Pillars of the Community

Local residents unleashed their inner creativity by taking part in the Revoluton Associates commission Pillars of the Community by Farley Hill-based artist Aimi Rix.

Pillars of the Community is a new street art mural on the pillars of Whipperley Way Ring in Farley Hill, Luton, that has been co-designed and painted with over 120 residents. Each pillar captures the unique features that underpin the identity of local area with colourful illustrations that local people of all ages have contributed to.

Pillars of the Community is Revoluton’s first commission in Farley Hill, an area of Luton that has historically received very little investment and been afforded very few creative opportunities.

Aimi Rix connected with a range of partners including Care 4 Calais, Hillborough Junior School, Strong Soul Fitness and Jill Jenkins Court, all of whom have been key to ensuring local voices were at the centre of the design process.

A celebration event was held on the 15 September at Farley Hill Community Centre to mark the completion of the Pillars of the Community project.

Talking about the project Aimi said “Farley Hill is one of Luton’s most neglected areas with very few amenities. I identified the location where I wanted to create an art installation, Whipperly Way Shops. I felt the public spaces looked a bit neglected there, and so working with Revoluton Arts, we gained permission to paint the pillars that surrounded the shops as they had become old and tatty looking.

Working with the community we gathered ideas and concepts that relate to the Farley community and included these ideas in the final designs. Parrots and barn owls are reminiscent of the pubs that have been demolished to make way for more housing in the area, and the koi carp for the Farley fishing pond are some of the painted features we have installed.”