Trumpington Meadows: Public Art

This is one of a series of pages about Trumpington Meadows , in this case about the public art projects. The Residents’ Association is represented on the Trumpington Meadows Public Art steering group by Elizabeth Cox.

There are three artists involved in delivering public art projects on the Trumpington Meadows development.

A group of golden bricks in the studio. There were incorporated into 88 of the properties being built on Trumpington Meadows, marking the intersection of the new homes and the old Plant Breeding Institute (PBI) buildings. Photo: Caroline Wright, 2 February 2012.

Participants during an art walk around Trumpington Meadows, with the church in the background. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 9 October 2011.
Participants during an art walk around Trumpington Meadows, with the church in the background. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 9 October 2011.
Windmills representing the planned 1200 dwellings, during an art walk around Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 9 October 2011.
Windmills representing the planned 1200 dwellings, during an art walk around Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 9 October 2011.
Mick Sullivan talking about the area, during an art walk around Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 9 October 2011.
Mick Sullivan talking about the area, during an art walk around Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 9 October 2011.

Caroline Wright was appointed as Artist in Residence in 2011. In 2011-12, Caroline carried out extensive research on the history of the site, talking to existing residents and to the archaeology team.

As part of the art project, Caroline arranged for an invited group to attend The Do – a walk and a tea party taking place on and near the development site. Along the route the group encountered several artworks, engaged in conversation culminating in tea and cakes at the nearby Bakehouse (Trumpington Church).

Caroline produced a report on The Do (8 MB file).

Caroline Wright was also involved in the production of newsletter by pupils from Fawcett School. Caroline says that the builders visited the school in the first instance on 21 May 2012 to talk to the pupils about their work and to show examples of architects plans, building tools such as trowels and spirit levels and to give them an idea of Trumpington Meadows from their perspective. This was followed by two school visits to the site on 28 May and 18 June 2012 where there were tours around the site, a demonstration of bricklaying, the opportunity to sit in a digger and a visit to the show home. Particular emphasis was put on the environmentally friendly features, to tie in with the school’s work on sustainable living. The newspaper was published for the last day of term, 20 July 2012.
Preparing to place one of the golden bricks on a Trumpington Meadows home, with Caroline Wright, April 2012. Photo: Nick Milne.
Preparing to place one of the golden bricks on a Trumpington Meadows home, with Caroline Wright, April 2012. Photo: Nick Milne.
One of the golden bricks showing the layout of the earlier PBI buildings, 20 Forty Acre Road, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 29 October 2012.
One of the golden bricks showing the layout of the earlier PBI buildings, 20 Forty Acre Road, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 29 October 2012.
One of the golden bricks showing the layout of the earlier PBI buildings, 20 Forty Acre Road, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 29 October 2012.
One of the golden bricks showing the layout of the earlier PBI buildings, 20 Forty Acre Road, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 29 October 2012.

United Visual Arts (UVA) has been selected to deliver public art for the primary school and the community centre. Their plans are at a very early stage but are likely to feature geology and will involve an on-going dialogue with the school (staff and children), parents and the community to involve users where possible and keep everyone informed of their plans. The art project should be complete by August 2013 when the school will be ready for pupils.

A group of golden bricks in the studio. Photo: Caroline Wright, 2 February 2012.
A group of golden bricks in the studio. Photo: Caroline Wright, 2 February 2012.
Placing one of the golden bricks on a Trumpington Meadows home. Photo: Caroline Wright, April 2012.
Placing one of the golden bricks on a Trumpington Meadows home. Photo: Caroline Wright, April 2012.
One of the golden bricks in place on a Trumpington Meadows home. Photo: Caroline Wright, April 2012.
One of the golden bricks in place on a Trumpington Meadows home. Photo: Caroline Wright, April 2012.
One of the golden bricks in place on a Trumpington Meadows home. Photo: Caroline Wright, April 2012.
One of the golden bricks in place on a Trumpington Meadows home. Photo: Caroline Wright, April 2012.
Another element of Caroline Wright’s work was the TRACE project, incorporating gold bricks into 88 of the properties being built on Trumpington Meadows, marking the intersection of the new homes and the old Plant Breeding Institute (PBI) buildings.
Local pupils visiting the Trumpington meadows site, as part of the newspaper project, May-June 2012. Photo: Fawcett School.
Local pupils visiting the Trumpington meadows site, as part of the newspaper project, May-June 2012. Photo: Fawcett School.
Local pupils visiting the Trumpington meadows site, as part of the newspaper project, May-June 2012. Photo: Fawcett School.
Local pupils visiting the Trumpington meadows site, as part of the newspaper project, May-June 2012. Photo: Fawcett School.
A newly-designed Trumpington Meadows flag, part of the public art project presented at an event on 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
A newly-designed Trumpington Meadows flag, part of the public art project presented at an event on 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
A newly-designed Trumpington Meadows flag, part of the public art project presented at an event on 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
A newly-designed Trumpington Meadows flag, part of the public art project presented at an event on 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
Smashing plates so that the pieces can be used in a mosaic, part of the public art project presented at a Trumpington Meadows event on 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
Smashing plates so that the pieces can be used in a mosaic, part of the public art project presented at a Trumpington Meadows event on 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
Caroline Wright and Sam Wilkinson, with Caroline being thanked for her work on public art, during an event at Trumpington Meadows, 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
Caroline Wright and Sam Wilkinson, with Caroline being thanked for her work on public art, during an event at Trumpington Meadows, 11 May 2013. Photo: Andrew Roberts.
Homes on Avalon Way overlooking the Country Park, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Homes on Avalon Way overlooking the Country Park, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Art platform in the Country Park with new homes on Avalon Way and Otter Close, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Art platform in the Country Park with new homes on Avalon Way and Otter Close, Trumpington Meadows. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.

Art platform in the Country Park with new homes on Avalon Way and Otter Close. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.

Art features in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Art features in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Art features in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Art features in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 4 March 2016.
Trumpington Meadows Country Park Discovery Day: wood carving art features. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 11 June 2016.
Trumpington Meadows Country Park Discovery Day: wood carving art features. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 11 June 2016.
Trumpington Meadows Country Park Discovery Day: wood carving art features. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 11 June 2016.
Trumpington Meadows Country Park Discovery Day: wood carving art features. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 11 June 2016.
Wood carving of a bird in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.
Wood carving of a bird in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.
Bed burial mosaic near the river, Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.
Bed burial mosaic near the river, Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.

Bed burial mosaic near the river, Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.

Wood carving of a bird in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.
Wood carving of a bird in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.
Wood carving of an otter in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.
Wood carving of an otter in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.

Wood carving of an otter in Trumpington Meadows Country Park. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 30 July 2016.

Hopscotch sculpture by Keith Wilson, in the square in front of Trumpington Meadows Primary School. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 22 May 2020.