Last summer. the gardens of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal celebrated some of the follies which are such an important feature, with installations by Steve Messam.



Generally, these installations were well received, and recognised for what they were, playful additions and talking points in a garden given over to pleasure rest and recreation. They were indeed ‘These Passing Things’, visible for one summer only.
For Becky’s Square Odds…

… and Marsha’s Photographing Public Art Challenge #36

PS. I prepared this post yesterday, just before I became aware of the devastating flooding at the site caused by Storm Eunice, and which you can see here.
Well, they’re very strange. Just as well they’re just Passing Things!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They went down surprisingly well. I think they’re the sort of thing you need to see ‘for real’ amid the larger landscape.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reckon you’re right
LikeLiked by 1 person
interesting to see such additions to existing ‘follies’. The water damage looks frightening, i do hope it wasn’t as bad as it looked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m afraid it probably is. We’ll know more later, I suppose.
LikeLike
What wonderful installations – I wish they would pass by again! Old folly madness meets new 🙂
And fingers crossed that there is little serious damage once the floods subside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s a shame they couldn’t go on anywhere else. They were striking, and fun. More news later, I guess, about the flooding.
LikeLike
Love these sculptures, really add to the follies.
But OMG about the torrents of water 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. Hoping for news later.
LikeLike
really hope it looked worst than it was. Fountains I guess was named for a reason!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the hills around are riddled with springs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those gardens. Such a bit of fun especially for the children. I remember how much I loved the fields of buttercups with children running through them. So sorry about them flooding so badly. This too will pass.
LikeLike
Citrussy mega sea urchin in pseudo classical temple – now that IS odd! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hadn’t thought of it as a sea urchin. Not that IS odd!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are probably the oddest things in your series of posts so far. And fun! But oh, that water …. 😟 I’m assuming you are now in the grip of storm Frankin? It’s grim here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, we’re not expecting Storm Franklin, which I think is purely for you Westerners. I hope you can hunker down safely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You could share these follies with Sue! Hope all is well up there, we’re still in the midst of storms, lost count now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’re ok thanks, but I think Sue is not keen on these Follies. Too odd!
LikeLike
Oh gosh…that first one seems really odd to a high degree haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s something about it that makes you want to stand and stare.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They certainly make people pause for thought. Reminds if an installation I saw at the Jardin de Plantes in December, prehistoric underwater plants in glowing neon colours, huge and futuristic looking, nature is also capable of some creating some strange forms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it just? I’d like to have seen that exhibition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That yellow installation was once seen never forgotten. A folly within a folly.
Wow, can’t believe the Fountains area has been flooded like that. Surely that’s an incredible rare occurrence or has there been messing around with the rivers in that part of the world in the last few decades?
LikeLiked by 1 person
There was actually more serious flooding in 2017. Silt has been the most serious problem (from farming etc.) and the NT was recently awarded National Lottery funding to address the many issues surrounding this stretch of river in a major project: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden/projects/the-skell-valley-project
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that whole project looks like quite an undertaking. Hope it is successful. Always tricky bringing together disparate groups who may not necessarily have quite the same aims.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’ll have plenty to get their teeth into now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope there has not been too much damage!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will recover – eventually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The attack of the giant sponge animals?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite possibly …
LikeLiked by 1 person
The storm damage isn’t looking good…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m afraid not. But it’s opening tomorrow, so maye not a complete disaster.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like that yellow one, it looks like a comic book explosion – very dramatic but leaving the structure of the building intact 😀
But that flooding looks really bad. We’re thinking of visiting Fountains when we’re up in Yorkshire this summer so I’ll have to keep an eye open for developments. I do hope they can clear it all up and reopen – and not just for our sake!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it’ll be presentable by then. This isn’t as bad as the 2017 floods, and the recovery was remarkable. I hope you’ll let me know when you plan to visit. You probably know I volunteer there, so it would be a great opportunity to meet you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll definitely let you know if we’re coming, yes 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that first shot is a punch in the eye! I love it. What a perfect post for PPAC. Thanks so much for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you’d find it hit the spot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure did. I’ve never seen ANYTHING like it. Glorious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If there was a prize for oddities for today, your photos would definitely win 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! And there are quite a few oddities today – and every day.
LikeLike
I showed your first photo to Chris and she agrees you deserve a prize for today 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or maybe Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal deserve the prize 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d forgotten these. Goodness knows how long before they can mount another event, Margaret.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Operation Clean Up’, starting right now? They are running their half term events from today, but I’m guessing not many takers ….
LikeLike
🙄💗
LikeLike
Kind of odd, but I can see that they’d be super fun to photograph!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And to be surprised by – in a good way – as you stroll round.
LikeLike
Very odd indeed but fun, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was. And it got people talking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I thought we had some weird large art installations here….
LikeLiked by 1 person
You see? There’s always something that can go the extra mile!
LikeLiked by 1 person