Public Art in Swindon: White Horse Pacified.
Welcome to WSSW Part 3: White Horse Pacified – of the West Swindon sculpture walk – in which we encounter the eponymous horse. See also White Horse Pacified Rides Again.
To see all the post on this blog about the West Swindon Sculpture Walk go here.
You’d be forgiven for not knowing anything of the West Swindon Sculpture Walk.
This morning I chatted to someone on the bus about this, and she, a long-time resident of Swindon had no idea that these sculptures existed.
The route to this one takes you through a part of West Swindon I’d never even heard of, let alone walked through: The Bramptons. Blimey! It was like entering another universe. They have a club. With a swimming pool! It was all a bit Stepford actually.
‘White Horse Pacified 1987. Artist: Julie Livsey. Materials: Steel and concrete. Project details: The sculpture was completed during an international artist exchange between Swindon and Lisbon, Portugal. Funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Southern Arts, Wiltshire County Council and Thamesdown Borough Council. The work is an interpretation of the famous chalk cut white horses surrounding Swindon’.
Promote it?!
A further point – the friend doing the walk with me lives in Bristol so this was all new to her. So by this point in the proceedings she voiced questions already in my mind: ‘Why is this not better known?’, Wouldn’t some signage be a good idea?’ and ‘Some labelling on the sculptures themselves could be quite good too’.
As I said earlier – people who’ve been here a long time – or even were born here – have no awareness of this thing as an entity. So what flippin’ chance does anyone else stand? SBC, Swindon and Wiltshire tourism – you are missing a trick!
Walk it, cycle it, picnic it!
You can walk or even cycle this trail. It can be pic-nic(ed) There’s pub stops and play parks and out-door gyms along the way. It’s a great with a dog. Yeah – if you want to romp through it all, you could do it in a couple of hours. But hey – you could actually make a whole day of this thing. But nobody knows about it! Well not enough people anyroad!!!
Anyway dear readers, next up is ‘Hey Diddle Diddle”. I’ll leave you to think on that one. Until next time…. Here is a link to a map of this sculpture trail.
Please, someone adopt this lovely sculpture and bring it back to its former glory. I live miles away or I would do it but you could contact me through this blog. All it needs is a respray and clean.
We are so lucky to have these pieces of public art, let’s look after them.
Never fear. I have it on good authority it will be refurbed this summer.
Since posting this, I’ve had it on good authority that this sculpture is due a refurb this summer. Let’s hope so. It would be great to see it restored.
yes, I remember this now I can see the full size photo. Glad to hear he is having a wash and brush up. Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 21:35:59 +0000 To: kimrontour@hotmail.com
This is a sculpture I have been meaning to search out. Now I know what I’m looking for and where. Thanks Angela.
Hello there
Thanks for this. Proof I think that I’m right in saying this public art of ours is not promoted enough.
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regards
Born Again SWindonian