Your Invitation To The Launch Of The Thornhill Sculpture Trail
Grand opening on 14th September including the sculptor speeches and a guided walk
The work of respected British sculptor Alan Thornhill is to form a unique mile-long ‘sculpture trail’ in a major new piece of public art.
The launch of the trail in Putney forms a unique opportunity to see a significant body of work by one artist in permanent, accessible public view.
Thornhill, 86, is a veteran British sculptor with work in public collections in both the UK and USA. He devised a unique way of working with clay that embraced spontaneity and the unforeseen.
This approach has inspired two generations of students and produced a body of challenging work drawn, in part unconsciously, from personal and shared concerns of the late 20th century.
2pm Assemble at Punch & Judy (steps of Rocket Restaurant) 2.15pm Official ribbon cutting and opening of the Putney Sculpture Trail by Alan Thornhill & Cllr Cousins 2.30pm St Mary’s church, speeches from Leader of Wandsworth Council and Tony Kingsley, Putney Partnership Townscape sub-committee Chairman 2.45pm Reception, informal discussions with the sculptor and others 3.30pm Option of either 40 min. film ‘Spirit in Mass – Journey into sculpture’ or guided walk of the trail. |
His sculpture ‘Load’ (pictured left) has stood on Putney Embankment for 20 years and his studio has occupied the same site in Putney for half a century.
Thornhill’s teaching at Morley College and the Frink School of Figurative Sculpture, where he was a founder trustee, influenced many developing sculptors. Some incorporated his exploratory approach, which is concerned with mass rather than concepts , into their own practice and they are now in turn passing this on to a further generation of artists.
He offered the eight works as a gift to the people of Putney. The ‘Putney Sculpture Trail’ proposals were developed by the Putney Town Centre Partnership, in cooperation with the sculptor and Wandsworth Council. The project is due to receive part-funding of £25,000 from the Western Riverside Environmental Fund to complete the scheme.
Where can you find the sculptures ? Exodus - Leaders Gardens: Load - Embankment/Lower Richmond Road (in front of Thai Square) Motherfigure - Putney Wharf eastern (Deodar Rd) end: Nexus - Wandsworth Park, central south side: Pygmalion - Wandsworth Park, riverside east entrance: Fall - Riverside Quarter |
The balance of the costs of installing the eight sculptures came from Wandsworth Council’s Town Centre Improvements Scheme programme.
September 5, 2008
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