Landscape art in Teesdale

The Hush installation at Bowlees Visitor Centre by Steve Messam

This impressive piece of landscape art consists of huge sails of saffron fabric suspended above and across a large gash in the fellside called Bales Hush. The Hush was formed originally by miners prospecting for lead and other minerals. To expose these minerals the miners would construct a temporary dam in a stream and once a small lake had built up the miners would breach the dam allowing a powerful cascade of water to rush down the small valley washing away the surface soil and rocks to expose the minerals.

The installation is thought provoking and has certainly divided opinion.Photographs in the press do not do it justice. An on site visit is certainly worthwhile and I do know of people who have come away after a visit with more positive views than they originally had.

The art work is a pleasant 3 km walk up through the woods and across the fields from Bowlees Visitor Centre. We visited it on a breezy day following prolonged rain the day before. A very handy free mini bus service runs frequently to/from the site and the visitor centre.

https://www.thisisdurham.com/whats-on/hush-a-monumental-landscape-artwork-by-steve-messam-p1003331

the hush

New stained glass art at Bowlees by Janet Rogers

Janet Rogers owns Crushed Chilli Gallery in Durham. She has recently completed glass workshops working with both children and adults on the theme of local flora and fauna. Janet was commissioned to complete two stained glass panels that make a great new addition to the centre. 

http://www.crushedchilli.co.uk/

Andy Beck at Bowlees

When we visited Bowlees last week we were lucky enough to meet renowned local artist Andy Beck. He had lots of photographs, drawings and watercolor paintings of local scenes. Andy is well known for his watercolour studies of northern mountain landscapes by Alfred Wainwright and he was doing a book signing at the gallery on the mezzanine floor of the centre.  

https://andybeckartist.co.uk/the-wainwrights-in-colour/

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