Bicester Town Centre
Commissioned by Cherwell District Council and funded by Sainsburys
Stage 1.
Diane's four crows, two bronze, two cast glass, each sit on their own stainless steel arc, all are placed in sites around the new town centre development in Bicester. Sited in Crown Walk, the bronze crown crow steals the letter N in a play on words. The two contemporary cast glass crows have a surface texture that combines lace and pattern. Lace making was a cottage industry in Bicester and now Bicester is known for designer fashion.The flying bronze crow combines two themes - the RAF and Homemakers. The RAF used to have a base near Bicester, and is represented by a wing featuring plane parts in place of feathers, with the RAF logo. The other wing is feathered, the crow is shown taking off with a stick in its beak to add to its nest - symbolizing all the new eco-homes being built in Bicester.
Stage 2.
The Trail of crows was extended in 2016 by Phil's Crows Nest sculpture, a welded and galvanised metal crow and nest with glass eggs, lit at night by solar lighting fixed to a carved oak plinth, and Diane's Bell Crow bronze on a stainless steel perch, both are sited outside the new Library.
Glass crows cast, and cold worked, by Jackson Fawkes Glass, Bronze crows cast, and stainless steel arcs fabricated by Castle Fine Arts Foundry. Glass eggs by Sonia Klingler Glass and the Bell Crow's perch made by PJ Engineering.
