Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill are delighted to launch their Autumn/Winter event programme on Sunday 29th September with the opening of a stunning exhibition created by local artists, Steve Gumbley and Jane Revitt. ‘The Grimm Forest’ is a walk-through kinetic sculpture, conjured from a book, with images from Grimms’ stories presented in new exciting ways. The trees are created by collaging and hand colouring found images from many sources and is designed to appeal to adults and children.
There are 11 trees in total, representing 11 of the iconic stories collected by The Brothers Grimm. They are situated in the 1st floor gallery space at Gibson Mill, over-looking the evocative woodlands of Hardcastle Crags, recently listed in Countryfile Magazines list of top 10 Autumnal Walks. Four of the trees have seats where you can hear stories told by the distinctive voice of Nabil Shaban, a Jordanian-British actor and writer who founded the renowned Graeae Theatre Co.
The South Bank Centre London originally commissioned IOU Theatre to make the work for the Royal Festival Hall in 1994 as part of their German Romanticism season. It subsequently toured to venues in the UK and a castle in Germany and has now returns home to West Yorkshire.
“Generous funding from Leeds and District National Trust Association has enable the work to be refurbished and installed,” says visitor experience officer, Sonya Moorhead, “ And additional funding from Airedale and Wharfedale National Trust Association and Holme & Calder National Trust Association has been secured to enable a wrap-around programme of events suitable for the whole family. This Autumn we have storytelling walks, live music and lots more to offer visitors, as well as this incredible exhibition.”