Residents of Horsham were out in force to see the results of their artistic efforts this week, as a new sculpture was unveiled at Highwood Village.
Local artist Jon Edgar has been sculpting an eight-tonne block of stone by hand throughout the year, helped along the way by the Horsham community.
Locals made the first chisel marks on the stone and dozens of local families have been practising their carving skills over the last few months. 360 hours and millions of cuts later, they have produced fantastic new piece of public art.
The installation was commissioned by Berkeley to support Horsham District's Year of Culture 2019, and now proudly sits in Landmark Square.
It includes nods to local landmarks, like the medieval mill shack, native trees and animals. The reference to the numerous streams and rivers nearby earnt the statue the name "Fluvius"; the Latin for waterways.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Cllr Jonathan Chowen said: "I am delighted to see the final design and finished sculpture at Highwood Village. It's not often that members of the community have the opportunity to help shape and design a new piece of public art. At the outset of the Horsham District Year of Culture our rally call to everyone was to "get involved" and this project certainly achieved this for many residents and visitors, not least the new residents of the recently constructed Highwood Village. The sculpture provides a lasting legacy of the Year of Culture for people to enjoy in years to come. It will make an enduring impression on the environment and community at Highwood. My thanks go out to Berkeley Homes for commissioning such an original and imaginative community project."
Ben Annetts, Sales and Marketing Director at Berkeley Southern said: "It was brilliant to see so many locals come out to celebrate this new piece of art at Highwood Village. The sculpture is for the local community to enjoy, and we were delighted that they were so hands-on with its creation. The final piece is magnificent and we would like to thank and congratulate Jon Edgar for executing it so well."
You can read more about the sculpting process on Jon Edgar's blog here.
Highwood Village is a vibrant new community, within easy walking distance of Horsham town centre. Stylish apartments and family homes are now available. Help to Buy is available on a selection of homes.