It got nearly 16,000 visitors in the first week, which is not bad going

The great thing about this is that it's made many people, including myself, aware of an element of their cultural heritage that they weren't aware of before. I hope both communities benefit from this.

As for Moore v Hepworth, I'll be honest, although I've heard of her, I know nothing about the work of Barbara Hepworth. I've seen some Henry Moore sculptures at Bretton, and I like them.
It's nice to have 2 of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century from Waklefield (and district

), isn't it? Let's hope many are inspired by this.

Agreed.

We just got to keep them maintained, Pugnees is still going strong as is Yorkshire sculpture park, National Coal Museum is still on the up despite some recent bad news with a fatal accident. I'm not sure if Sandal Castle and its visitor centre has recovered from some bad vandalism yet though. Also it's a shame the bird watching erection has been removed because of underage drinkers at the fairly hidden gem Wintersett that's near Crofton.

Not something that would grab me, not into my art at all but i dont begrudge others the chance to go see it, if i was thinking of trying to get interested i would be visiting Bretton Hall way before visiting the gallery. [soapboxThe money for me should have gone elsewhere in the district and no i dont mean a new stadium for us i mean into health and education, maybe not so much on health now but certainly in education, not sure whats going on there but some of the techniques they show kids for doing maths these days is truely baffling, the little one showed me a way how to add up numbers the other day and i could not believe what she was showing me, any educated type care to tell me what the hell method is this to teach kids? What is wrong with the plain simple adding up columns of numbers? Times-tables? im pretty certain that i was doing times-tables from a very young age, my kids are starting much later, my wife went to a forward thinking school down south, she never learned her times table and cant add up for toffee, I did the standard 12x12 like every other kid i knew and my maths is pretty good and its something i use constantly without thinking

















'"

I think you're talking about number-lines there; I can't explain it properly, but there is some fairly sound research about how kids conceptualize numbers to back up the technique - do a bit of Googling and you'll probably get what you're after.

As for the education vs Hepworth argument - I see this as adding significant value to the educational opportunities on offer to all schools in the district; it has learning studios that I'm sure will be available to school visits, they're putting on loads of workshops and hands-on exercises for kids and best of all, it's free.

I'm sold on it - can't think of any downsides.

They could have painted it.

They could!



Can't really see a downside now it's open, Trinity Walk is up and running and the Bull Ring has been revamped. Hopefully bars, restaurants ect will set up down by the Calder and make that area a decnt place to go. I also hope that schools in the area make use of the Hepworth as it is an excellent opportunity to open kids minds to something different.

My mum says it looks like our old coal bunker.

Outside, there's a plaque where the architect explains that the stark, industrial feel of the building is meant to reflect the industrial heritage of the area and it's immediate environment, and to mirror the scale and angular lines of Hepworth's work. And that.

Back to Wakefield Stars - time to lobby for Neil Fox to be included? If I were Mr Elston, I'd have WTW leading that campaign.

With that in mind, does anyone know what the progress is on the Neil Fox statue? Has enough money actually been raised yet? It was a big ask from what I can remember.

I like the angular lines and what have you but I just think it would look a lot better if it wasn't battle ship grey.

If someone agrees to paint it balamory style then i will give it a go until then i will do my own art.

Not sure how true it is, but I think it should have been polished but the council ran out of funds to do it.

You can't polish a turd!

I don't mind it viewed over the river from the bridge but it kinda looks bad being opposite Chantry Bridge, a real piece of art/craft. New and old architecture very rarely juxtaposes well. Probably best Paul Sykes has past on now Trinity Walk is up and running.

Interesting you should mention Chantry Chapel - there's a room in the Hepworth dedicated to artistic interpretations of it through the years, with a massive floor to ceiling window you can sit in to view the real thing; very cleverly done.

The Hepworth gallery is a shrine to one mans ego Mr BOX (not Bren in this case).

No one wanted it, no one cares who Barbara Hepworth was, no one will visit it, it's a white elephant. Had the demands of themasses actaully have been considered it should have been a swimming pool or dare I say a Community Stadium ho hum.

However it's there now, no point crying over spilled milk we will have to make the best of this pointless carbunckel! I'm fairly sure that it won't profit as a Sculpture Museum alone and will have to widen it's remit - perhaps a RL hall of fame?

Yes of course it needs painting, it's hideous enough as it is so it can only help. A nice magnolia would suit.

heard the hepworth is supposed to change colour at night and that is why its painted that way,dont know if it works tho.
neil fox should defo have a star,what about george duffield the horse racing jockey?

Further evidence, if any were needed, that vastman is dead inside; I pity him - he reminds me of Gollum, sitting alone in a dark cave, consumed by cycnicism and self-loathing, his only comfort a small scrap of paper gripped in his clammy hand; a scrap of paper bearing Ted's phone number, known to vasty as "The Preciousssssss!"

For once, I agree with you

The irony of mentioning Box's ego, when compared to Vasty's, 'tis nothing but an atom.

YAWN, you're so pretentious - you have got to be a teacher or a civil servant in real life - go on I'm right aren't I

Have to agree with you there, but I haven't just wasted millions of pounds of your hard earned have I

Is that you Voaksey?!

In your opinion, it was 'wasted', to people who can see beyond their own nose, it wasn't.