Russell Mills – Woods Head – 1987
Alternate Titles: Shintin
Material: Stone, Wood
Trail: Millwood Trail
Theme: Building
Form: Abstract
Maps Featured on: 1989
Status: Removed, no remains
Russell Mills was commissioned by Northern Arts to produce a sculpture in homage to Kurt Schwitters and to mark the centenary of his birth. Schwitters was a German born artist who fled to England during the war and lived his later years penniless in the Lake District. It was here, in Elterwater that he created his most famous artwork the Merz Barn wall, which is now perminantly on display in Newcastle Hatton Gallery, having been saved from dereliction by them in the 1960s. The actual barn still stands and can be visited, courtesy of the owner.
Mills had help from his friend Ian Walton, a fellow Schwitters aficionado. Together they spent two full weeks created the sculpture, using materials found in the forest. The location wasn’t the first choice, however other sites in the forest were not allowed due to other projects at the time. It was positioned on the Silurain Way just above the Kennels buildings.
The sculpture “ended up comprising two drystone walls either side of a tangle of vertical poles and branches. With foundations dug to about 2’ deep, the walls were built to about 7’ high and were about 3’ wide at the base tapering to about 1’ at the top. Within the wall and in amongst the vertical tangle we built in or inserted niches holding various found objects – reliquaries to Schwitters and the collage principle. Materials used included stone, wood and found objects such as old boxes, rusted metal and a split red rubber ball. Schwitters’ Elterwater Merz barn relief served as our influence and inspiration: the finding and inclusion of the red rubber ball being a fortuitous and direct nod to his relief. (A family of mice took up residence soon after we’d completed it.)” – Mills
The title came near completion of the sculpture, having been asked for a title several times Mills decided on the name Shintin, which initially sounds nonsensical. It is infact Yorkshire slang for ‘the lady’s not at home’. “I came up with the title for several reasons: I’m from Yorkshire; I liked the sound of the word; and, importantly, I was sure Schwitters would’ve approved of the joke and its ambiguity”.
Last listed on the 1988 map, it was gone by 1991. Supposedly visitors had caused damage to the work, using it as a vantage point during a car rally, so much so it couldn’t be rebuilt. Though it was also rumoured to be taken down as it wasn’t a Grizedale commission and wasn’t necessarily liked. As an homage to Kurt Schwitters it is perfect, encapsulating his love of found objects and local materials. Schwitters was never appreciated in his time, it seems maybe this sculpture wasn’t either.
Artist’s Website: russellmills.com/russell_mills/
Page last updated April 2020
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