Plans to refurbish Liverpool city centre's Penelope art installation in Wolstenholme Square have been praised as a game changer by a nearby business that expects to benefit from the project. The distinctive multi-coloured orbs of the artwork, named Penelope, have towered above the area since 2002, but are now in need of new technology and touch-ups to bring them back to their former glory.
Electricity still running to the landmark
The Wolstenholme Square artwork was created by Cuban-born sculptor Jorge Pardo as part of Liverpool's Biennial in 2002. Peter Schriewersmann, the project's leader and co-chair of the Liverpool Hospitality Association, hopes the renovation will be completed in time to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Liverpool's Capital of Culture status in 2028.
Peter, who is also co-owner of the Happy Days accommodation group and co-owner of Hotel Anfield, started to create a working group with the public sector several years ago to look into the technicalities of the installation. After re-engaging with the local authorities and Jorge, it was determined that the installation still has electricity running to it.
Full revamp needed
He said: "Some of the globes still glow at night. Some are broken and the technology is out of date, so it needs a full revamp. Over the last three to four years, the council promised to push it forward, and there is a buy-in from the council, but nothing has physically happened."
"We were worried we'd have to dig up the road, but the good news is the electricity to the central island is intact. So all we need is new technology and globes, a clean-up and a paint job. The plastic globes they sit in need replacing. Some will break when opened. It's not cheap, but we're not starting from scratch. We feel the council has finally committed enough energy into the project."
Businesses welcome the boost
Wolstenholme Square is home to a number of hospitality businesses including Zaad, a Middle-Eastern restaurant, sports bar Dicey Reilly's, Pins Social Club, cocktail bar Sister Ray, and a number of popular businesses nearby including The Merchant and Patterson's. The owner of The Mill Bar & Grill, a South Asian restaurant that moved into the square late last year, says if the plan were to come to fruition, it would change the area's footfall completely.
Owner Jashan Rai told the ECHO: "It would light up the entire block. We get hundreds of people come through taking pictures already, so if the lights were to go on and it was spruced up, it'd be amazing for the whole area and everyone on it." Jashan said the square can be quiet at times, so any increase in footfall would be welcome. He added: "Since we opened, it's been good. But to be at the centre of such an amazing tourist attraction in its own right would boost all of the businesses."
Hope for the anniversary
Peter added: "The installation was glowing brightly and proudly for many years, but when the organisation behind it disintegrated, any support structure maintaining it disappeared. Over the years it started to fade away, until it was permanently switched off a couple of years ago. It has always felt a shame."
Peter is in talks to reinstate the development to its former glory for the 20th anniversary of the Capital of Culture. He added: "We want everyone to be involved - stakeholders, the community and residents. The reason we speak about it regularly is that otherwise things get forgotten about. You have to make a little bit of noise. We are all passionate and aligned ahead of the anniversary. We hope to have it in place to give the council encouragement."
If the project is a success, Peter claims Jorge would be happy to return to Liverpool to mark the occasion. He previously returned to the city in 2015 after he was commissioned again to help design the new-look square's street furniture, including lampposts and benches.
