A Weekend of Wonderful Things at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Polly Checkland Harding
Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Weekend of Wonderful Things is really a showcase of special events and experiences that highlight just how magical a place it can be. Part of YSP’s 40th anniversary celebrations, the series of events runs outside of the usual opening hours from Friday 14 July to Sunday 16 July – and is complemented to an array of food and drink. Friday evening’s highlights include an exclusive public viewing of Occasional Geometries, an exhibition selected largely from the Arts Council Collection by Bangladeshi-born artist and guest curator Rana Begum, stargazing with the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society, and the change to watch the sunset from YSP’s Deer Shelter Skyspace.
Festivities continue from dawn on the Saturday, with a sunrise breakfast or Ashtanga yoga the serene setting of the Chapel from 4.30am, followed by the chance to discover Theremin Bollards (innovative sound sculptures designed for music-making), or help Uncanny Theatre try to recreate every piece of artwork at YSP (armed with clay). Take a guided walk around the estate followed by a light afternoon tea inspired by Diana Beaumont, the lady of the estate, or get stuck into a secret silent disco somewhere on the grounds of the park.
Sunday’s line-up includes sonic sculpting by German sculptor and sound stone maker Hannes Fessmann with composer and sound designer Steven Halliday in the Chapel and performances from the Magick Lounge Club, with a parade of performers in architectural costumes rounding out the weekend. With all this and more scheduled to take place, we reckon YSP have picked a pretty apt name for their three-day celebrations.
