Cultural Landscapes – Stories of the Earth
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MA/5/3/007 Cultural Landscapes, Stories of the Earth List of contents: Page Frontispiece 4 Executive Summary 5-6 Section: 1 Introduction 7 1.1 Cultural Landscapes – Stories of the Earth 7 2 Starting Point for the Project 7 2.1 Background to PSQT and the Living Land Archive 7 2.2 Project Objectives 8 2.3 Partners 8-10 2.4 Project Strands 10 2.5 Project Method 10-11 3 Summary of Outcomes – by Project Strand (sections 3 to 7 of report) 12 3.1 Scientific Research 12 3.2 Geomorphology 13 3.3 Overlaying Stories of Landscape 14 3.4 Kimmeridge Clay 16 3.5 Albion Stone plc – local knowledge of quarry strata 18 3.6 New Field Research – Dr Paul Ensom 20 3.6.1 Synopsis of Paul Ensom's Findings 20-21 3.6.6 General Implication for Recording Geology 22 3.7 New Field Research – University of Leeds 23-24 3.7.1 Field Study Programme 25-26 3.8 Documentation 27 3.8.1 University of Leeds 28-29 3.8.2 Admiralty Quarry 30 4 Artistic and Cultural Programme 31 4.1 University of Brighton 32 4.2 University of Brighton Pilot Elective Courses (extension study units) 32 Landscape / Photography / Historical Perspective / Sculpture 4.3 Recommendations from the Pilot Electives 33 4.4 Validated Course Units 34 4.5 Research and Continued Professional Development 35 4.6 Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) 36 4.7 Arts and Science Outcomes 36 4.7.1 Civilisation and Landscape – 'The Forgotten Landscape' 37-38 4.8 Sound and Vibration (Cymatics) 39-41 ______________________________________________________________________________________ © 2007 Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust Issue 1 Page 2 of 75 MA/5/3/007 Cultural Landscapes, Stories of the Earth 5 Community Programme and Interaction with Research 43 5.1 Portland Sculpture and Quaarry Trust Workshops with Community 43 5.1.2 Dorset Youth Association 43 5.1.3 Underwater Photography and Video 44 5.1.3 Carlton Arts Activity Team (Day Centre) 45 5.1.4 Ridgeway Day Services 45-46 5.1.5 Neighbourhood Learning in Disadvantaged Communities (NLDC) 47 5.1.6 Groüpe 85 – Holland 48 5.2 Cross-diciplinary Workshops – 'Ringing Stones' and other Case Studies 49 5.2.1 All Saints School (Mathematics and Science Statust) 49 5.2.2 Royal Manor Arts College (Performing Arts School Status) 50-53 5.3 RMAC: Cross-disciplinary Approaches to Education Case Studies 53 5.3.1 Education Steering Group 53 5.3.2 PSQT Education Policy and Delivery 54 5.4 Geological Interpretation at Community Workshops 54 6 Website Design 55-59 7 Design of Soil Bunds and Site Screening 60 7.1 Sustainable uses for quarrying by-products 61 7.2 Retaining Structures 61 7.3 Acoustic Properties 62 7.4 Habitats and Landform 62 7.4.1 Withiescroft Remnant Wall Restoration, Portland – Plant Colonisation and Monitoring 62-63 7.5 Outdoor Education 64 7.6 Water Collection 65 7.7 Study Spaces and Shelters 65 7.8 Rammed Stone Dust Workshop with University of Brighton 66 7.9 Conclusions 67-68 8 Additional Contributions to the MIST5 Project 69 8.1 Chelsea School of Art – Interior and Spatial Design 69 8.2 Weymouth Youth Offending Team 69 9 Final Review Seminar 70 9.1 'The Quarry – A Cultural Landscape" 70 10 Outcomes 70 10.1 Achievements 70-74 10.2 Conclusion and the Way Forward 74 The Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights of Individual contributions to this report remain with the originating authors. ______________________________________________________________________________________ © 2007 Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust Issue 1 Page 3 of 75 MA/5/3/007 Cultural Landscapes, Stories of the Earth Cultural Landscape - Stories of the Earth explores the full range of learning experiences that can be drawn from disused quarries – layers of visible rock left from the quarrying process act as a geological map showing an incredible journey through time, teaching us infinite amounts about past environments and life forms. Contrasting perspectives of scientific research and artistic practice involved the community in interacting with the Island's quarrying heritage as it is today. Detailed information on the strands of research within this report reveals layers of the landscape through the arts, earth sciences and cultural heritage, with stories of an Island based on the quarrying industry for centuries. … So you put one rock down and another rock on top of it and so on. When the rocks were being laid down animals were living and dying and becoming fossilised and so the walk through time becomes a walk through the evolution of species. You watch the fish evolving, reptiles evolving, the dinosaurs evolve, they come and they go, and then the mammals are there, they evolve, and eventually here are we. With all the educational potential of the place, at least if we can provide educational centres, courses, walks, and teachers we can inspire our kids." Geormorphologist. Prof Denys Brunsden. 