Film & Television

Films featuring Grizedale Sculpture Trail

I haven’t been able to find a copies of these films but the description from Arts on Film explains what they feature:

Grizedale A sense of Place – 1989

“Examples of the art works including Joanna Hull’s Circus (1988), and Quarry Structure (1977) by Richard Harris. Andy Goldsworthy working on slate construction. Wooden Waterway (1978) with VO of its creator, David Nash. Nash talks about the importance of seeing the sculptures as the result of an artist’s work, not as a memorial; they should be removed once they’re no longer what the artist conceived. Wooden Waterway. Nash says Grizedale is “not a sculpture park”, but “a working situation … a big studio”. Sally Matthews’s Wild Boar Clearing (1987). Matthews talking about how she wants people to react to the boars. Making a boar from brush, mud and wire. John Cubby, Wildlife Ranger, talking about the sculptures. Stag. Sophie Ryder working on Grizedale Stag (1986).

Ting (1984) which “has become part of the folk mythology of this area”. Interior the Manor House pub: Ray Haslam and Friends sing the Ting Song about “a great metal ring in a tree”. Local man says that, though he doesn’t care for this work, his daughter and younger people are “enthralled by it”. Sculptor Colin Rose talks about his piece. Two forest workers talking about the sculptures in general, and Ting in particular. They think this steel ring doesn’t really relate to its surroundings, and report the conversation they had with Rose. The buildings of the old Grizedale estate. “The Theatre in the Forest” hosts a concert. Picnic table. Sculpture. Walkers on the Silurian Way. Visitors interviewed about what they do when they come to Grizedale and about their reactions to the sculptures, many of which they saw being constructed. Chieftain in a Hot Spot (1988, Andy Frost). Private Meeting (1984, Robert Koenig). The Woodwinders (1984) by David Kemp Group being photographed beside Woodcutter. Visitors Centre assistant selling booklet showing sculptures and their locations. Playground designed by Andy Frost. Frost talks about the concept and about individual parts of the playground, including a roundabout and Game Bird Shoot.

Visitors play on Frost’s Shootin’ Moose (1987). Frost talking about Last Stand at Bogle Crag (1985). Isles talks about preserving “the sense of being on your own”. Bill Grant, talks about the artists’ residency scheme. Richard Harris collecting spruce stems. He talks about his work at Grizedale. Hollow Spruce (1980). He likes the idea that the sculptures are temporary. Grant walking through Harris’s Dry Stone Passage (1982). Mike Bowerbank, a dry stone waller who has worked with several of the sculptors. Bowerbank and Pat Leighton and her Silurian Cant (1986). Photographs. Leighton’s VO on the development of the project. Visitors not sure what this work is about. Leighton talking to them. Believes the sculpture project has encouraged visitors and helped the local economy. Nash on the importance of ensuring that the local forestry workers felt that he was working as hard as they were. Voysey talking about co-operation between the artistis and the foresters, about selecting artists, etc. Installing Kemp’s Ancient Forester (1988). Kemp working on another large piece; he talks about relationship between the sculpture and the environment and about the importance of the site; other works.

Andy Goldsworthy’s Seven Spires (1984). Photographs of Goldsworthy at work and of more ephemeral works. Goldsworthy talking about shapes of leaves, slate, etc. Working on a slate tower, talking about how he makes pieces. The construction suddenly collapses. John Atkin working in clay on Domestic Appliance (1987) in an abandoned saw-mill; explains why he chose not to work on site. Saw-mill converted to an exhibition space. Grant, seated beside some of Matthews’s boars, paintings, the completed Domestic Appliance, etc., wants “to work on” “the unconverted”. School class with Donald Rankin. Rankin working with children on the dry stone Fort (1984) in the Satterthwaite school grounds. Talks about how this introduces the children to sculpture at an early age, and how this project has brought back to him memories of his childhood.”

Woodman: David Nash Sculptor – 1978

“Nash’s VO describes the making of his Running Table (1978) at Grizedale. Working on Horned Tripod (1978); the need to use metal stakes to secure it made him think about planting a tall structure – Willow Ladder (1978) – and Sweeping Larch Enclosure (1978). A larch tree; drawing for the Enclosure. Parts of Wooden Waterway (1978).”

Andy Goldsworthy Grizedale – 1987

A short film showing Seven Spires and Sidewinder.

Countryfile – 1990? – BBC One

Grizedale Sculpture trail was shown on an episode of Countryfile after it had won the Prudential award around 1990. Unknown content.

The Lakes with Paul Rose – 2019 – BBC One

This was a 4 part series. Part of one episode featured Charlie Whinney creating Sharing (2017).

Being Here – Works by Richard Harris – 2022 – Culture Colony

A video to accompany an exhibition at Grizedale featuring Harris discussing his work and inspiration from starting in Grizedale and coming full circle.

https://culturecolony.com/en/media/video/richard-harris-being-here

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