PASW Regional Newsletter: Spring 2002
Regional Projects - Genius Loci
Genius Loci, the artist led group that formed for the Year of the Artist Hestercombe Gardens Project, were appointed early this year to put together a public art strategy for the Cotswold Water Park. They were appointed by Gloucestershire County Council, as part of their percent for art policy, which is being implemented for a new cycle path along the main Spine Road of the Water Park. Artwork for this is also being addressed by the Genius Loci group.
Cotswold Water Park:
Photo: Jacy Wall
Cotswold Water Park covers 30 square miles just south of Cirencester, and has been created through gravel extraction over many years. There are now 132 lakes across the area, with cycle paths, fishing, sailing, and other leisure activities being developed. The process was, like so many things, delayed by the Foot & Mouth outbreak. But work began in the spring, and the whole group visited the site for an initial weekend recce, camping on site and exploring the countryside, lakes and the gravel pits, which are still a major industry.
Out of this exploration, and other meetings, proposals for a series of 'cats eye' sculptural interventions into the first phase of the new cycle path have been presented and approved, and they will be installed early next year when the draft strategy document will also be produced for consultation. The strategy will look at how the arts can be incorporated into the whole culture and life of the Waterpark, and, most importantly, play a major role in the development of the Park's Biodiversity policy, which is now informing all new development in the Park.
The Genius Loci group comprises: Roselle Angwin, poet : Ben Emmett, architect : Penny Grist, Printmaker and film-maker : Michael Fairfax, sculptor in wood, metal, stone, sound and light : Jenny Graham, painter and printmaker : Phil Shepherd, video artist : Tony Stallard, sculptor in stone and light : Jacy Wall, textile artist and printmaker.
Jacy Wall
Artist