Portland has so much to offer that I imagine I will visit again and again. It is a place of mystery and variety and I LOVE it. But for this post I am going to focus on a visit to Tout Quarry. Portland Stone has been worked and exported from the island since Roman times, the evidence is in Roman villas and sarcophagi around the country. They developed the skills to cut and move large pieces of stone. It is limestone geological formation dating to late Jurassic times, a white/grey colour separated by beds of chert. It has been used as a building stone throughout Britain, St Paul’s Cathedral anyone? Buckingham Palace! Also exported and found in many other countries around the world. Today’s post however is focused on the patience artists, like determined graffiti artists, who find their stone and work hard at it. No quick art for them, days, weeks… perhaps months of secret visits to ‘their’ spot. No spray cans of colour, but instead chisels and hammers. I love what they have left behind. I love their humour, I love their determination and patience. There feels like a respect from one quarry artist to another. No encroaching on space. Who are these people and how do I find them? How long have some of these been here? Enquiring minds want to know!
From the edge of the quarry – a distant view of chesil beach is the reward.
From the road above you can see this Portland Stonehenge. This is a view from deep in the quarry itself. It’s easy to get a little lost in this large space. (Take sandwiches just in case).
Everywhere you look – fun and loving creations work with the shape of the stone. A bit like clouds, we each see something different.
The lichen over years creates new textures as the works weather the storms.
Not a real fireplace but a beautifully carved version of one, nicely blackened too. The circular stone in front has also been carved into a lovely footstool! Perfect.
The effort that went into this humour. Wow. To get to this point on the wall the artist would have had to work on ladders. It is delightful and I laughed so much – their hard work absolutely worth it in my opinion.
For this post I messed about with learning about my camera and some weird photo editing. I may or may not improve at this! Life is possibly too short for me to learn about everything I am interested in!
Thanks for being here – ever onward with courage my friends.
