Sleeping Dragon
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs |  Author: Alice Fox Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | Ditchling Road / Stanmer Park |
| Town: | Brighton |
| Parish: | Brighton |
| Council: | Brighton & Hove City Council |
| County: | East Sussex |
| Postcode: | BN1 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Public Park |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | Accessible pathway to the left of Upper Lodges entrance to Park |
| In the AZ book: | East Sussex |
| Page: | 112 |
| Grid reference: | D5 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
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Makers
| Name : | Alice Fox |
| Role: | Sculptor |
| Qualify: | assisted by |
| Name : | Sue Nunn |
| Role: | Sculptor |
| Qualify: | assisted by |
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General Information
| Commissioned by: | Funded by: University of Brighton & Brighton & Hove Countryside and Park Services |
| Construction period: | May 2007 |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Brighton & Hove City Council |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
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Classification
| Categories: | Animal, Sculptural |
| Object type1: | Sculpture |
| Object type2: | Landscape |
| Subject type1: | Figurative |
| Subject subtype1: | Standing |
| Subject type2: | Mythological |
| Subject subtype1: | Standing |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Dragon |
| Material: | Wood and chalk |
| Width (cm): | 3048 |
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Object Condition
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History
| History: | Art in the Woods
Publication: ‘Art in The Woods: An Exploration of a Community/University Environmental Arts Project', in Community-University Partnership in Practice. ISBN 978 1 86201 317 9. Exhibitions: Three large site-specific sculptures have been made that are permanently situated on the Sussex Downs near Brighton; (pub: NIACE, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, 2007) 'New Timber Giant' on National Trust land at New Timber Holt, near Brighton. 'Saddlescoombe Spiral' on National Trust land, Saddlescoombe Farm, near Brighton. 'Stanmer Dragon' in Stanmer Park, Brighton and Hove Countryside Services. Each year in May a group of art students from the University of Brighton and women from a local council estate spend two weeks in woodland belonging to the National Trust, foraging in the trees and wrestling with honeysuckle, clematis and buckets full of chalk to create huge, organic woodland sculptures. The sculptures, New Timber Giant, Saddlescoomb Spiral and Stanmer Dragon have emerged from their joint experience and the forms suggested by the landscape, local history and the materials on hand. These sculptures were made entirely from found materials on-site still nestle snugly among the trees, sprouting bluebells and celandines and offering shelter to local wildlife. Their size and capacity for growth indicate the achievement of their makers in placing their own mark on the landscape. They represent the start of an ongoing partnership between two very different groups of people and what can be achieved through creative, inclusive, collaborative working. The request for this project came from a National Trust warden who attended a presentation on the Access to Art Project (inclusive arts for people with complex learning disabilities) and saw the potential for groups to work within areas of National Trust land. The National Trust is an independent charity that maintains and provides permanent public access to historic houses, property and land. The coming together of three partners, the University of Brighton, a community arts group based on a local housing estate and the National Trust who provided the venue, provided the opportunity for the students to work together in the open air and for me to continue my research in inclusive arts practice. (http://artsresearch.brighton.ac.uk/research/academic/fox_alice/portfolio/woods) Art on the Downs is an innovative arts project building on the success of last years Art in The Woods. Involving University of Brighton students, women from the New Moulsecoomb Art Group and the National Trust, the aim is to build a celtic spiral on a local ancient quarry site The 14 students and 9 local women have only four days to complete the sculpture using nothing but the natural materials available on site at the quarry on National Trust owned Newtimber Hill near Saddlescombe Farm, Saddlescombe Road, Devils Dyke. The site is about 1 mile from last years Art In the Woods Giant sculpture, part of a vision of building a natural sculpture trail across Sussex Countryside. To continue the sculpture trail the Arts project will be seeking new funding for 2007. Local Sculptor and community art worker, Sue Nunn said, “This project gives parents on the estate a rare opportunity to practice public art skills in a rural setting with a diverse group of students. Last year many friendships were made and families started to visit National Trust land for pleasure and to see their work.” The National Trusts aims to encourage people who may associate them with ‘dusty old houses’ to explore and enjoy their land. National Trust Ranger, Graham Welfare said, “The National Trust wants to see more people from all communities enjoying the countryside in Sussex.” (http://www.brighton.ac.uk/cupp/projects/artonthedowns.htm#intro) 'Sleeping dragon' created by mothers and students A sleeping dragon lies submerged in the Sussex Downs after a group of mothers and students manipulated nature into art. The 100ft long creature is made from carved parts of fallen trees, has chalk teeth and features moss and coppiced branches at other points of its body. It is hidden among the woods at Stanmer Park, near Brighton and is the result of the third Arts on the Downs project. Moulsecoomb Mums and Brighton University students toiled for four days to create the masterpiece, which can be found five minutes up a track from the Upper Lodges, which they hope will become a permanent feature of the landscape and attract wildlife to live inside it. Last year the outdoor project created The Saddlescombe Spiral, a celtic shape made from chalk, and the year before a 50ft giant was made from logs at Newtimber Holt, north of Brighton. (The Argus, Wednesday 16th May 2007) |
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References
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Photographs
Author: Alice Fox Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Alice Fox Copyright: Creative Commons |
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