Landmark sculpture for Weymouth
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A landmark sculpture for Weymouth takes a step nearer to completion when the final concrete is poured for the foundations of Richard Harris’ ‘Jurassic Stones’.
The sculpture will be situated near the Jurassic roundabout in Littlemoor where motorists will take the new road through Southdown Ridge to Weymouth. It will be created using boulders which were revealed when work began in preparation for the Weymouth Relief Road.
The stones will be elevated above the water, reminiscent of a shoal of fish or flock of birds. The stainless steel pillars used to support them will reflect the surrounding environment.
Richard took his inspiration from the geology of the area and the large boulders that were discovered nearby during excavations for the road. The boulders each weigh between 2 and 9 tonnes and are known as Bencliff Grit concretions. Their formation started 160 to 65 million years ago in what would have been a tropical lagoon.
Richard Harris said:
"What I am trying to do is give an inspiring image as people come into Weymouth and to reveal the geology in a dramatic way. I was asked to consider the landscape and the context of the whole road. Some of the geology has been exposed by the cutting on Southdown Ridge, but will eventually become less visible as the grass grows. The domed form of the sculpture will echo the underling geological structure, drawing attention to something which isn’t visible – celebrating the hidden geology of Weymouth”
The idea of incorporating art in the development of the road was proposed in the Weymouth and Portland Commissioning Plan for 2012. The proposal was to make the road more attractive for local people and visitors driving to Weymouth.
The project has received funding from Arts Council England.
Arts Council England’s Director for the South West, Phil Gibby said:
“When people arrive in Weymouth for the 2012 Games, this sculpture will welcome them and connect the vibrant and creative place it is now with the geology and prehistory of its past. After the Games are over, ‘Jurassic Stones’ will remain as part of the cultural legacy.”
The project is supported by Dorset County Council.
Peter Finney, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for highways and transportation, said:
“We have worked closely with Arts Council England to include public art in the Weymouth Relief Road project. Richard has worked closely with officers at Dorset County Council and Skanska to develop a sculpture that will provide an attractive approach to Weymouth. We are delighted that work has started on this art project to complement the work on the relief road.”
The project has been managed by Celfwaith public art organisation as part of the Public Art Commissioning Plan for Weymouth and Portland.
Work is due to be finished on the sculpture in December, provided weather and conditions allow.
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Notes to Editors:
The final concrete pouring for the foundations will take place during the week beginning 31 October.
The new sculpture is created from odd shaped boulders which are examples of what geologists call 'concretions'. They come from a layer of sandstone known as the Bencliff Grit that formed about 155 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Very soon after the layers of sand were laid down, minerals started to concentrate around fragments of plant or shell within the sediment. Slowly, these minerals started to fill up the spaces between the grains of sand around these fragments forming very hard lumps within sandstone. Bencliff Grit today is mostly a very soft sandstone that easily crumbles apart in your hands, but contained within the layers of soft sandstone are these very hard concretions of various shapes and sizes.
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