Seven giant heads landed in front of Stockport train station on Wednesday afternoon – to raise awareness of electronic waste.
Called Mount Recyclemore, the sculpture uses thousands of items of electronic waste (e-waste) – from old cameras, cell phones, and computers – to recreate the leaders of the G7 nations.
Originally built and exhibited for the G7 conference in Cornwall – where the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US discussed major political issues – the sculpture was brought home by MusicMagpie, its commissioner .
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For Steve Oliver, who founded the company in Hazel Grove and is currently CEO in the city center, the artwork is an example of what the district “stands for”.
“I think we were so overwhelmed by the response that was getting in Cornwall.
“If we can bring it to Stockport and give Mount Recyclemore a second life, it is very important to Stockport’s hearts and desires and what we stand for as a district.”
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Council vice chairman Tom McGee added that the work will help put Stockport on the map.
Mount Recyclemore, a play on legendary Mount Rushmore with the faces of four US presidents, was officially opened on Wednesday (July 21) with the help of children from St. Matthew’s Primary School in Edgeley.
It will be in use for eight weeks during the school holidays and features an interactive quiz that families can take on their phone with a QR code on the pedestal.
As soon as the exhibition time is up, there will be “ongoing” discussions about how the piece will be disposed of – the MEN understand that this largely depends on the state of the structure at the end of the run.
The installation of the work was funded in part by Stockport City Council, which used “a small portion” of a “government grant to drive traffic to the city center” to pay for the scaffolding that supports the heads.
Mount Recyclemore also serves as a physical vote of confidence that Stockport is a “good place to do business,” says Oliver.
“Everything we want is here,” he adds, “it makes all the sense in the world to stay here.
“I sum it up as a cost – it’s cheaper here than Manchester, connectivity – with the transport links and culture – the city council, Totally Stockport and BID worked really hard on that.
“That is both the day and the night economy – look at what is happening in the market and the production hall.”
Mount Recyclemore, along with the Frog Trail, is a sign of the future, says Coun McGee.
“The fact that it is on top and the frog track is parallel, [will mean] You will have a lot of children in the next six weeks who will come here and hunt a frog – then so be it, what is it?
“I think the combination of everything shows that we as a community are serious about being greener, it is the beginning of a process.”
The artwork’s unveiling was warmly received by both passers-by and those on social media, with a couple at the Stockport Exchange saying it was “brilliant.”
Other fans include The Lord Goddard, Baron of Stockport, who tweeted it was “absolutely great.”
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