'Women of Steel' by Martin Jennings and 'Four Brick Reliefs' by Rodney Harris and Valda Jackson
‘Women of Steel’
Women of Steel is a sculpture dedicated to the women who worked in the steelworks of Sheffield during the First and Second World Wars. The sculpture was commissioned by Sheffield City Council and a fundraising campaign raised more than £160,000 to pay for the bronze sculpture made by Martin Jennings. The Council said that it was important to recognise the women who had been conscripted to work in the factories and steel mills, taking on roles that were dangerous and physically demanding.
The statue shows two women, dressed in steel factory boiler suits, one a welder and the other a riveter, standing arm in arm. Martin Jennings said that linking the women’s arm made the statue a symbol of solidarity and it has become the perfect vehicle through which to recognise those women who served diligently in the wars and have waited a lifetime to receive the recognition that they deserve. Martin Jennings is a renowned sculptor and his varied portfolio of work includes the famous John Betjeman sculpture in St. Pancras station.
Due to the high standard of nominations, the judging panel decided to award a special prize for a low relief sculpture
‘Four Brick Reliefs’
Rodney Harris collaborated with Valda Jackson on a commission by the Peabody Trust, developing a series of sculptures for the redevelopment of the Peabody St John’s Hill Estate in Clapham. They created relief sculptures, built into the brickwork of the development, located at various points of elevation, recalling the domestic history of the site. The redevelopment by the Peabody Trust is providing new homes for a diverse community on a cleared site within an aging 1930s estate. The use of this original sculpture is a notable feature of the new development.