We asked artists to propose ideas for site-specific sculptures in unexpected places, linked to the Horbury Aviary project, the Red Box Gallery, and to one of Wakefield’s most famous sons, the legendary naturalist Charles Waterton (1782 – 1865), who lived at Walton Hall. Waterton was a pioneering naturalist and explorer, and inspiration to Charles Darwin and David Attenborough. A generation of schoolchildren grew up fascinated by the tall tales in his book ‘Wanderings in South America’ - of riding a large crocodile, and failing to be bitten by vampire bats in Guyana, though he left his toe deliberately exposed from his hammock night after night. He created a bird sanctuary at Walton Hall, climbed trees until his old age so he could peer into birds’ nests, and was a famous eccentric. The street parade in May was themed around Waterton’s Fantastic Beasts, and this sculpture trail also takes its cue from his remarkable life.
Five artists have made public artworks for us. You can find out more about them and their work by picking up a map at local shops and Cluntergate Centre, or following us on social media.
www.horburysculpturetrail.org.uk
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The Artists:
Sarah Dewhurt
The Squire’s Green Hands
When visiting Rome Waterton apparently climbed to the top of St Peter’s Cathedral and hung his gloves there, only for Pope Pius VII to order him to go back up and fetch them, which he promptly did. Sarah will place large-scale gloves in high spots around Horbury in partial re-enactment of Waterton’s exploit.
Stathis Dimitriadis
Content
Stathis has worked with local people to make clay tiles, which are installed in the Red Box Gallery and also on the corner of Queen Street and Cross Keys Court. Stathis asked people to make phrases which are sometimes funny, at other times profound, which echo conversations that might have been overheard there in the past.
Benjamin Golding
Vox Naturae
Ben’s large temporary cardboard installation, made from thousands of tiny shards, spreads organically around a pillar in Horbury Library. Seeming almost alive, perhaps plant, maybe animal, this is an intricate and intriguing sculpture which looks as if it is taking over the building.
Adrian Riley
Tweet-O-Matic
Located at the corner of Queen Street and Cross Keys Court, Adrian has made a set of three adapted bird-boxes, celebrating Waterton’s placing of nesting boxes around his estate. Each box dispenses tickets of phonetic birdsong, which visitors can collect, just as Waterton collected rare bird species for his reserve at Walton Hall.
Théo Welch-King
Waterton Tree
Placed in Stan Barstow Gardens, Théo’s large structure is bold and bright, echoing Waterton’s colourful character. It sits next to a large Silver Birch, but this tree is made of metal, and Théo contrasts the appearance of the tree with the material of which it is made.