New Lord Lawson Sculpture
As a Specialist Arts College we're always at the forefront of new and exciting visual art projects so to match our fantastic new building we knew we'd need some amazing works of art.
You'll notice in the central atrium of school we have installed a beautiful stone sculpture designed and hand-carved by Kendal-based sculptor, Danny Clahane. His design is based around the tree of knowledge, placed in the exact centre of the school, as if growing upwards and outwards, representing the growth and learning our students experience throughout their time at Lord Lawson of Beamish School.
"I work in stone. The material fascinates me, the endless possibilities, the long history of sculpture and the geological timescales you cut through, every time you create a piece. Stone is elemental, and I make elemental statements to do with the outer world and to do with the elemental forces between people."
Two students from our Student Council played an active part on the interview panel in February 2007 in making the final decision as to which artist was offered the commission, and the 3 short listed applicants models and drawings were presented to KS3-5 Art groups for consultation to see which one they preferred. And what a variety of student feedback we received!
It's been a long process from the initial interviews in February to the selection and commissioning of the piece through to eventual final installation of the sculpture in September, but it's definitely been worth the wait.
Hand carved, using a combination of polished granite and Portland stone, the work has links with the fabric of the building and the colour scheme in the space. The piece has already prompted a great deal of positive reaction from students and staff, with comments like, "It's given the space a real focus" , "There's a feeling of calmness in this area now", and "The colours and feel of the stone are so cool and peaceful".
So - what do YOU think about it? How does the sculpture make YOU feel when you look at it? Watch this space for more unique LLOB artwork - who knows, next time YOU might be involved!