YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK 2012

Yesterday, for the first time, I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park which is on the Bretton Estate between Huddersfield and Wakefield, in West Yorkshire. They had an exhibition of the work of Jean Miró but, for me, the excitement of the day was the outside sculptures which dot across the vast park and, above all, the trees which have been growing there for decades. They, the trees, take my breath away. It was a super day, as it turned out. It started misty and miserable and then, in the early afternoon, out came the sunshine, blue skies and all. The trees across the sculpture park, which extends as far as the eye can see, glittered metallically like living sculptures with their golds, bronzes, and silvers. I wasn't allowed to take photos of Jean Miró's sculptures (and, being honest here, they weren't my cup of tea. Give me Michelangelo's La Pieta any day) but I did take a few snaps of the sculptures outside. Mostly though, I was in awe of the trees, the colours, the landscape, sculpted by nature, by God if you will. I envied those who were fitter than I am and able to stride out and cover great expenses of the park in one day. I shall have to go back. Here are some photos of my favourite sculptures and trees. Click on the images to enlarge them and see more detail.

Bretton House, Bretton Park

Wood: The Horse is a Noble Animal by Anthony Dew
http://www.rockinghorse.co.uk/

Metal: Split Hare by Sophie Ryder
http://www.sophieryder.net/

Living sculpture in autumnal gold:

Living sculptures with tortuous limbs. Left Taxus Baccata. Right, a camellia in the Camellia House on the Bretton Park (Yorkshire Sculpture Park) grounds.

Camellia House - how I wish it were mine!

It is difficult to tell by the image below of Kan Yasuda's fabulous marble egg which is as smooth and unblemished as glass. It must have been 2 ft high and no one will be running away with this.