Artists in school project

During the 1980s and 1990s, Grizedale Society initiated a project called Artists in Schools.

Some sculptures were made with schools in Grizedale and are listed here. Please click the links to go to the sculpture’s page with more information.

Wall Relief by Ken Turnell 1984

The Fort by Donald Rankin 1984

Heron and Swan by Keith Alexander and Colin Willbourn 1990

Wheel of Seasons Antony Holloway 1996 (temporary artwork)

Shadow Faces of the Forest & Millom Family Day Out by Paul Dodgson 1999

Longh & Burpg’s House by Paul Dodgson 1999

Further sculptures were made as part of this project but were sited in schools nearby. Due to these artworks being external to Grizedale, there isn’t much information about them. There are likely many more that were created I don’t know about.

Mammoth by Chris Campbell 1985 Coniston Primary School

Photograph from The Grizedale Experience

Mammoth was built a Coniston Primary school from elm cut offs.

Crier of Claife by Keith Alexander 1985 Lakes School Windermere

This is a large wooden carving made out of a lime tree. It was created and eventually sited at Lakes School on the eastern banks of Windermere. This residency lead to the creation of Heron and Swan in Satterthwaite School in Grizedale, a few years later.

Photography Courtesy of Keith Alexander

Inspired by a local ghost story about the Crier of Claife: “On stormy nights centuries ago, the ferrymen at Ferry Nab would often hear strange calls for the boat to come across the water but were too afraid to go. One night a young ferryman scoffed at their fears and rowed across. On his return whatever he had seen had terrified him so much that he couldn’t speak, and the next day he died.

The local people asked a monk who lived on one of the islands in Windermere to exorcise the ghost. On Christmas Day he took a bell and bible across the lake, and confined the ghost to the quarry and woods “until men should walk dryshod across the lake”.

To this day there are stories of walkers being followed by a hooded figure at dusk on the heights of Claife…”

Newspaper article about the artwork from 21/3/1985

Quote by the Artist: “Crier of Claife was carved in lime wood in a disused classroom with the students able to pop in and see progress and I was given a number of classes to work with who also made work based on the legend. ” The artwork was removed when the school entrance was revamped a few years ago.

Artist’s other work in Grizedale –

Heron and Swan – 1990

Antony Holloway Circle of Logs 1991 Windermere Primary School

“The Circle of Logs… consists of four sections of oak arranged to form a circle 11ft in diameter. Sheltered by a large oak tree (they) have seats cut into them. The surface of each section is carved, depicting some of the wildlife that is supported by oak woodland.

The sculpture was the result of a five day project during my 1991 summer residency at Grizedale.a Whilst (creating Living Wood) I found several sections (of oak) that were not large enough for this purpose. I chose to use them to form a circular sculpture at the school.

I had already spotted an enclosed, circular area on level ground… within the children’s play area. (This would create) a secluded place for then to sit and chat… ensuring that the children would interact and become involved with the piece after its completion.

I was assisted by the second year pupils, seventy, 8 and 9 year olds… We decided that wildlife supported by an oak woodland would be a suitable theme for the carvings. (The circle echoing) the life cycle of flora and fauna in a deciduous woodland. The children discussed which animals should be included and supplied drawings that I copied onto the logs. Each child had a turn at carving out the images.

Colour stains were used to pick out the animals an leaves… the whole surface was given a coat of linseed oil to enrich and preserve the quality of the wood… I set the logs in concrete to prevent (them moving). All of the children involved saw the sculpture as their piece. They were very proud and happy to share it with the rest of the school.”

Antony Holloway The Turning Point 1992 Ulverston Victoria High School

Photographs courtesy of Antony Holloway

Antony Holloway Slate Seat Coniston Primary School

All photographs above courtesy of Antony Holloway

The slate seat is still in situ in Coniston school playground. Only one wooden carving of a fish remains, most of the others have been filled in with slate but a couple of holes where the wood was remain. The top has also long since lost it’s wooden seat.

Photos taken August 2022

Artist’s other work in Grizedale –

Living Wood – 1991

Spiral Growth – 1993

Water Wheel – 1993

Addison Seat – 1994

Brantwood Seat – 1995

Wheel of Seasons – 1996