Status: Removed in 2013
Commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Council as one of four entrance sculptures for South Tees Business Parks, Steve Tomlinson’s Globe incorporated the famous recycling arrows on a large representation of Earth. It was originally designed for a roundabout (to be seen in full as drivers circled) and the five tonne sculpture was hauled into place by crane in May 2007. Funding came primarily from the Tees Valley Single Programme and the council, with some additional government and private funds.
Although Tomlinson designed the work, its actual production was out of his hands, being completed inexpertly through the council. I spoke to Steve recently via email, and he spoke of his regret at the subpar manufacturing of his idea, “I’m afraid the work wasn’t done properly so it rusted quickly and was disposed of. I dreaded anything negative for my reputation at the time”.
To make matters worse, even the location was changed after installation, which somewhat ruined Tomlinson’s original vision.
“The junction became a traffic light so the work was placed on the corner. In the end it was an unsatisfying outcome as my earlier (and very different) submissions were for the corner and along the road past the steel labs.”
Over time the Sphere continued to rust and in 2013 it was removed, with Councillor Mark Hannon (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) being quoted in the Evening Gazette as saying: “There had been concerns about the condition of the globe for some time. We investigated the finances involved in having it repaired and refurbished, but it was significantly more cost-effective to have it removed.”
The work eventually ended up in a scrapyard in Dockside Road.
Additional Source
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/south-tees-business-park-earth-3665821
North East Statues 