Residents choose sculpture for Queen’s Park Sports Centre
Members of the public have chosen the design of a sculpture to go in the grounds of the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre being built by Chesterfield Borough Council.
Jump, by West Midlands based artist Mick Thacker, is based on the concept of time lapse motion photography and shows the various stages of a person jumping through the air. It received 48 per cent of the 718 votes.
It was chosen ahead of Wave, by Matlock sculptor Stuart Marsh, which received 30 per cent of the vote. The wave sculpture was designed to represent grace, strength and determination.
The other option, Heartbeat, got 22 per cent of the votes. Designed by Nottinghamshire sculptor Michael Johnson the design showed an image of a regular heartbeat to symbolise well-being and exercise.
The winning artist will now make the full size sculpture which will go outside the café area of the new sports centre currently being built on the Queen’s Park Annexe site, off Boythorpe Road, Chesterfield.
Councillor Terry Gilby, Chesterfield Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for planning, said: “The sculpture will add to the growing collection of public art across the town being delivered through our Per Cent for Art Scheme.
“All the artists were asked to come up with themes that represented the health and fitness agenda that the new sports centre will deliver.”
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, said: “The sculpture will be sited in a prominent location near the café and will help provide a focal point to the grounds.”
The public consultation for the artwork was held during June. Residents were able to vote online or in person at the existing Queen’s Park Sports Centre, the Healthy Living Centre in Staveley, Chesterfield College or the Visitor Information Centre. The consultation was also publicised in the local media, on websites and social media.
Mick Thacker, who will produce the winning sculpture, said: “I am delighted to have won the public vote and very much look forward to making and installing the new work.
“The theme and form of the sculpture perfectly fit the context of a brand new sports centre and my hope is that the work will inspire and inform in equal measure. Jump celebrates the beauty of the human body in motion and the joy of life itself.”
The final scale and finishing details will be worked on over the coming weeks before fabrication of the sculpture begins in September ready for installation during mid-December.
The new Queen’s Park Sports Centre is on schedule to open in early 2016. The £11.25 million project is paid for by £6.725 million from Chesterfield Borough Council, £2.5 million from Chesterfield College, as part of a dual use agreement, £2 million from Sport England’s Strategic Facilities Fund and £25,000 from Squash England.
