor Streets were designed by the artist working closely with the landscape consultant and with local people. The new spaces created in these two streets are areas in which one can rest or meet with friends.' | ||
Taken from 'The Jackdaws of Caerphilly': 'The new square provided by blocking Stockland Street and Windsor Street have provided the spaces in which to pause, just off the busy shopping thoroughfare. These squares have been given form and identity through the inclusion of their sculptural features. Thus animated, they have been transformed from places in which to pause into places in which to linger. The sites provided an opportunity to establish a series of guardian sculptures. Towns and cities the world over have employed guardians to represent and defend their people. They mark the various camps and fly the flags for the different factions. Proud figures adorn town gates, stand above doorway and mark thresholds. Here in Caerphilly the guardians express a new confidence for the town. They carry the visual narrative and provide a focus for each indvidual space.' | ||
circa | ||
raw year | 1995 | |
Condition | Good | |
At risk | No known risk | |
Inscriptions | ||
Signatures | ||
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Flighty Piece | Copper and aluminium | 1220cm high approx |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
No damage | |
Structural Condition
Structural Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
Other | Good condition |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
None | There has been vandalism at Windsor Square in the past |