Public Art: 'Barking up the Right Tree'

Leading off the Sheffield Winter Garden is the Millennium Gallery where there's a wide corridor with access to various galleries and this is where the permanent metal sculptures by Johnny White are exhibited.

'Barking up the Right Tree' was commissioned by Museums Sheffield to celebrate the opening of the Millennium Gallery in 2001.  The cutlery theme reflects the collection of metal ware, cutlery and silverware housed in the Gallery.

This unusual piece of art is kinetic and has a humorous touch.  If you press a button on the trunk-like base, the branch-like necks and round faces move with the help of levers and there's a barking sound from within the sculpture. Once again all the items of cutlery have been donated by the people of Sheffield.  I'm often in the Gallery and like to stop and watch the reaction as the buttons are pressed.  Both of the sculptures are a talking point especially by those who have been connected with the cutlery trade.

Forkocactus spoonelliflora

One of the much-loved sculptures in the Millennium Gallery because of its kinetic aspect, is Forkocactus Spoonelliflora by the local sculptor, Johnny White, who works mainly in steel and stainless steel.  It was commissioned in 2008 to celebrate the ten years of Museums Sheffield and reflects the metal-working industry and cutlery manufacture in the city.

Plants that grow in the Winter Garden which adjoins the Millennium Gallery were the inspiration for the cactus design.

All the cutlery for the sculpture was donated by the people of Sheffield, many of whom would have had connections with the metal working industry.  There's a slot for money to drop into the base which sets off musical sounds from the percussion instruments that can be viewed through the small windows.  The money is used to support exhibition and educational projects in the museums in Sheffield.

There's another unusual sculpture in the Millennium Gallery by Johnny White which also incorporates cutlery in its design. More about that next time.