iPod Sculpture Walk

Acclaimed artists like Barbara Hepworth, Paul Mount and Geoffrey Clarke have their sculptures on display in a variety of settings around the Streatham Campus.

Fine Art Curator, Gina Cox, said of the experience: “When wandering around a gallery or looking at sculptures in an outdoor space you sometimes spend more time reading the description notes than actually looking at the art. The iPod audio explanation will free you of this restriction by enabling you to focus on the sculpture and its setting.”

It’s a free service and open to everyone; local residents, students and staff are encouraged to borrow one of the six iPods available Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm. The sculpture walk takes about 90 minutes. However, the walk can be customised to suit individual needs. The sculpture trails are not set routes and visitors can personalise their route by flicking though the iPod and selecting the number of the sculpture they want to hear more about.

The free map that accompanies the iPod shuffle assists in guiding people around campus as the sculptures are both outside and in certain University buildings; there is also a Sculpture Walk booklet priced £3.99 for an even greater insight to the artists and sculptures. The iPods can be collected from the IT Helpdesk at the main library on the Streatham Campus with further information on the website. To borrow an iPod on a first come first served basis, members of the public will need to bring a driving licence or passport and University staff and students will be asked to produce their ID cards.

The summer months are a perfect time to wander around the naturally beautiful campus, well known for its sumptuous gardens and far reaching views across Exeter.

The iPod Sculpture Walk commentary was written by retired University Librarian Alasdair Paterson whose intention was to deepen and enrich the whole experience of seeing art by suggesting possible reactions to the sculptures. Alasdair’s favourite sculpture is the Figure for Landscape, better known as Mother and Child by the famous British artist Barbara Hepworth. The sculpture is near the Queen’s Building. Alasdair explained his long-held love for this particular sculpture: “I used to walk past it everyday for twelve years when I worked on campus. I passed it in all seasons seeing it change with the development of trees and foliage. In fact, Barbara Hepworth specifically chose the exact location for her sculpture knowing the environment was going to grow and the landscape would change around the sculpture throughout the seasons and over the years reaching a maturity that is in keeping with her art.” Alasdair went on to say, “The sculptures added to the campus have been integrated and often serve to bridge the gap between buildings and natural settings.”

The iPods commentary is narrated by University Professor Malcolm Cook who has given BBC radio broadcasts on his specialised subject, the French eighteenth century. Using in-house technology, Academic Services produced the iPod content which enhances the experience of viewing the sculptures on campus.