Tony Wade and Helen Thomas: Funkytown
17-19 November 2023
The artwork was co-created with people from three local groups: CoActive, Empath Action, Wakefield Studio of Sanctuary; and with year five and year six pupils from Lawefield Primary School.
The designs were inspired by windows and architectural details in the Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone. The artwork invites people to look up and notice the windows above street level, which include designs with wonderful descriptions such as oculus, Georgian six-over-six sashes, Yorkshire sashes, and four-centred arch windows. The oldest timbered building is on Silver Street, which is thought to date back to the sixteenth century.
Funkytown takes its name from the 1980 disco smash hit by Lipps Inc and references Westgate’s social history of nightclubs and dancing. Participants worked in small groups to create their designs on pieces of translucent plastic, which the artists had cut to fit the 52 panes in the window where Funkytown was installed. Each design was backlit with LED lights that were sequenced to change colour. Funkytown was installed in a ground-floor window at Nocturno, 84 - 86 Westgate, WF1 1XQ which is in the Upper Westgate Conservation Area High Street Heritage Action Zone.
The site-specific artwork was viewed from the street. The installation was illuminated from 3 pm to 8 pm during the Light Up Wakefield Festival (17,18, 19 November 2023). The illumination timings were then extended to 10 pm nightly until 14
December 2023.
About the artists
Helen and Tony are artists based in Wakefield. Their work shares a common interest in noticing often overlooked details in our everyday surroundings. They have previously worked on projects that use heritage as an engagement tool.
Helen Thomas: www.toastedorange.co.uk @helenthomasartist
Tony Wade: at www.tonywadeart.com @tonywadearts
The artwork was co-created with people from three local groups: CoActive, Empath Action, Wakefield Studio of Sanctuary; and with year five and year six pupils from Lawefield Primary School.
The designs were inspired by windows and architectural details in the Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone. The artwork invites people to look up and notice the windows above street level, which include designs with wonderful descriptions such as oculus, Georgian six-over-six sashes, Yorkshire sashes, and four-centred arch windows. The oldest timbered building is on Silver Street, which is thought to date back to the sixteenth century.
Funkytown takes its name from the 1980 disco smash hit by Lipps Inc and references Westgate’s social history of nightclubs and dancing. Participants worked in small groups to create their designs on pieces of translucent plastic, which the artists had cut to fit the 52 panes in the window where Funkytown was installed. Each design was backlit with LED lights that were sequenced to change colour. Funkytown was installed in a ground-floor window at Nocturno, 84 - 86 Westgate, WF1 1XQ which is in the Upper Westgate Conservation Area High Street Heritage Action Zone.
The site-specific artwork was viewed from the street. The installation was illuminated from 3 pm to 8 pm during the Light Up Wakefield Festival (17,18, 19 November 2023). The illumination timings were then extended to 10 pm nightly until 14
December 2023.
About the artists
Helen and Tony are artists based in Wakefield. Their work shares a common interest in noticing often overlooked details in our everyday surroundings. They have previously worked on projects that use heritage as an engagement tool.
Helen Thomas: www.toastedorange.co.uk @helenthomasartist
Tony Wade: at www.tonywadeart.com @tonywadearts
Community Engagement
The artwork was co-created with people from three local groups: CoActive, Empath Action, Wakefield Studio of Sanctuary; and with year five and year six pupils from Lawefield Primary School. 133 participants created the 52 windows in the artwork.
The designs were inspired by windows and architectural details in the Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone. The artwork invites people to look up and notice the windows above street level, which include designs with wonderful descriptions such as oculus, Georgian six-over-six sashes, Yorkshire sashes, and four-centred arch windows. The oldest timbered building is on Silver Street, which is thought to date back to the sixteenth century.
The artwork was co-created with people from three local groups: CoActive, Empath Action, Wakefield Studio of Sanctuary; and with year five and year six pupils from Lawefield Primary School. 133 participants created the 52 windows in the artwork.
The designs were inspired by windows and architectural details in the Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone. The artwork invites people to look up and notice the windows above street level, which include designs with wonderful descriptions such as oculus, Georgian six-over-six sashes, Yorkshire sashes, and four-centred arch windows. The oldest timbered building is on Silver Street, which is thought to date back to the sixteenth century.
“Yurii and Elvira loved the activity—Yurii said that while he doesn't think of himself as crafty or artistic in this way, he was able to listen to people speaking while he was participating and absorb more language and have conversations, so it was doubly enjoyable for them.”
- Email from Empath Action
- Email from Empath Action
Lantern Workshops
On the three evenings of the Light Up Wakefield Festival, Helen and Tony facilitated free, drop-in, family-friendly lantern-making workshops at The Art House and Cathedral. They engaged Wakefield-based artist John Mayson was to co-facilitate these very popular workshops. 220 people enjoyed the workshops and created a total of 111 lanterns.
Participants were invited to view the Funkytown installation and the workshop tables were
covered in photographs of windows in the HSHAZ to inspire the lantern designs. Some of the participants had taken photos of the installation which they then used to create their lantern designs.
Participants were invited to view the Funkytown installation and the workshop tables were
covered in photographs of windows in the HSHAZ to inspire the lantern designs. Some of the participants had taken photos of the installation which they then used to create their lantern designs.
“You were awesome! I can’t wait to see the children’s work displayed. Thanks so much for
thinking of us, everyone involved enjoyed your workshops very much.”
“... the windows looked amazing!”
thinking of us, everyone involved enjoyed your workshops very much.”
“... the windows looked amazing!”
Emails from J. Parsons, Arts Coordinator, Lawefield Primary School
