Hello again, after a break for maternity I am back in the world of work and have been working on a commission for Stirchley Baths. Picking up from where we left off about 3 years ago: Place Prospectors, as well as delivering the ‘Sink or Swim’ event, also proposed a series of art projects, events and commissions for Stirchley baths. Ranging from installations in the borehole, to a new ceremonial key, pub quizzes, gift sets, outdoor space engagement and a tailor made welcome mat for the baths foyer. It is the latter proposal that I have been working on. The raison d’être for the project was the discovery early on in our Stirchley Prospects research of an advert for non stop dancing at Stirchley baths with Den Jones and his orchestra.
The fact that they covered over the pool and held dances there is a well known part of Stirchley’s folklore. When we looked around the then derelict baths, we saw a mat well in the baths foyer and thought it was crying out for a bespoke mat imparting a little of the baths heritage.
Since being commissioned I have had the pleasure of working with Eileen & John Horlick from Stirchley Tea Dance to trace dance steps from the 1940’s. Amongst the waltzes, tangos and jives, the chosen steps for the mat are from a ballroom waltz. The design is nearing completion and will be fabricated in coir. There will be an official opening to launch the ‘dancing mat’ as it is now called.
