In a previous life, I worked for Centro in the Midlands for ten years and one of the things I got to deal with was a public art programme of involving artists to try and work on the presentation of new infrastructure projects.  This wasn't anything new, London Transport had done it for years in the 1930s when a pride in providing public services was more important than the post 1970s mantra of Get Everything Cheap and treat your customers as criminals, and quite a few transit agencies in the US had percent for art programmes, but developing something for the Midlands was a challenge.  As a town planner, I was aware that despite what one heir to Brenda's place on the throne would have us think, quite a bit of 1960s architecture had artworks integrated into them.  unfortunately, so well integrated many just don't notice them, but for example, quite a few of the Birmingham shops and offices of the 1960s have relief murals and decoration on their facades.  You just need to look upwards instead of window shopping.  Some have rightly been listed, some unfortunately have been lost in the rush to demonise the 60s architectural heritage - in fact, if anyone knows where the huge glass-fibre Bull that once hung on the Bull Ring has vanished to, I'm sure the police or City Council would like to know as no-one seems to know where it is.  Quite how you lose a massive glass fibre bull weighing several tons, is anyone's guess. 

So, Wednesford, being a progressive, modern and civically proud town, was going to get a Public Art programme.  Problem was, finding suitably scale objets d'arte for the plastic citizenry.  

The answer?  Cheap ear-rings from the Bay of Tat.  Seriously.  Chinese cheap costume jewellery,  Some of it is spectacularly grotesque but occasionally some gems do come up.  I doubt many model enthusiasts, when eBay window shopping, think to search for cheap tomfoolery from the Orient, but if you are thinking of installing a modern art installation, give it a go - after all, if the domestic authorities notice, they may be fooled into thinking you are looking for something for them, rather than a faux sculpture.  Win-win.

The sculpture which will sit outside the courthouse and Civic Centre Council Chamber.  "Circular Arguments" was designed by renowned ear-ring artist "Pat Butcher".  In reality a pair of stainless steel ear-rings, 99p from China, in a 3d printed planter box with some clumping material.

Another  "Pat Butcher" design, the Peace memorial for the civic centre peace garden.  Again a cheap "Dove of Peace" large ear-ring (I'm sure any woman wearing these would have ear-lobes the length of her neck after a few hours they are so large) with 3d printed base and commemorative plaque. Still waiting the delivery of grass mat for the lawn.

Shop facia panels.  The abstract 1960s design was spot on and size wise they were almost a match for the windows on the Hornby Skaledale shop.  Again some cheap 99p metal ear-studs sourced from the Bay of Tat.

I've also used a Staffordshire Police badge on a 3d printed plinth for the entrance to Shaw Taylor House, and a Royal Coat of Arms badge on the new Court House.  Both were pretty much the right size to go on or in front of the buildings..

So, there you are.  Not the most obvious source of detailing, but cheap cuff-links, ear-rings and brooches could give your models a touch of cosmopolitan urban modern art without breaking the bank.  Just don't tell your mates down the battle cruiser* why you are searching for tomfoolery* on eBay, they might get the wrong idea.


*(Battle Cruiser - boozer, tomfoolery - jewellery.  But you already knew that, right?)