Leading British artist, Andy Goldsworthy, who produces site specific sculpture and land art situated within the natural environment, has chosen Alderney as the location for latest project - Alderney Stones.
Over the last two years, Andy Goldsworthy and his assistants have visited the island to construct eleven 5ft diameter stones. The stones were left to cure for one year until Goldsworthy returned to the island last week to position these 3-tonne boulders in various locations around the island. The last of which, had to be made in situ in an old German bunker.
Now, finally in place, the stones have been wrapped in a protective coating which will be removed on the morning of Thursday 21st April 2011 when the stones will officially enter the next phase of the project - which will be the weathering and natural erosion of the stones over time. To mark this occasion a guided walk has been planned with Andy Goldsworthy which will cover ten miles of Alderney’s coast, whilst taking in the eleven stones.
Goldsworthy said "I chose Alderney because it has a strong sense of layered past and a wide variety of locations in a small area. I hope the Alderney stones project will touch upon the social, geological, historical, climatic and agricultural nature of Alderney."
He continued “Each stone contains materials and objects from around Alderney. We have incorporated berries, seeds, old tools and discarded gloves; all these materials will then be revealed as the elements and the years wear the stones down… It is a project which reveals itself over time, through the natural process of erosion, which I think is very relevant to a small island."
The Alderney Stones Project is part of the pan-island Bailiwick art initiative organised by the Art and Islands Foundation in partnership with the HSBC Private Bank, Hiscox, the Guernsey Arts Commission and supported by a number of local private benefactors.
