Henry Moore

The University of Leeds has a long established collection of public art, this has now been formalised into an Art Trail around the campus. Each of the pieces on this largely accessible display, has a QR code with a supporting audio tour, along with an information panel.

Printed guides are also available from the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, or online here.

Burton’s – The Tailor of Taste, have long been benefactors of the collection – here’s a little of the company’s history.

Sir Michael Sadler, University Vice Chancellor 1911-1923, was instrumental in developing an interest in Modernist art, through his own collection.

Sadler felt that a student’s education was greatly enhanced by a cultured and harmonious environment. He set about creating such an environment through the public display of pictures from his collection.

Take some time to wander around and consider the works in context, set against two centuries of architectural style and fashion, along with generous open and green spaces.

You can devise your own route around the trail, this is mine.

#7 Hermes – William Chattaway

#9 Meet Sit and Talk – Lorna Green

#17 Three Piece Reclining Figure – Henry Moore

#20 Masters of the Universe – Eduardo Paolozzi

#3 Sign For Art – Keith Wilson

#12 Untitled – Hubert Dalwood

#14 Dual Form – Barbara Hepworth

#16 Texta Texens – Sue Lawty with Dan Jones and Helen Mort

#6 Man Made Textiles – Mitzi Cunliffe

#19 Curtain – Juanjo Novella

#11 Greener Living Space – David Mayne

#10 Lenten Forms – Michael Lyons

#13 Celebration of Engineering Sciences – Allan Johnson

#18 The Worlds of IF – Sara Barker

#5 The Dreamer – Quentin Bell

#9 Limbo – Austin Wright

#4 Christ Driving The Moneylenders From the Temple – Eric Gill

The trustees operate within these two positions: we absolutely condemn Eric Gill’s abuse of his daughters with no attempt to hide, excuse, normalise or minimise, yet we also have a duty to protect, display and interpret the art work we hold in our collections.

Ditchling Museum

#2 Walking Figure – William Chattaway

#1 A Spire – Simon Fujiwara

#15 Conversation Column – Liliane Lijn

Also if you fancy a little more Leeds – here’s my Modern Mooch Walk – have fun, stay safe.

I was in town, just looking around, just looking for modernity, just looking.

I found you by chance between the railway and the high street, so I took a good look around, fascinated by the concrete sculptural panels on your fascia columns, those facing Abbey Walk.

Research tells me that they the work of Harold Gosney – born in Sheffield, he studied at Grimsby School of Art and London’s Slade School of Fine Art.

The majority of Gosney’s early commissions were collaborations with architects and he has made a significant contribution to public art in Grimsby. He is the artist responsible for the reliefs on the Abbey Walk car park, the large Grimsby seal by the entrance to the Grimsby Central Library and the Grim and Havelok themed copper relief on the side of Wilko store in Old Market Place.

Wikipedia

The car park has been the subject of some speculative repairs and refurbishment:

In total, the scheme will cost the council £1.54 million.

The authority will borrow £1.34 million to fund the project with a further £200,000 coming from a local transport grant. But the council said that the improvements made could help increase revenue from the car park of around £34,000 a year.

Councillor Matthew Patrick, portfolio holder for transport at the council, said that the work is essential to “brighten up” the building and attract people into Grimsby.

“It’s one of the largest car parks in the town,” he said.

“It will attract more people into the town centre and help to improve the offering of the car park.”

Lincolnshire Reporter

So here we are faced with a rare, precious and beautiful example of municipal modernism, a bold and brave attempt to decorate what is often the most functional of functional structures.

Owing something to the work of both Henry Moore and Pablo Picasso the imagery is derived from automotive parts, along with it seems to me, vague intimations of figuration.

Let’s talk a look!