Vanessa Dell was initially artist in residence at the architectural practice of Hunter and Partners in Chichester for sixteen days over a period of three months.
The residency focused on two new-build schools projects: Pound Hill First School (PHFS) and Crawley Special Schools. The Year of the Artist residency resulted in a public artwork commission for PHFS created by Vanessa with Belinda Holden.The unusual design of the building (based on the concept of an aeroplane due to its proximity to Gatwick Airport, and that fact that the old school was clad in aluminium from World War II aircraft), coupled with the ideas of pupils and staff, were the inspiration for the commission. Vanessa and Belinda?s work is unusual in that it is integrated into the fabric of the building. Taking the form of three layered glass light box triptychs, the pieces are unique to the school and are colour themed to match the organisation of the three year groups.
Vanessa and Belinda?s work didn't stop with the completion of the building. The school organised an open day in September 2000, and Hunter and Partners then helped them stage a Celebration of the Art Work evening in November. Head Teacher Anne Holmes is keen for the pupils to enjoy the artwork for what it is and then look deeper into it as part of the curriculum in the future. The artists have further developed their relationship with PHFS, helping to produce a cross-curricular teacher?s pack and as a result, the staff want to have an art week. In addition, a joint grant application made by the school and Vanessa funded the highly successful pupil and staff workshops. Since March 2001, as a direct result of the residency, Vanessa has been working on the Crawley Special Schools project (funded by West Sussex County Council, South East Arts and Crawley Borough Council with the New Deals for Schools initiative) as part of the design team. Influencing the specification at pre-tender stage, she is proving what a difference the involvement of an artist from the inception of a project can make. Ella Pope of Hunter and Partners said of the residency ?Vanessa is doing this not just for herself: it is about us persuading the county to adopt an art initiative.?
The legacy of this residency for other schools in the area, the architects and the artist continues to grow. PHFS has commissioned another artist, Nathan Dell, to transform the remains of a mature lime tree, which had to be felled to make way for the new building, into a permanent artwork on the site. The architects are extremely hopeful that they can raise further money to commission art work in the school. The design of PHFS has inspired emulation, with other schools desiring art commissions, some of which have already secured funding to achieve this. Vanessa and Ella have been asked to be involved in three conferences, and hope to participate in a week of workshops with artists and architects during Architecture Week. Vanessa's presence has also had an effect on how Hunter and Partners market their services, with an ?Art and Design? section integrated into the company's design philosophy that is circulated to potential new clients.