Running Table

David Nash – Farra Grain – 1978

Photograph from ‘A Sense of Place’ 1984 by Richard Padwick

Material: Wood

Trail: Silurian Way

Size: 5.5ft High x 10ft Long x 4ft across. Half-ton weight.

Theme: Nature

Form: Abstract

Maps Featured on: 1981 – 1999

Status: Removed, no remains

Quote from the artist – “Chose a group of fallen oaks, dismantled them to gain the four tree sections needed for the table. Completed table in two weeks and sited it on Silurian trail where it appeared to be running off the track into the trees.”

Photograph showing creation of the piece, from ‘The Sculpture of David Nash’ book

Below are two maquettes for Running Table, created in the same way as the full sizes sculpture, but using smaller branches. These are now housed in Grizedale Arts office in Coniston

Photographs Taken June 2019

This was the first sculpture to be made at Grizedale,  although Richard Harris was the first residency he didn’t create his Cliff & Quarry Structures until after Nash had arrived and created this piece.  Running Table was positioned right by the path at Farra Grain. It went through a couple of iterations as it was at one point vandalised. The photograph at the top of this page is the oldest as it matches Nash’s initial sketch of the artwork which can be seen here. The other two photographs on this page show the sculpture post renovation. Now rather than the table sloping down at each end it flicks upwards.

Photo from Grizedale Archive by Mike Oram

Nash worked with a team of art students from Lancaster to build Running Table. The pictures above don’t show the scale of the artwork, it was larger than it looks. A bike leaning up against it reached approximately half way up the leg. Running Table last appeared on the 1999 map, soon after which it was completely removed.

Photo by Bill Grant

Photo taken June 2021

Nash made further Running Tables the one above, from 1982, featured in the 2021 David Nash exhibition at Grizedale. Seeing it inside a building really shows the scale of the work.

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Artist’s other work in Grizedale –

Horned Tripod – 1978

Willow Ladders – 1978

Wooden Waterway – 1978

Sweeping Larch Enclosure – 1978

Fork Ladders – 1978

A Meeting of Ways – 1981

David Nash Return to the Forest Exhibition – 2021

Page last updated Jan 2021