School unveils Matthew Lane Sanderson sculpture in grounds

Solihull School unveils a wonderful sculpture by Matthew Lane Sanderson in the grounds of its chapel. Sculpture hot dip galvanized by Joseph Ash Galvanizing.

Solihull School in the Midlands is an independent day school for boys and girls aged between seven and 18. The school moved to its present site in 1882, and has seen many improvements since, with recent developments including a new sports pavilion, PE facilities, additional teaching areas and a dedicated music school. One of the most recent developments at the school was the addition a new Matthew Lane Sanderson sculpture on the forecourt of the school chapel. The School has also just opened a new state of the art Sixth Form Building, complete with innovative teaching and private study areas and a panoramic top floor terrace. This new building will be the site of a second sculpture by Matthew.

The chapel and the sculpture

The school felt that the forecourt to the chapel needed redevelopment, as it was looking bland and tired. In addition, some of the paving had cracked and was a health and safety concern.

It was thought that the area needed a new central focus, and after seeing sculptures at other schools, coupled with a desire to promote art and design across the School, the decision was made to commission a sculptor to produce an eye-catching installation.

The brief that was given to various sculptors included a work of art that would:

• Foster a sense of community – an important part of the School’s ethos
• Celebrate the School’s choral successes and excellence
• Promote the School’s Christian foundation, without the need to have an overt religious figure
• Be a strong image, but not one that was too “abstract”.

Many sculptors expressed an interest in the work, but the School liked Matthew’s ideas and approach.

Matthew Lane Sanderson

Matthew is a renowned Midlands based sculptor who specialises in ‘Big Art’, sculpting large public installations, and smaller private pieces, out of industrial materials.

Matthew set to work on designing and creating the sculpture that now sits on the chapel forecourt. The sculpture is called ‘Conduct’.

‘Conduct’ is 5 metres tall and 3 metres wide, and is stunning.

Joseph Ash Galvanizing is pleased to have played a part in the sculpture’s history as the steel was hot dip galvanized at our Joseph Ash Walsall plant.

Richard Bate, Bursar and Clerk to the Governors at Solihull School said:

“The sculpture has helped transform the chapel forecourt, along with the significant repaving and installation of planters/benching in the area surrounding the sculpture.”

Matthew currently has 50 sculptures displayed permanently across the UK, and regularly uses steel to fabricate his art.

We look forward to following the developments at Solihull School and to seeing more of Matthew’s work at our plants.