'Evolution' May 2006 Fig 1. Admiralty Quarry. Portland (photograph Hannah Sofaer) ______________________________________________________________________________________ © 2007 Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust Issue 1 Page 4 of 75 MA/5/3/007 Cultural Landscapes, Stories of the Earth Executive Summary Cultural Landscapes, Stories of the Earth Demonstrates how aggregate quarry sites nearing closure can become a subject for earth science and artistic research. From August 2005 to January 2007 the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust (PSQT) worked with 21 partners, representing the education sector, the stone industry, the arts, earth sciences and the community, as well as the County and Borough Councils. The project showed how the mapping of changing quarry landscapes could convey geological stories in relation to the wider cultural background and landscape of Portland. All partners collaborated with PSQT to produce scientific, artistic and cultural research in relation to this mapping exercise, which in turn created an innovative programme and resource for the community that enabled people to contribute their own experiences and memories of the landscape. The project had five strands: Scientific Research Geomorphology is the link with geology that underpins the landscape. It is the force that shapes our landscape, fragile ecology and climate. Towards an understanding of this, Dr Ken Coombe, geomorphologist, donated his 1981 dissertation that includes detailed drawings of Portland and his theory of three major rivers having once existed. Dr Paul Ensom, stratigrapher and palaeontologist, surveyed eight quarries, building on the field study report published in 1998 by Dr H.J. Falcon-Lang. He reported on current exposures in working quarries with recommendations for interpretation and preservation of geology, ongoing research, and the need for a 'watching brief' that makes this knowledge publicly accessible at the Drill Hall and Independent Quarry. A case study by Paul Ensom guides specialists and non-specialists in their interpretation of geology, Prof. Jane Frances, palaeoclimatologist, University of Leeds Earth Sciences, gave lectures on the geology of Portland and organised field study visits for eighteen students over an intensive twelve-week period. Detailed surveys of the whole Island were produced, contributing materials to community creative workshops. The Drill Hall provided a meeting point for the arts and sciences where Portland's geological record and fossil finds were interpreted effectively to people with different levels of understanding. Artistic and Cultural Programme The University of Brighton allocated researchers to work alongside the PSQT and the community to develop a new course in 'Art & Design in the Cultural Landscape'. Five pilot elective courses tested different approaches to the interpretation and mapping of connections between geology, community and culture, landscape and industry, through Photography, Landscape Studies, Historical Perspectives and Sculpture. This resulted in the validation of new course units to be based at the Drill Hall with PSQT, broadening the relationship between the quarry landscape, the visual, performing arts, and music. Continued Professional Development has resulted in six academic staff projects for Independent Quarry with additional interest from percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, who plans to develop a 'Ringing Stones' composition for July 2008 with the PSQT. Robin Sewell extended his arts practice based on 'sound pictures' created by vibration from recordings of the PSQT's collection of stones that ring. This resulted in an exhibition of 'drawings', paintings, photographs and video entitled 'KYMA' at the Drill Hall's Learningstone Gallery, invigilated by PSQT and the community. Community Programme and Interaction with Research The geology of the seabed was filmed showing the Kimmeridge clay ledges and underwater environment surrounding Portland. Arts and earth science research informed creative workshops for the community throughout the project on the theme of evolving life forms. Volunteers learnt new creative skills, and were able to reapply them in the role of group leaders, building leadership skills within the community. A Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities programme attracted 48 hard to reach learners that encouraged enrolment in further education. Workshops were held for Dorset Youth Association 'Heritage Discovery Project'; Weymouth Youth Offending Team; Rethink; Carlton Arts Activities Team, Southill Day Centre, Elsedene Residential Home, Royal Manor Arts College and All Saints School. Additional involvement included Chelsea School of Art Spatial and Interior Design, Claremont Fancourt School, London