Proposed Weymouth Relief Road sculpture on show at Bridport Arts Centre

It has been put on display at Bridport Arts Centre as part of Sherborne House Arts Earthscapes exhibition.

The work by sculptor Richard Harris shows some 28 boulders gradually rising on steel poles reaching to 3m (10ft) above the Southdown Ridge.

All the rocks – weighing between one and eight tonnes – are sourced from the 1.6m tonnes of material moved from the site where work on the road has been taking place.

If it gets the go-ahead the sculpture will be on both sides of the road and will curve off up the slopes of the cutting following the natural geological strata.

The excavated rocks are between 160 and 65 million years old and started being formed in what would have been a tropical lagoon. The concretions are formed around small matter such as a leaf or a fossil and steadily build up over millions of years solidifying by chemical processes.

Mr Harris said: “I was asked to consider the landscape, context of the whole road and having worked on several proposals for different sites – this is the idea that I feel is the strongest and most appropriate.

“Some of the geology has been exposed by the cutting but will eventually become less visible as the grass grows.

“This proposal puts the geology back where it was – but visible – continuing up above the hill indicating where it would have been before it was weathered away.

Mr Harris said he had been involved with the project since January last year making many visits to the site and consulting with geologists.

He said: “This idea came in the late summer and only came about when the work had started and the stones had been revealed.

“The heavier stones will rise up from the ground and will get progressively smaller as they run through the air to the top of the slope.

“What I am trying to do is give an inspiring image as people come into Weymouth and to reveal the geology in a dramatic way.”

The idea of incorporating art in relation to the road was initially proposed in the Weymouth and Portland Commissioning Plan for 2012.

It stated that public art could be used to make the £87m road – which is due to open in Spring next year - more attractive for drivers.
The work is being supported by Arts Council South West and Dorset County Council.

Mr Harris is now working with Skanska, the contractors, Dorset County Council and his own engineers to develop the project.

His designs are among several works on display at Bridport Arts Centre as part of the exhibition. Others include Kate Raggett’s design, and films by Mariele Neudecker.

The exhibition runs until March 27th. Any further questions contact Richard Harris on 01497 851221, or Tony Bonnici at BAC on 07790020579.

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