Coulsdon Sixth Form College, Placehouse Lane, Croydon, recently made the news when a newly commissioned sculpture was installed in the grounds of the college. The piece represents ″the fountain of knowledge″ and was specially created by the sculptor Mark Folds, who lives in Wales.
Speaking about his work, Mr Folds expressed the view that public art should be made by members of the public. He also described how he had worked with the students at the Croydon college encouraging them to think about why learning is so vital to their future.
During the installation, about 30 students from the Croydon campus helped Mr Folds add the finishing touches to the art work. The students added their own artistic contributions by carving items such as brains and owls, both concepts related to learning and knowledge, into the top of the sculpture.
The work has been created from blue limestone, and it took the artist about six months to design and execute. Croydon’s ″fountain of knowledge″ has been topped with marble imported from Carrara Quarry in northern Italy. Italian marble like this was much favoured by the great artist Michelangelo who used it for many of his most famous sculptures. The marble for this particular art work has been supplied by Michelangelo’s favourite quarry.
Coulsdon Sixth Form College’s Croydon campus will soon have a second sculpture. This will be dedicated to the memory of Squadron Leader Caesar B. Hull who died in the Croydon area during the Battle of Britain.