Shape Shift: landscape in motion

Artist Abigail Reynolds will be working with a Micropaleontologist, Samantha Gibbs (NOC), and a Mathematician to highlight the amazing microscopic story of the rocks in and around Durlston Country Park, near Swanage that form part of the 185 million years of geological time along this World Heritage Site coastline. 

She will work with a small group from the local community over May and June 2007 to explore the science behind the landscape and how art can be a tool in considering the significance of the geology along the Jurassic Coast.  The final artwork will be exhibited in August and September at Durlston before touring other venues.

We are looking for people who know and love Durlston, and who would like to join a group of 12 people of mixed ages and backgrounds to work with the artist Abigail Reynolds and the selected scientists. This group will work on the research, shape the artworks and this will be an opportunity not only to work with an artist, but to explore the geology of Durlston in great detail.  The time commitment for group members will be five meetings in May and June of two-hour duration. 

James Weld, Chairman of the Jurassic Coast Trust said

‘this is a very exciting and innovative project for Dorset that helps people to understand the Jurassic Coast. It also fits very well into the long-term aspirations of the Durlston Project which is why the Jurassic Coast Trust are very pleased to be supporting the Science Art Environment Project'

To find out how you can be involved, please go to Durlston Country Park

Notes to editors

The chosen scientists who will be assisting with the project are Samantha Gibbs (Natural Environment Research Council Research Fellow), National Oceanography Centre, Southampton and Björn Sandstede, Professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Surrey.

This artist/scientist collaborative project has received funding from Arts Council England, Dorset AONB Partnership through its sustainable Development Fund, the Fine Family Foundation and the Jurassic Coast Trust and has the support of the, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team, Dorset Countryside and the Natural History Museum.