Striding Arches

A new work by Andy Goldsworthy in Dumfries and Galloway

The Striding Arches project in Dumfries and Galloway is progressing with the support of £99,500 of National Lottery funding through the Scottish Arts Council.

The project is to design and construct three standing sandstone arches and an arch into the Byre at Cairnhead Forest.

The Striding Arches project aims to celebrate and interpret Dumfries and Galloway’s unique landscape through world class environmental art linked to a unique educational facility at the Byre.

The project was jointly developed through a desire by Cairnhead Community Forest Trust, Andy Goldsworthy (the internationally acclaimed British Environmental artist who is a resident of Dumfries and Galloway) and Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association (DGAA) to create a permanent multiple sculptural installation for a public space in Dumfries and Galloway.

Striding Arches was initiated through the production of an artist-led proposal for a series of permanent sandstone arches to be sited in specifically chosen high points around the natural ampitheatre of the Cairnhead glen head. 

Andy Goldsworthy led the design team in developing proposals for this.  It is seen as a sculptural installation, provides visual links to the other arches and also provides an example of good practice in environmental design.

The positioning of the arches will encourage visitors to experience the landscape through an access network which will be designed in parallel to the positioning of the artworks.  They are intended to actively encourage walkers from the Southern Upland Way down into the Cairnhead Glen and on to Moniaive.

As part of this project, Striding Arches has developed to include the redesign of an existing disused byre and adjacent 20mx30m outdoor space to create a shelter, orientation point and outdoor working space. 

The Byre, as it will be known, will offer a unique opportunity to bridge the worlds of science and art through the study and interpretation of landscape.  The Byre is located on a naturally occurring platform of land that provides a ready-made viewing point down the Cairnhead Glen.

The external area immediately outside of the byre has also been redesigned to incorporate interpretation, orientation information and to encourage use as an outdoor space. 

The first Arch (the Byre Arch) was constructed at Lochabriggs quarry and approved by the artist on 28 February. It was then deconstructed and moved to the Byre site for installation.  The Arch was installed at the Byre on Cairnhead on 16 April 2005.