:Springfield Doughnut
{{Short description|Sculpture in Springfield, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox artwork
| image = Donut-springfield-nz (person deleted).jpg
| caption = The original Springfield Doughnut from 2007
| year = 2007, 2012
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 7
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q122362639|type:landmark_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
| type = Concrete
| diameter_metric = 3.5
| imperial_unit = ft
| metric_unit = m
| city = Springfield, New Zealand
}}
The Springfield Doughnut is a sculpture of a pink doughnut with sprinkles located in Springfield, New Zealand. It is based on the doughnut frequently featured in the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, which is set in a city also named Springfield. It was presented to the town by 20th Century Fox to promote the 2007 film The Simpsons Movie.{{Cite web |title=History of the Simpsons Donut in Springfield, New Zealand |url=https://www.bachcare.co.nz/blog/simpsons-donut-springfield-nz/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Bachcare |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913175840/https://www.bachcare.co.nz/blog/simpsons-donut-springfield-nz/ |url-status=live}} The sculpture has a diameter of {{convert|3.5|m}} and weighs {{convert|6|t}}.{{Cite news |last=Eleven |first=Beck |date=2009-09-27 |title=Dohhh! the donut's done for |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2907831/Dohhh-the-donuts-done-for |access-date=2023-09-09 |work=Stuff |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714173109/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2907831/Dohhh-the-donuts-done-for |url-status=live}}
History
The original sculpture, constructed from polystyrene encased in fibreglass, was first presented to the town of Springfield in July 2007 by 20th Century Fox in efforts to promote the 2007 film The Simpsons Movie. It was given a resource consent that said the doughnut would only be in place for six weeks. In September 2009, an arsonist lit the doughnut on fire, which destroyed it. As this occurred on the same day as the consent hearings discussing whether the sculpture should remain permanently, there was suspicion that the perpetrator was an opponent of the doughnut who saw it as a degradation of the landscape or believed that the town should "not associate with American cartoons about dysfunctional families". Afterwards, Springfield locals painted a tractor tyre pink and tan and adorned it with sprinkles to take the place of the destroyed sculpture. They also removed part of the tyre to represent a bite taken from the doughnut.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-10 |title=Cost of repainting big donut hard to swallow |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/cost-repainting-big-donut-hard-swallow |access-date=2023-09-09 |work=Otago Daily Times |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913175836/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/cost-repainting-big-donut-hard-swallow |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Springfield Doughnut |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/springfield-doughnut |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=Atlas Obscura |archive-date=12 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712033441/https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/springfield-doughnut |url-status=live}}
On the afternoon of 1 July 2012, a replacement sculpture was unveiled. This sculpture is made from concrete, has a diameter of {{convert|3.5|m}} and weighs {{convert|6|t}}. It is fireproof and has steps that allow people to take pictures with their heads poking through the middle.{{Cite news |date=2012-07-01 |title=New doughnut for Springfield |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7201428/New-doughnut-for-Springfield |access-date=2023-09-09 |work=Stuff |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718110124/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7201428/New-doughnut-for-Springfield |url-status=live}} Between 2020 and 2023, after the paintwork began flaking and falling off, the sculpture was repainted four times, costing $17,864.{{Cite news |last=Alvey |first=Daniel |date=2023-08-10 |title=Specialist paint needed to repair Springfield's flaking donut |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-districts/star-selwyn/specialist-paint-needed-repair-springfields-flaking-donut |access-date=2023-09-09 |work=Otago Daily Times |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913175837/https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-districts/star-selwyn/specialist-paint-needed-repair-springfields-flaking-donut |url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Selwyn District, New Zealand}}
{{The Simpsons}}
Category:2007 establishments in New Zealand
Category:2012 establishments in New Zealand
Category:Big things of New Zealand
Category:Buildings and structures destroyed by arson
Category:Buildings and structures in the Canterbury Region
Category:Outdoor sculptures in New Zealand
Category:Polystyrene sculptures
Category:Tourist attractions in the Canterbury Region
Category:Vandalized works of art