New Blackburn sculpture plan unveiled (From Lancashire Telegraph)

New Blackburn sculpture plan unveiled

11:00am Thursday 15th May 2014 in News By Dan Clough , Reporter

PLANS have been submitted to install another metal sculpture on a roundabout at the gateway to Blackburn.

Newground chief Nick Riley has asked Blackburn with Darwen Council for permission to install the artwork on the Haslingden Road roundabout near DW Fitness and Eurogarages HQ.

The sculpture, made entirely of metal and featuring a figure of a woman sat down with their palm outstretched, has long hair made out of steel chains.

It has been made by Chorley artist John Everiss as part of a display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and it is hoped that once the show is over, it can be shipped to Blackburn to take pride of place on the road.

The move follows the successful relocation of the stags sculpture which was made by Mr Everiss under the same circumstances last year before being relocated to the roundabout outside Royal Blackburn Hospital. And with the beehive sculpture adorning the roundabout by Shadsworth Industrial Estate, it will mean there is artwork on every roundabout on the approach to Blackburn from the M65.

Artist John Everiss said following the success of the stags last year, he and Nick Riley had come up with the concept for this year’s piece before it was designed.

Mr Everiss said: “Nick has been doing some work with young people who have been helped by the Reachout project in Darwen, which promotes creating a better life through various means, including horticulture. So the design reflects that as we have the girl who is about to go on a journey from despair to the better end of the garden.”