Metal

Light Sculptures Chalkwell Park

On 4 October 2012, the Mayor of Southend officially switched on the six permanent, neon, flower light sculptures in Chalkwell Park next to Chalkwell Hall. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled by the Mayor.

All the original drawings by the 60 young people who took part were on display at Chalkwell Hall during the event.

Commissioned by Metal and made by artist Rob Haselden in partnership with pupils from Darlinghurst Primary School, the lights have just won an award in this year’s Southend in Bloom competition!

 

 

Photos by: Bradley Keeble

About the project:

Metal worked in partnership with artist, Ron Haselden, and Darlinghurst Primary School to create six public neon light sculptures in Chalkwell Park – which is where Metal’s Southend home is situated. Designs were selected from drawings and the resulting structures are now permanently installed for all to enjoy. Join us to help celebrate the official switch-on by Southend’s Mayor, with a chance to meet the artist and participating pupils.

Ron Haselden chose to work with a group of school pupils from Darlinghurst Primary School asking them to complete a set of simple pencil line drawings, responding to the theme of their favourite flower or plant. Around 150 drawings were produced.

From these drawings, Ron selected six different blooms which have been faithfully translated into neon light sculptures, each approximately 1m x 1m large. The lights are mounted onto 5m high wooden posts and permanently installed within the park for all to enjoy.

As well as providing a decorative and interesting artwork for Chalkwell Park, the sculptures also serve a very functional purpose of providing some much needed lighting in the park during the darker winter months.
A spokesperson for Darlinghurst Primary School said of the opportunity, “as a school, we jumped at the chance to work on this exciting project. Our Year Two’s loved working with Ron and all produced some super art work. The six children who have been chosen, and our whole school community, cannot wait to see their sculptures installed in the park.”
The artist, Ron Haselden commented, “the children were very motivated and produced a whole array of exciting drawings. The hardest part was for us to select just a few for the neon. I wanted them all to be lit up.”
The resulting artworks have been entered by Metal into the 2012’s Southend in Bloom competition.

As well as providing a decorative and interesting artwork for Chalkwell Park, the sculptures also serve a very functional purpose of providing some much needed lighting in the park during the darker winter months.

A spokesperson for Darlinghurst Primary School said of the opportunity: 'As a school, we jumped at the chance to work on this exciting project. Our Year Two’s loved working with Ron and all produced some super art work. The six children who have been chosen, and our whole school community, cannot wait to see their sculptures installed in the park.'

The artist, Ron Haselden commented: 'The children were very motivated and produced a whole array of exciting drawings. The hardest part was for us to select just a few for the neon. I wanted them all to be lit up.'

The resulting artworks were entered by Metal into the 2012’s Southend in Bloom competition and won an award.

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