The 2m high polished concrete public art celebrates key aspects of Ilkeston’s roots as an Anglo Saxon settlement and its industrial and cultural heritage from iron and coal to lace and the annual charter fair.
Students from the Joseph Wright post-16 Academic and Arts college were tasked with designing the obelisk at Ilkeston Community College which was built on the site of the former Magistrates Court in Pimlico and opened in 2014.
Art and Design teacher Pete Gardner explained: “This project has given the students excellent real life work experience – working to a specific brief, problem-solving, presenting designs to the client, investigating materials and creating the finished structure.
“The obelisk looks wonderful in situ and the whole team is very proud of their collective work.”
The student team included Yoana Boynova (19) who lives in Ilkeston. She said: “Everyone worked really well together and it is great to see the result of our hard work – particularly in my home town.”
