Nudge’s Union Corner Mural Journey
One of 15 communities leading change through the Creative Civic Change programme, Nudge Community Builders in Plymouth have taken art to the streets to inspire local people and visitors alike. Here, members of the group describe their creative process and what it means to the community.
Union Corner’s wall has recently received a very special upgrade. A brand new 13 metre high wall mural has been created in league with Plymouth based artists Will Luz of Studio Luz and Stephen Smith of Neasden Control Centre.
Stephen Smith, mural artist and resident
William Luz, mural artist and resident
Listen to Will and Steve discussing the inspiration and ideas behind the mural at Nudge’s first Manor Street Market after the lockdown lifted on the 29 May 2021.
Us being down here at the market and sharing and showing our faces, just showing that we are people that live here is important
– Will
Both artists approached Nudge to collaborate together on this project. Will Luz has previously worked with Nudge Community Builders on a temporary project called A Pavilion For Us. Will has a particular interest in the local community and both artists came to this project with a localised focus for Union Street.
The wall before the mural
They spent time with residents, volunteers, and staff who use Union Corner to really engage and understand what the space means to them, how they want to see it transformed, and what the long lasting hope is.
A series of keywords were drawn from these conversations which became themes for the artwork. Togetherness, care, support, and holding each other up became the solid message within their creation.
This became particularly important to us as collaborators, as we felt this reflected our values and also the intentions behind the use of the Creative Civic Change (CCC) funding. The focus for this funding is on areas of the street that are seen as neglected or unsafe, and to breathe new life into those areas with the community in mind. Find out more about how participatory art can give rise to community empowerment
Togetherness, care, support, and holding each other up became the solid message within their creation.
We wanted to use this opportunity to be brave and bold. To make a statement of joy and colour and to have fun with our values and intentions. We worked closely with Will and Steve to continuously make sure the message on both sides were aligning, and the final draft for the design was delivered late May.
Work began shortly after and took approximately three weeks to complete. They drew the graphic shapes and symbols free hand, and choose a simple range of colours. The colours are bold and work together in harmony with the symbols to create an entire pattern. The paint was supplied by local paint suppliers Raberts, which again matches our heavy value on local spending.
We wanted to use this opportunity to be brave and bold. To make a statement of joy and colour and to have fun with our values and intentions.
We documented the process along the way and shared this with our social media audience, funders, and board members. The artists and ourselves were extremely keen to build anticipation surrounding the viewing of the wall and kept the entire design covered until the artwork was finished.
The artists and ourselves were extremely keen to build anticipation surrounding the viewing of the wall and kept the entire design covered until the artwork was finished.
The big reveal came on 15th July, where we all celebrated in the community garden at Union Corner, under the glorious sunshine. We had local people, the creative community, volunteers and staff from Nudge there. Local bakery The Sweetspot supplied us with beautiful cakes and it was a huge celebration of the wall.
More importantly, we had the privilege of seeing local children on their way to school, people travelling on public transport, and local residents stopping to soak up the colour. Seeing everyone smile and enjoying the wall was a very sweet reminder of why we embarked on this massive project. It was always and remains the reason why we did it.
we had the privilege of seeing local children on their way to school, people travelling on public transport, and local residents stopping to soak up the colour.
For Steve it’s been a huge celebration of transformation within the local community and the area of Plymouth. Seeing his work and strong aesthetic elevate buildings, local landscapes, and people’s moods has been a massive pleasure for him. Will has also thoroughly enjoyed executing artwork for the community and ‘their spaces’, and engaging with local people through conversations and reflecting on what they wanted. It also gave him professional confidence to continue with more public artwork
There has been a limited edition line of merchandise created based on the design, including temporary tattoos, fabric patches, notebooks, pin badges, and bucket hats made by Plot tenant Minkski straight from The Love Shack shed. All available on Nudge’s online shop right here you can find out more about Nudge and keep up to date with future CCC projects and events in Stonehouse by signing up to our newsletter
Written by Nichola Cooke
Photo credits go to Dom Moore & Khadijah Carberry