Plans for a striking sculpture have been given the go ahead by Lincoln City Council.
The installation is set to be a unique attraction for locals and visitors alike and is testament to the strong collaboration of a number of organisations including local school children who worked together to create something eye-catching and meaningful.
The sculpture was commissioned by Lincoln BIG with funding from Lincoln Creates and has been designed by local visual artist, Nadya Monfrinoli for Stokes Tea & Coffee’s Lawn site in the city.
Nadya explained: “The design concept was inspired by the coffee plant, that in nature grows as a tree, rather than a shrub as seen on plantations. I wanted to build a pavilion, a space which is between sculpture and shelter, somewhere that is inviting, where people would congregate.
“The brief from Stokes included a stipulation that we should try to use as much waste material from the Lawn based coffee roastery as possible. I chose to build the pavilion using the pallets that the coffee beans arrive on. Each piece of wood has been carefully liberated from its pallet. Over 200 pieces were printed with coffee inspired designs by children at Westgate Primary school, which is very close to the Lawn site where the Pavilion will sit.”
Nick Peel is the fourth generation of the Stokes family to run the legendary 121-year-old firm. He said: “We are delighted to see this project move forward. The pandemic caused delays but it’s exciting to think that in just a few short weeks, it will be in place for so many people to enjoy.
“The coffee tree nourishes, nature is to be treasured and respected, along with minimising waste to help better protect our environment. These values are built into our business alongside the arts and creative community collaborations, which are also in our DNA. Life can crush your soul at times, but art always reminds you that you have one. Installations make you pause, reflect and be curious. I really hope the children enjoy seeing their creative work come together as one piece.”
Emma Olivier-Townrow, Business Development Manager at Stokes, added: “This project is a great example of how Lincoln Big has supported artists, businesses and local communities to work together, donating resources to support culture and promoting Lincoln City as a vibrant place to live, work or visit. It’s been fantastic to do this especially working with the primary school children who visited our roastery and barista training academy to better understand the journey of coffee from bean to cup.”
Lee Roberts, Head of Operations at Lincoln BIG, said: “We’re delighted Lincoln Creates has brought this brilliant project to life and allowed Stokes to collaborate with Nadya to create a sculpture that strongly reflects their company’s values. We’re looking forward to seeing the striking artwork come to life and offer a distinctive attraction for locals and visitors to see.”
The different elements of the pavilion have been ready for some time now, but it will be assembled off site to minimise installation time at the Lawn, before being delivered in sections. The sculpture will be sited on the grounds at the Lawn on Union Road in Lincoln.
Main image shows: Stokes HQ at the Historic Lawn Building
