Unsuccessful Proposals

Over the years there must have been countless proposals for sculptures that didn’t come to fruition. The few I know about are listed here, often they never happened due to expenses or planning permission.

Aerial Walkway

Colin Rose – 1990

In The Times 1990 there is reference to this sculpture. “Winning the 1990 Prudential Award would enable Grant to erect one of Grizedale’s most impressive sculptures. It is being created by Colin Rose and is called “Aerial Walkway”. It is exactly what its title implies; a catwalk through the treetops linking two sides of a ravine some 30 feet above the ground. The result, as with so many of the Grizedale Sculptures, should be sheer magic.”

This refers to a bridge sited on the Ridding Wood in 1991 to allow the trail to be accessible to everyone. The only question is, is the bridge that was installed designed by Colin Rose? It does span the ravine, and is high enough to be in the trees. If so this has never been documented as being created by Colin Rose, or indeed being a sculpture. Is it possible Rose did design a bridge that never came to fruition and instead they installed the one they did? Or is it actually, without anyone knowing, a sculpture.

Photos taken June 2021

Oak Tree Fold

Andy Goldsworthy – 1995 

This was a proposal sketch of a circular sheep fold around an oak tree. This proposal was just prior or consecutive with the start of the Sheepfold Project, where Goldsworthy repaired multiple sheepfolds across cumbria. Information on this project can be found here.

Below is a mock up of how it would have looked based on the sketch I’ve seen. I’ve used a photograph I took of one of Goldsworthy’s Sheepfolds called ‘Jack’s fold’ which is identical to the one proposed.

Grizedale Cones

Andy Goldsworthy – 1997

This proposal was to create a group of 5 cones. The sketch shows the cones would have been made from larger pieces of slate to the cone in the Gallery, more reminiscent of ‘Cone’ made in 1993 which is in Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.

Below is a mock up how it would have looked based on the sketch I have seen. I used my photograph of Goldsworthy’s Cone in Edinburgh to create the cluster of cones seen here.

Unknown Title

Joanne Tatham & Tom O’Sullivan – 2001 

“The artists put forward a proposal to construct an ambitious land art structure at Grizedale, which had its roots in early minimalist land art projects. Unfortunately Grizedale are unable to implement their proposal at present due to cost implications and planning permission.” – Grizedale Arts Website

Ark

Mark Wallinger – 2003

We are currently working with Mark on the development of an Ark, as described in the Bible, to be sited here at Grizedale. This will be approximately 470′ long and will be made from wood. This is a large-scale project that will take approximately 3 years to complete. – Quote from Grizedale Arts.

Art Roots:

High Fell House

Andrew Sabin – Site of Grizedale Hall – 2013 to 2018

This is a test proposal for a large sculpture to be made near Moor Top. The idea was for a huge metal frame in the shape of a building to be sited and then covered with tree stumps.

Next to the frame was a board explaining the proposal. Since summer 2018 the interpretation boards have been removed, the frame subsequently went in late 2018. Could this still be on the cards?

Photographs taken September 2017

andrewsabin.org/index.php?/2013/work/high-fell_house/

Other ideas suggested as part of Art Roots:

On The Ridding Wood Trail an “Internationally renowned Lead Artist (would) develop the overall identity and landform of the trail itself and mentor the (5 other) commissioned artists.”

On The Millwood Trail “Commissioning and siting two triptychs of permanently sited artworks by two internationally renowned sculptors which respond to the woodland and agricultural setting.”

Neither of these proposals happened but they were only suggested as part of a larger programme designed to reinvigorate the sculpture trail, of which other aspects were finished.