Couture Crutches
Tim Register with Janie Spencer
Tim Register and Janie Spencer have co-created
a pair of stunning aluminium crutches.
In May 2000 Tim and Janie
were invited to collaborate on an exhibit for adorn, equip.
Janie uses callipers and crutches to walk.
They decided to redesign a pair of her crutches,
placing greater emphasis on individuality.
Janie has always used mass produced crutches,
which she describes as “boring and ugly”
and has been frustrated by lack of choice
and by the assumption that “one design will suit everyone”.
Tim and Janie wanted the design to reflect Janie’s
personality,
and to create crutches that could be used as a form of adornment.
Janie wanted to be able to show off her crutches,
and wear them in a night club like a piece of jewellery.
Tim wanted to explore the fluid, twisting shapes
found in human bones.
The shapes he created are both bold and engaging,
and suggests that the crutches form an extension of the skeleton.
After consulting with Janie on the final design,
Tim cast the crutches into aluminium.
Of her finished crutches Janie says;
“they are very sculptural, organic, eye catching,
and most importantly, unique,
having a personality of their own,
a very far cry from my NHS crutches!”
Tim Register graduated in Fine Art (Sculpture)
from Loughborough University
Janie Spencer is a part time art tutor, and artist based in Leicester.
She graduated in Fine Art from De Montfort University.
© The City Gallery, Leicester and the artists: 2001
This site was built by Ju Gosling aka ju90 during an artist's residency at Oriel 31 in November 2001