Bishop to unveil village's artistic centrepiece

THE new centrepiece for St Michael’s Square, Mytholmroyd, is to be unveiled this weekend by the Bishop of Wakefield.

Sculptor Nicolas Moreton’s Eye and the Needle is the culmination of a year-long process that has seen local people involved in the selection of both the artist and design of the finished work.

The sculpture, funded by regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward and Calderdale Council, is being installed in the pedestrian area of the Square, near to the river Calder, and is intended to form a spiritual heart for Mytholmroyd.

Vicar of Mytholmroyd and chairman of Upper Calder Valley Renaissance, Canon James Allison, said: “Nicolas has created a work that functions both as a sculptural focal point but also a place of social inclusion for sitting around, trading from or even performances to occur.”

Mr Moreton’s design was chosen following consultation with the local community in the summer. Four words, chosen by local people, have also been carved onto the granite benches that support the table structure, and a line of Ted Hughes’ poetry has been incorporated.

Mr Moreton describes the sculpture as consisting of two main elements referencing local trade and the church, one a horizontal plane of pure granite, the other a vertical axis made from steel.

He said: “By generating people’s interest and input into the sculpture and seeing how the square has already been taken to the community’s heart, I am sure that the creation and implementation of this public space will be a huge success.”

Nicolas Moreton has been the subject of numerous articles and TV programmes and praised by art critics.

Calderdale Council’s portfolio holder for economy and the environment, Amanda Byrne, added: “Mytholmroyd can be proud of its new centrepiece, which provides the finishing touch to the new square.

“The council is grateful for the support of Yorkshire Forward, and to our community partners, Royd Regeneration and St Michael’s Church, for their valued contributions to the project.”

The Bishop of Wakefield, Stephen Platten, will unveil the Eye and the Needle on Sunday at 3pm.