Cobalt Chronicles

Cobalt Chronicles is the fourth wow commission as part of Stoke Town High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, funded by Historic England and Stoke On Trent City Council. Artist Jasmine Simpson designed and created a ceramic mural artwork linking Church Street to the courtyard entrance at Spode. The artwork brings together elements of traditional ceramic craftsmanship with a contemporary approach and taking the form of a ceramic blue and white tile mural with sculptural elements. The artwork was created in collaboration with a local tile manufacturer and the tiles were hand-painted using cobalt oxide to create an impactful blue and white design linking to the traditional pottery of Stoke, particularly that created by Spode.

The mural weaves together iconic symbols and landmarks from town’s heritage with future facing designs. From the iconic bottle kilns to the flowing waters of the Trent and the intricate detailing of traditional pottery, each tile tells a story, creating a vibrant narrative that celebrates the city's resilience, creativity, and the enduring legacy of its pottery heritage. Jasmine also invited people with a connection to Stoke town to get involved in creating the artwork. Jasmine invited people to share stories, memories, and symbols that resonate with their relationship with the town. You can find some these stories here https://jazsimpsonartist.wixsite.com/cobalt-chronicles (or scan the QR codes included in the artwork). The pillar artworks (design for these pictured above) feature key people who have been part of Stoke’s heritage (Thomas Minton, Ida Copeland, and Josiah Spode) with the triangular three sided piece including St Werburgh (and her geese!), references to the town’s music scene (in particular rave and northern soul), iconic buildings and architecture from Stoke and some of the biodiversity spotted in the town (particularly in the grounds of the minster where a meadow area is being developed and in the pocket park of Spode Rose Garden).