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Slides & Notes
“ The creation of the garden & the art objects in it. ”
This sequence of images is designed to help children reflect on human creativity and to raise questions about how use our ability to make things. Do we always use our talents for the good, or at least to make things better?
The pictures are largely self-explanatory.
The gardens were laid out and constructed in 2002/3.
The ceramic tuber-like sculpture was made by Dennis Kilgallon, based at Kirkharle, Northumberland. For more information see http://www.reddustceramics.co.uk/artist_studio.htm
The Green Man head was made by Walter Storey.
The pod-like sculpture near the cascade was made by William Pym, who has a workshop in Langley. For more information see http://www.pymsculpture.co.uk/
The deer sculpture was made by Sophie Thompson, from Oxfordshire. For more information see http://www.sophiethompson.com/ Jane Torday, the garden’s creator, installed the deer sculpture after her mother’s death - it reflects her mother’s independent spirit.
“ The garden at Langley is built along the old railway line – it is long, thin and, in places, sunk between the high stone walls of old embankments. ”
“ As you walk along and look at the flowers you begin to notice sculpture. Can you see anything man-made appearing here? ”
“ Look closer – and you find that what appears to be growing is in fact something made by human hand. ”
“ By the waterfall there’s another ‘growing object’ … ”
“ Look closer – could it be a giant seed-pod? ”
“ Faces peer from the ivy growing along the walls. ”
“ Other faces seem to be sinking into the earth, only becoming apparent when leaves fall in the Autumn. ”
“ At the end of the garden, a stag stands high on the embankment, head lifting towards the sky, a visitor from the woods … ”
“ …but its muscles and sinews are made from steel. It remains standing there, unchanging, as the seasons change around it ”
“ Most of the sculpture in the garden mirrors nature. But sculpture doesn’t just happen, it’s the product of a lot of hard work. Here’s the deer being brought to the garden from the artist’s workshop. ”
“ In fact, perhaps the whole garden should be thought of as being man-made. It takes a lot of effort to get from this … ”
“ A hundred years ago the scene looked like this – another man-made landscape! Which do you prefer – then or now? ”
Questions
It might be thought that the sequence is biased in favour of the current landscape at Langley, rather than the industrial landscape of a hundred years ago, but the rhetorical question that accompanies the final picture (‘Which do you prefer – then or now?’) needs to talked about fully and fairly. It needs to be remembered that the lead mining industry provided a livelihood for many thousands of people. In many ways the social situation in Langley, as in many post-industrial areas, is a sad diminishment of what it was only fifty years ago. So, bearing this in mind, questions that might be asked include:
Think of some landscapes you know. What is the difference between a ‘beautiful’ landscape and a ‘useful’ landscape?
Can an industrial landscape be beautiful? Why or why not? Think of some examples.
What might you be able to admire about a train or a car as works of art?
Which is better: a flower, or a sculpture of a flower? Why?
What difference is there between what human beings create and what God creates?
Think of some things that have been spoiled and then repaired. Can they ever be as good as they were before?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that we human beings can share in your creative activity.
Forgive us when we use our creative power selfishly and short-sightedly.
Forgive us when we use our creative power to damage and destroy.
Help us to be thoughtful and humble, so that the things we make reflect and complement the beautiful world you have given us.
