Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future
Past and Future

© the copyright holder. Image credit: Elaine Vizor / Art UK

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This sculptural duo comprises two large blocks of buff sandstone that are carved on their front faces with depictions of life in the mining community. The block entitled 'Past' is inscribed at the top with the words, 'the past we inherit'. This sculpture, shows a 'worm's eye' view of a scene from the past in which a miner, just returned from work, with his whippet at his feet, is about to release a racing pigeon into the air. In the foreground, sitting on the pigeon basket is his young daughter who is tempting another bird with bread, while to the left a factory chimney releases its swirling smoke, encircling the scene. The block entitled 'Future' is inscribed at the top with the words, 'the future we build'. In this second sculpture, we have a 'bird's eye' view: the years have passed and the young girl is now an elderly lady but still tempting the birds with her bread, while her skateboarding grandson has a pigeon feeding from his uplifted hand.

Title

Past and Future

Date

1998

Medium

Dunhouse Buff stone

Measurements

H 244 x W 122 x D (?) cm

Accession number

DL14_EV_S027

Work type

Sculpture

Owner

Durham County Council

Custodian

Durham County Council

Work status

extant

Unveiling date

1998

Access

at all times

Inscription description

inscription at the top of first block: THE PAST WE INHERIT; inscription on top of second block: THE FUTURE WE BUILD

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Located at

Raisby Terrace, West Cornforth

DL17 9ET

The two stone sculptures are sited separately but in close proximity. They are set on grass sections within the Cornforth/Bill Wilson Community Park.