A new 'Street Stories project, in Wolverhampton will see eight murals of art around the story, filling up empty shop space. The first has been put in place, by Stafford artist: Eve Whitfield and features Wolverhampton icon: Goldie. The project is by Arch Creative and Wolverhampton BID.
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00:00 So we are here today to launch the first of our eight art installations that will form
00:05 Street Stories Wolverhampton which has been an absolute dream to work on.
00:08 We have received such a strong mix of art submissions from our initial call out.
00:14 So I really want to thank of course all the amazing and talented artists and people involved
00:19 in the project.
00:20 Now I would have liked him to be here but he has had to get off to do two shows tonight
00:24 but I would like to start with Goldie, MBE and also Doctor of Design for Wolverhampton
00:30 University and many other talents amongst those things.
00:33 Eve Whitfield.
00:34 Hello you are the artist that has created this fantastic piece of work I understand.
00:40 What's your name?
00:41 Eve Whitfield.
00:42 And where are you from then Eve?
00:43 What's your background?
00:44 I'm from Stafford.
00:45 I recently graduated from the University of Wolverhampton last year, 2023, studying illustration.
00:51 I have a fascination with advertising so most of my work is digital based but I'm also branching
00:58 out into mural art.
01:00 Yeah, so it's a fantastic location, yours is the first one up, I mean Queen Square, it's
01:05 the iconic square so you must be pretty pleased at getting that spot.
01:09 I've had this opportunity to work out physically and not just on a screen, it's just a great
01:16 opportunity.
01:17 So how did it come about with Goldie getting involved in the project then and what was
01:20 your linking up with Goldie, how did that work?
01:23 When I submitted my work I said to them on the lines of I'd like to do someone who's
01:27 iconic to Wolverhampton area so they got me in contact with Goldie himself as he's well
01:34 known for graffiti art and also music, music producing, he's an actor so it's a great opportunity
01:40 to get involved with.
01:42 Yeah he's got a great look hasn't he, there's so much at work with him.
01:45 Well he has the side gold teeth, I love drawing jaw rings.
01:50 So that was perfect then, that worked.
01:51 Yeah, so it's just great.
01:54 You must be pleased with how it's turned out.
01:56 Yeah, and you know it's one of the most satisfying things, I can't say it.
02:03 He's looking at them gold teeth and it's throwing you off.
02:07 He's shy.
02:08 He's slightly unnerving.
02:09 It's what defines him if you know what I mean.
02:12 The most satisfying part about it is that he said he loves it himself.
02:16 Oh did he?
02:17 Yeah.
02:18 I feel really satisfied.
02:20 Once you get Goldie's seal of approval then yeah.
02:23 And you've got more projects coming up, you've got a mural coming up at Stafford Ranges which
02:28 we'll hopefully be covering in the paper.
02:30 That's interesting, so that's your busy girl this mural work.
02:33 Yeah, getting extra busy with things.
02:35 What's your name boss?
02:36 Josh Smith.
02:37 Josh Smith, what's your role in all this then Josh?
02:39 So I'm the project manager from Arch Creative, we work alongside the BID to bring all of
02:44 this great artwork and local things to the city.
02:48 So it's been great to work alongside Cherry to kind of bring all this to life, we have
02:53 so many great artists and different pieces in all across different themes, different
02:57 interactions from the history of Wolverhampton down to what's happening today and the future.
03:05 So it's really interesting to kind of bring that to the streets to kind of show everyone
03:09 that it's always changing and that the high street isn't dead like people say.
03:15 And this is one of many isn't it, we've got this one launched today but then we've got
03:18 another seven is it coming in?
03:20 So this is the first of eight to be installed and then some of those pieces will have more
03:24 than one artwork involved.
03:26 Nice little twist with this one, you scan the code which is down there, we've done that,
03:30 you get the app come up on your phone.
03:32 There you go.
03:34 So we click Wolverhampton and then we stand back then do we?
03:42 Come on show us how it's done.
03:44 So then our AR elements are in its own Street Stories app and all you simply have to do
03:50 is line up the frame shot and then it will come to life and it will tell you more information
03:57 about the story that we've had developed.
04:01 [Music]