Further information
York St Mary's
Over the past 6 years we have commissioned artists to respond to the 15th Century St Mary's church on Castlegate. This year we commissioned Emma Biggs, a mosaicist, and Matthew Collings, artist and broadcaster. The installation was inspired by the Five Sisters window in York Minster. A large mosaic was created using archaeological pottery sherds that had been excavated over the years from different sites in North Yorkshire. The sherds were mainly medieval in origin. A new work of art was created out of this museum material which is the first time we think this has happened. This ambitious work was complemented by oil paintings which drew their inspiration from the shapes of stained glass in York St Marys painted by Matthew Collings and designed by Emma Biggs. At the end of the installation all the pottery sherds were returned to the collection store. Part of the piece was also shown in the Fine Art Society in London.