Helping Bubbles of Love float in a garden of fire

We first worked with artist and metalworker Felix Rowberry when I initiated a conversation with Walk the Plank about supporting the creation of new artworks for the Fire Garden. As a freelance creative producer who has worked with Walk the Plank in many roles over the past twenty-five years, I have seen how the Fire Garden literally lights up people and places. In Derby, I sought out local musicians Sinfonia Viva to bring their orchestral sounds into the Fire Garden; at Woodhorn in Ashington we animated the pithead with a fire installation that attracted thousands to this former colliery site, and there’s been many other fantastic fiery experiences along the way.  

What matters to me is to make new work happen, and in 2024, we commissioned three new kinetic fire sculptures – we invited artistic proposals that included movement and sound as well as fire. I worked with the artists, and with the expertise of gas technician Tom Ferneyhough, through the commissioning process: reviewing designs, discussing materials, and looking at the storage implications for each work are all part of the journey from idea to success.  I enjoy the dialogue with artists, and the challenge of solving problems by finding solutions that are sustainable and cost effective, as well as achievable in the time. We presented the new works first at Lightwaves festival in Salford, and subsequently they toured as Mechanical Marvels to other locations – such as Wales National Botanic Gardens, the Festival of Glass in Stourbridge, and to Preston. The three kinetic sculptures included The Passage by Mary Reynolds, the Daisy Chain by Mike Pattison, and In the Balance by Felix Rowberry.   

Working with Felix to create this work – drawn from children’s imaginings about the natural world, and their fears about the climate crisis – gave me insight into how she works as an artist: she is keen to engage people in her process, and unafraid of working at scale. So, when she started to tell me about her next idea – growing out of In the Balance in its design but with quite a different focus in terms of its inspiration – I was excited. Bubbles of Love has been borne out of love and loss … “It’s about the cyclical, dizzying nature of love, and the many creative ways we express it to each other. Not just lovers and partners, but also our kids, parents, siblings, friends, and guides” explains Felix. A revolving cascade of fiery spheres rise and fall in a spinning geometric constellation standing 5m high, with a soundtrack created by Yosi Horikawa.  It will be revealed for the first time as the centrepiece to Ignite, Rochdale’s Festival of Fire, 21 until 23 November and I’m very excited to see how people respond to this work when it’s sited in public space outside Rochdale Town Hall.    

Felix and I are both passionate about creating more opportunities for women to work with metal, so alongside the commission to make the sculpture, Walk the Plank is supporting a weekend workshop 11 and 12 October aimed at professional women artists who are interested in developing their practice in metal. Felix will lead this two-day exploration of making beautiful metalwork – with welding equipment and workshop space at the company’s Salford HQ, Cobden Works.  

Previously in Walk the Plank’s workshop, artists like Peter Mountain, Hannelora Johansson and Kevin Carroll have fabricated, welded, bent and plasma cut beautiful sculptural objects out of steel and copper – from the dragon’s head on the prow of the Viking Ship to the intricacies of a pedal-powered replica of Stephenson’s Rocket or a giant burnished sun and moon that hang from a crane. 

We want to find the next generation of artists excited about working in metal, and aware of the challenges that might face women in a traditionally male-dominated sector, Felix would like to offer free spaces to 6 women to attend her workshop weekend. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact [email protected] . 

The phenomenal creative force that is Billie Klinger is a generous patron of the arts, supporting independent artists to make new work in public space. Installations, performances, fetes and festivals have all benefitted from her financial investment which brings beautiful and engaging contemporary art into contact with communities.  Thank you, Billie… your continued and thoughtful support for work like this is hugely appreciated.