Local artist Jeremy Wooldridge’s design has been selected by The Rockefeller Center to be part of its public art installation in New York City. Jeremy notably designed Brisbane City Council’s Southbank Metro Station after winning Brisbane City Council’s 4000 Ideas design competition. He also designed the Moreton Police District Memorial for the new Caboolture Police headquarters last year.
The international design challenge was issued in May by the New York City landmark. The Rockefeller Center asked artists to design flags that represented any aspect of New York’s diverse culture and to submit them in June. The competition received more than 1200 entries from around the world. The flags will fly around The Rockefeller Center’s famous ice rink and restaurant plaza replacing the flag of the members of the United Nations that usually fly there year-round. The Exhibit is open to the public from August 1 to 16.
Jeremy’s design celebrates the city’s essential workers during the height of the Coronavirus pandemic. New York made headlines around the world as the first major city outbreak, going into full lockdown for 100 days. During that time essential services were still running, and those workers risked their lives and health to make sure New York was still able to run. “I wanted to create a flag with a simple design that was able to portray the mammoth and selfless effort of all essential workers during the pandemic. My design depicts a collection of hands representing all the essential workers creating a negative space of the state of New York.”
Jeremy attended the University of Queensland completing his Masters degree in Architecture. He has notably been working on the New Performing Arts Centre as part of QPAC’s extension in Southbank. In addition to the artwork selected, the Rockefeller Center commissioned work from 13 of New York’s most respected artists, including sculptor Jeff Koons, artist Marina Abramovi?, fashion designer Christian Siriano and graffiti artist KAWS. “It is very special to have been selected to have my design flown in Rockefeller Center Plaza,” Jeremy said. “But being alongside some of the most respectable artists makes it even more spectacular.”
Jeremy temporarily moved to New York City on a work visa and experienced the height of the COVID-19 Outbreak. He mentions “It was a very scary time being in the city that never sleeps… at a time where it had to shut down. At the time the streets were solely filled with noise of sirens. Though there is a strong saying in the city, being ‘New York Tough’ meaning being Smart, United, Disciplined and Loving – all aspects that I wanted to include in my design.”
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