Up In The Air

Olivier Grossetete 'Pont de Singe'

It was surprisingly warm and beautiful at Tatton Park yesterday. And it was a good job too, because artist Olivier Grossetete (who arrived on Wednesday) from Marseille, France was meeting the Biennial team to discuss his artwork proposal, ‘Pont de Singe’ (meaning rope bridge). You have to agree, his imagination is fantastic, because he wants to create the impossible; an elongated, wooden, rope bridge, suspended in the air by three, giant, helium-filled balloons, which will rise and fall with the elements.

Biennial curators, Danielle Arnaud and Jordan Kaplan are seen here talking on the bridge with Olivier and structural engineer, Toby Savage about the logistics involved for creating an artwork of this magnitude. 

Whilst discussions continued at the Golden Brook, something caught my attention in the corner of my eye. It was Simon Tetlow, Garden Team Supervisor of Tatton Park floating passed in a rowing boat. He casually moored up, disappeared amongst the shrubs and later joined us to offer his expertise and to answer any questions we had. Protecting the gardens, wildlife and surrounding areas was high on our the agenda, as well as creating an artwork that was structurally safe and sound, whilst allowing Olivier’s idea to reach it’s full potential.

Given the Biennial's theme 'Flights of Fancy' and with this proposal in mind, Olivier Grossetete reminds me of those inventors and mathematicians who created wings for their arms and constructed marvellous flying contraptions, all of whom shared the one dream, and that was to take to the skies. 

I would (seriously) return to this blog if you are interested in reading and seeing how this artwork goes up in the air.

Debbie Chan, Project Manager for Tatton Park Biennial debbie@tattonparkbiennial.org

Return of Tatton Park Biennial

Firstly, I want to introduce myself. My name is Debbie and I'm new to this blog, new to Tatton Park and new to working on Tatton Park Biennial 2012. For those who haven't heard of the Biennial before, it is a contemporary art event that takes place every other year and artists are commissioned to create site-specific artworks within and around the landscaped gardens and inside the estate. If you're familiar with the Biennial or it's starting to ring bells, you might remember the art installation in 2010 called Evacuate created by artist Kate MccGwire, where thousands of locally sourced bird feathers weaved through and consumed the kitchen. It was a piece, even my mother-in-law remembers and talks about today, because she found it both haunting and beautiful.

Juneau Projects, Gleaners of the Infocalypse, The Long Wood

Anyhow, you will be pleased to hear that the Biennial is returning to your park, opening to the public on Saturday 12th May. The theme is Flights of Fancy, where artworks will refer to Tatton Park's aeronautical legacy, as well as the human urge to fly. Did you know that during the Second World War, Tatton's parkland played a major role in the training of RAF paratroopers and the grounds were used for test parachute jumps? Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton was even described to have been "an innovator, a man of great inventive and technical skill, a pioneer aviator, photographer and filmmaker", so it makes sense for this year's Biennial to explore these themes. 

Artists duo, Philip Duckworth and Ben Sadler, known as Juneau Projects plan to transform a decommissioned aeroplane into an iconic sculpture called Gleaners of the Infocalypse. Yes, you heard correctly. Half an aircraft, no longer needed for service, will take on a new life here at Tatton Park. The very thought of it arriving excites me and I think it will look oddly spectacular amongst the peaceful, rural landscape. Watch this blog for more updates.

Over the next few months, you will hear more from the Biennial team, because we want to give you an insight on what we get up to, who we meet, how we work closely with Tatton Park staff and the challenges we are faced with when commissioning artworks for the park. Having spent a year on maternity leave, I am thrilled to be back and taking on the role of Biennial Project Manager. The bringing together of creative experts and professionals from various backgrounds to create art and educational events in response to the rich landscape, heritage and history dating back to medieval times, you have to agree is a very exciting time for Tatton Park.

Join our mailing list http://www.tattonparkbiennial.org/contacts to receive latest news and updates about the Biennial or follow us on twitter @tpbiennial or facebook tattonparkbiennial


Debbie Chan, Project Manager for Tatton Park Biennial debbie@tattonparkbiennial.org

A (n)Ice Arrival...

I am a Craftsman Gardener, with responsibility for the Japanese Garden. However, over the last couple of weeks I have been working with the artists installing their artworks for Tatton Park Biennial 2010, which opens on 8 May.

My work has mainly been putting things in place, including helping Jamie Shovlin transport his shed and audio/visual equipment to the corner of Tower Wood and moving the technical equipment and scaffolding for Austin Houldsworth's fossilisation machine. I also transported Jem Finer’s shed and ‘the orb’ – a very fragile globe camera obscura, on the back of the tractor and trailer – every time I hit a bump my heart was in my mouth! I also helped load and unload and transport Fiona Curran’s tree house and pruned some of the lower branches of the Pine tree before they put the tree house into place. I also helped install the small cinema near the Maze, transporting it on the back of the tractor – it was about 3 tonnes in weight, I also needed to go very slowly again!

Last Monday was the most nail-biting experience when the 2 tonne block of glacial ice arrived – this is artist Neville Gabie’s piece. The ice is 10,000 years old and was brought from Greenland, transported by ship, boat and lorry to Tatton. It was then up to me to drive it on the back of the trailer (see picture) down to its position near Golden Brook. This was all whilst the BBC camera crew were filming and I was trying not to shatter it. Again, this was a moment to drive the tractor very carefully! I couldn’t go any faster than slow in very low gear. It then took a very long time, virtually to the end of the day, to try and lift and slide the ice into place. There were about eight pairs of hands trying to fit the ice and the glass surrounding it into the structure. I’ve really enjoyed being involved in the Biennial and am looking forward to seeing everything complete ready for the opening.

For more information about the Biennial visit www.tattonparkbiennial.org

Geoff Horrocks, Craftsman Gardener