Saturday 1 September 2012

PLAYING STATUES


It's the first fine day in ages, we're stuck in Yorkshire. Where shall we go? WAKEFIELD!

Yes, we have sheep, and we also have Art in Yorkshire.

Sculpture in a picturesque country house landscape.

Here is a Henry Moore.

We're allowed to play in this Anthony Caro piece...

...but don't climb on this sculpture, please.

               A peacock butterfly on a Native American totem pole.

This is the roof of a camera obscura, its outside appearance as unsettling as the topsy-turvy image inside.


There were whimsical Spanish visitors at the Joan Miro exhibition.



"I always thought that Miro was a woman..." said Mr N.

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All this fun and culture is free at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

18 comments:

  1. Oh THANK you, Nilly! We used to live close by to the YSP and spent almost every free weekend there. We missed the Miro exhibition (she's good, isn't she?) but recognised a few of our favourites here. I loved the music house and sat in there for hours with all three of my babies - before and after they were born!
    Looks like you all had a good day - I'm so glad you went!

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    1. Sadly we didn't give ourselves enough time to see everything - not sad really as we can't wait to go back. I can't believe we've left it so long before visiting this amazing place.

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    2. Oh, and the TREES!!! Axx

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  2. It is a truly magical place, and one where I have spent many happy hours, in various weather conditions, appreciating the old favourites and the new works that seem to appear every time I go. Your photos are great, and the whole post reminds me that it is time for another visit. Great, thanks. I have really enjoyed this. J.

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  3. I feel I must just add another comment, seeing that it is Annie and I that have rushed to comment on this post. I too used to live close to the YSP ( I still live reasonably close for half the year), when Annie and I worked together in Huddersfield. I never went there with my unborn daughter, but it was her first trip out after her birth in May 1991. Yes.... I must revisit, with the grandchildren. J.

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    1. It was my first visit, I'm ashamed to say. It's a National Treasure. Little B, aged two & a half, ran round saying "I'm so happy! I'm so happy!" Such a positive atmosphere there.

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  4. Thanks for reminding me that I have not been yet - somewhere they I intend to visit.
    H knows Anthony Caro, however, I find his pieces hard to understand. H's father managed Anthony's father's farm at the time Anthony was studying under Henry Moore.

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    1. It is an amazing place & the exhibitions are of a high standard too. The Anthony Caro is an excellent piece called Promenade consisting of a line of large angular shapes inviting exploration - children run straight to it. The only complaint I have is that the map is a bit confusing and we got lost a few times. Comfortable shoes, or even hiking boots for tramping across wide vistas, are a good idea too!

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  5. How lucky for "grandnilly" that you are sharing and passing along your love and appreciation of art. Actually, lucky for me as well.........I love that you share your art adventures with us all.

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    1. I think art is in our genes (yours too, I'd guess). Sadly it was a bit too modern for Mr N.

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  6. I feel as if I visited the park with you, you always take such great photographs, some really interesting pieces. jayne x

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    1. Thank you Jayne. I love the Baltic in Gateshead - I've yet to get Mr N up there for a visit.

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  7. Nilly! You will probably have noticed by now that I was also at The Sculpture Park on the very same day as you! So also was fellow 'local' blogger Downby the Dougie : http://greatacre.wordpress.com/
    Did you play music in the Playground opposite the Lady-Hare?
    http://miladysboudoir.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/i-miss-miro-but-make-a-beeline-for-the-bee-library/

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    1. Just back from Sussex I'm amazed that I didn't bump into you down there! I've just spotted your blog post & see that we saw very few of the things on your ramble, though we were there at exactly the same time. We concentrated on fun things for grandson, highland cows, catching frogs etc, plus a visit to the Miro exhibition (my choice). My sons were disappointed that closing time arrived before we made it up the hill to Anish Kapoor.It was my first visit - we'll plan it better next time.

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  8. Jaffa legs akimbo... Henry Moore would have had you reclining in a trice.

    LLX

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    1. Jaffa legs??
      I had to ponder that for a minute then realised it's one of those attributes only those of a certain age display: Jaffa legs, knobbly knees, wonky teeth, turkey neck, dowager's hump...
      It's just TOO depressing.

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    2. Oh no it isn't - it's my orange pop socks!

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  9. Oh crumbs! No I didn't mean that at all Nilly! It was just the colour, plus our talk of yes, you've guessed it.. flaming pop socks. That's the trouble with me I just dash off a comment, without a thought to the possible interpretation. Fools and angels come to mind... I'll leave you to decide which one I am?

    LLX

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