Detail View: SHIMMER: The Monster of Birch Wood

The Monster of Birch Wood

2002

210 cm high x 360 cm long x 60 cm wide

2002

21st century

Warren Vale, South Yorkshire

ENGLAND, UK

steel - CorTEN ; metal - cast

THOMSON, Jason

r059

Location: At the junction of two paths in Birch Wood, near Warren Vale. Access from an alleyway between 158 and 160 Hague Avenue; turn left and the bridge is within 100m.
Google maps < https://goo.gl/maps/4JPMP > .

Description: A bridge over a small stream. The floor of the bridge is a slightly curved metal plate. The two sides of the bridge in CorTEN steel combine to depict a dragon-like body. The inner faces of the bridge sides are flat, the outer faces curved with rib-like structures; part decorative, part functional. Each bridge side has a curved top edge, the monster’s back, which follows the curve of the bridge floor itself. A tail protrudes from one side of the bridge on one bank, while a cast head appears on the other side of the bridge on the opposite bank. The whole bridge is supported by stone pillars built into the banks on either side of the stream.

Inscriptions: A bench opposite the bridge has the following along its side: Fuelling a Revolution – the Woods that Founded the Steel Industry.
Funding details are inscribed on the top of the bench at its right hand end: Funded by the / Heritage Lottery Fund // Rotherham / Metropolitan / Borough Council.
Details of its construction are found at the other end: BIRCH WOOD BRIDGE / DESIGNED BY JASON THOMSON / AND THE CHILDREN OF / RAWMARSH THOROGATE JUNIOR / AND INFANT PRIMARY SCHOOL / NOVEMBER 2002

Commission: Funded by the Heritage Woodlands Programme Fuelling the Revolution and Rotherham Council's Engineering Section. The Council had been due to replace a delapidated wooden bridge on this site when, co-incidentally, Mark Yates of the Heritage Woodlands Programme approached them with suggestions for an artwork funded by an existing environmental artworks grant. This enhanced funding allowed a more ambitious structure to be installed. The final costs for the bridge came to between £13,000 and £14,000.

"The Fuelling a Revolution project has input from Sheffield City Council where it is managed by the Heritage Woodland Team, Parks Woodland and Countryside, Sheffield City Council. The team is responsible for 23 Sheffield ancient woodlands and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The ancient woodland art project is also supported by Sheffield Galleries and Museum Trust, Yorkshire Arts, Childrens Fund, Gleadless Valley Community Forum, Design & Property Services, South Yorkshire Forest, Learning mentors, staff and children of Athelstan, Bankwood, Herdings and Hemsworth Schools, Forest Schools, Firshill Community Primary School, The Woodlanders and Working Woodlands Trust. "

Initially The British Association of Blacksmith Artists was approached for submissions, but subsequently Jason Thomson was also asked to submit designs for the bridge. Some education work had already been carried out with Rawmarsh Thorogate Primary School in the woods, introducing them to the history, geography and contents of the woods. They had also worked with an another artist producing work inspired by the woods. After his selection Jason Thomson led some workshops with pupils from the school during which the idea of possible monsters in the woods developed. The final design for bridge came from this idea of a monster but also from other elements of local history: Viking longboats and the Roman presence in the area. [2]

Comment: CorTEN steel will in time develop a protective layer of rust on the outside of the metal.

References: [1] Sheffield Star: April 17th, 2003. p.18
[2] telephone interview with Mark Yates. 3/10/2003

© Sheffield Hallam University

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 >."

Public art in Sheffield. For more information see < http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/ >.

Dave Ball

THOMSON, Jason

Sculptor. Ex-student at Sheffield Hallam University.

Male.

British.

MAYFLOWER ENGINEERING

Fabricators.

British. Based in Sheffield.

H DOWNS & SONS Ltd.

Foundry.

British. Based in Huddersfield.

Public art -- England (South Yorkshire)

Bridges -- England (South Yorkshire)

Sculpture -- England (South Yorkshire)

Animals in art

%G

2

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