Jo Chapman

ChalkStack 2024

Ashmere, Ebbsfleet Garden City

Significant Gateway Public Art Commission

Development partners: Countryside Clarion (Eastern Quarry) LLP and Henley Camland Landscape

Architects: Define

Public Art Consultants: FrancisKnight

Nominated for the PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture 2025

A significant gateway sculpture for the new development at Ashmere, Ebbsfleet Garden City that plays on the idea of stacked drawing chalks. A light-hearted approach that makes visible one of the many end products of quarrying chalk. Inspired by the soft colours of drawing chalks the sculpture also makes use of geometric pattern and colour.

At approximately six metres high the sculpture stands at the entrance in an elevated position on the terraced landscape, it is intended to be playful, whimsical and impactful. Using strong colour to stand out against the trees and landscaping of the entrance and so it can be seen from a distance on the surrounding roads and paths. The organic shaped profile of the sculpture is inspired by the shapes of a piece of flint found at the site.

Consultation events and workshops were held with the local community.