COLLECTION NAME:
SHIMMER
mediaCollectionId
SHU~3~3
SHIMMER
Collection
true
Title:
Eye of the Needle and Sweeping Birches
title
Eye of the Needle and Sweeping Birches
Title
false
Creation Date:
1992
creation_date
1992
Creation Date
false
Dimensions:
10 tons in weight
dimensions
10 tons in weight
Dimensions
false
Image Date:
1998
image_date
1998
Image Date
false
Period:
20th century
period
20th century
Period
false
Location:
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
location
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Location
false
Country:
ENGLAND, UK
country
ENGLAND, UK
Country
false
Material:
steel
material
steel
Material
false
Display Creator:
NASH, David
display_creator
NASH, David
Display Creator
false
Image ID:
00-4135
image_id
00-4135
Image ID
false
Description:
The viewing platform. Location: Five Weirs Walk along the Don River, in between Rotherham and Sheffield. Description: The oak 'needle' stands in a parting of a grove of growing birches. Formally unveiled May 19th 1992. Eventually the young trees will grow upright, but at present they are being trained to lean away on either side of the needle on the river bank. On the Five Weirs side of the river Nash placed a found object, a 10 ton steel plug, as a viewing platform. Commission: Sheffield Development Corporation and Sheffield City Council Arts Department with funding from the Henry Moore Foundation. The piece came out of a residency, and other work made at the time was shown at the Mappin Art Gallery. Nash has visited the piece once a year to monitor its progress. [November 2000: It is not clear whether this has happened more recently.] Comment: The piece is developmental as it is made of organic material. Already the birches have grown more visible and it is possible to detect a widening in the split of the needle's eye. The black charred 'needle' (before siting 30 ft. high) provides an intentional contrast with the white of the silver birches. From a distance, the needle can be mistaken for a factory chimney. Excerpts from Artist's Statement: ".... the juxtapositions between green, treeland landscapes and the declining industrial areas which Sheffield presents." Nash focuses on bringing together "...the inside element of cutting down wood which has no further life in its planted form; and the outside element of planting to achieve a sculpture which grows in its environment." (Sheffield City Council leaflet 1992) Update: On a recent visit (November 2000) it was clear that little work has been to maintain and develop 'Sweeping Birches' for some time. The trees have not been trained in recent years and have also been invaded by secondary birch growth and other naturally seeded plants. It is touch and go as to whether this part of Nash's work can still be said to exist. Urgent work is needed to rescue this piece. 'Eye of the Needle' in contrast appears to be in good condition. The only change to the piece is that surrounding vegetation has grown up around it, so that it no longer appears isolated on the skyline. The needle no longer appears to be widening.
description
The viewing platform. Location: Five Weirs Walk along the Don River, in between Rotherham and Sheffield. Description: The oak 'needle' stands in a parting of a grove of growing birches. Formally unveiled May 19th 1992. Eventually the young trees will grow upright, but at present they are being trained to lean away on either side of the needle on the river bank. On the Five Weirs side of the river Nash placed a found object, a 10 ton steel plug, as a viewing platform. Commission: Sheffield Development Corporation and Sheffield City Council Arts Department with funding from the Henry Moore Foundation. The piece came out of a residency, and other work made at the time was shown at the Mappin Art Gallery. Nash has visited the piece once a year to monitor its progress. [November 2000: It is not clear whether this has happened more recently.] Comment: The piece is developmental as it is made of organic material. Already the birches have grown more visible and it is possible to detect a widening in the split of the needle's eye. The black charred 'needle' (before siting 30 ft. high) provides an intentional contrast with the white of the silver birches. From a distance, the needle can be mistaken for a factory chimney. Excerpts from Artist's Statement: ".... the juxtapositions between green, treeland landscapes and the declining industrial areas which Sheffield presents." Nash focuses on bringing together "...the inside element of cutting down wood which has no further life in its planted form; and the outside element of planting to achieve a sculpture which grows in its environment." (Sheffield City Council leaflet 1992) Update: On a recent visit (November 2000) it was clear that little work has been to maintain and develop 'Sweeping Birches' for some time. The trees have not been trained in recent years and have also been invaded by secondary birch growth and other naturally seeded plants. It is touch and go as to whether this part of Nash's work can still be said to exist. Urgent work is needed to rescue this piece. 'Eye of the Needle' in contrast appears to be in good condition. The only change to the piece is that surrounding vegetation has grown up around it, so that it no longer appears isolated on the skyline. The needle no longer appears to be widening.
Description
false
Rights:
© Sheffield Hallam University
rights
© Sheffield Hallam University
Rights
false
Permissions:
For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."
permissions
For educational use only. This image may be used in print or digital materials provided that full acknowledgment is given, expressed as follows: " © < insert details from the 'Rights' field >. Photographed by < insert details from the 'Photographed by' field >."
Permissions
false
Image Storage Location:
image_storage_location
http://helios.shu.ac.uk/00-4135.jpg
Image Storage Location
false
Related Information:
Public art in Sheffield. For more information see < http://public-art.s… >.
related_information
Public art in Sheffield. For more information see < http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/ >.
Related Information
false
Photographed by:
Dave Ball
photographed_by
Dave Ball
Photographed by
false
Creator:
NASH, David
creator
NASH, David
Creator
false
Creator Dates - Born:
1945
creator_dates_born
1945
Creator Dates - Born
false
Creator Role:
Sculptor.
creator_role
Sculptor.
Creator Role
false
Culture Gender:
Male.
culture_gender
Male.
Culture Gender
false
Nationality:
British.
nationality
British.
Nationality
false
Subject Heading:
Sculpture, British -- 1900-2000
subject_heading
Sculpture, British -- 1900-2000
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Urban renewal -- England -- Sheffield
subject_heading
Urban renewal -- England -- Sheffield
Subject Heading
false
Subject Heading:
Public art -- England -- Sheffield
subject_heading
Public art -- England -- Sheffield
Subject Heading
false