Art in Stone
By Claire Santry, Natural Stone Specialist
November 2003
Renewed interest in carving and sculpture, plus a favourable economic climate, mean that many artists are enjoying a happy level of commissions and plenty of opportunity to exhibit their work. Claire Santry takes a look at some recent work by artists who specialise in stone.
Since completing his award winning Tibetan Peace Garden in London, Hamish Horsley has been working on another public art project, this time in Southampton. It is in the Pavilions, a new housing development, and was commissioned by Bryant Homes in association with Southampton Council’s public art office under the Percent for Art scheme.
“They wanted a central piece for a new square and they wanted it to occupy the whole space” says Hamish. “I came up with something that people could walk through and be involved in directly. It is also surrounded by rather tall houses from which you get a completely different view to that at ground level”.
The three 2m high central pillars are [carved] in New Independent Whitbed by Albion Stone Quarries. These are surrounded by shapes [carved] in Purbeck Cap which were quarried and cut by Haysom Quarries while the Yorkstone steps and pool are cut from Dunhouse Buff sandstone. The work, called Plateau, is completed with river stones and planting.