Visionary octogenarian Wilfred Cass unveils exciting new British sculpture in his magical 26 acres from this weekend, with the Olympics very much on his mind, writes Phil Hewitt.
A big year is about to launch at the Cass Sculpture Foundation at Goodwood where at least one eye is firmly set on the 2012 London Olympics. Always keen to take the long-term view, foundation founder Wilfred Cass is making sure he and the foundation will be ready provide the public sculpture the Olympics will doubtless demand.
At the heart of the foundation has always been a mission "to enable the future of British sculpture today" and simultaneously "to enhance the general public's enjoyment and appreciation of (its) strength and quality".
Mr Cass is determined that the foundation will be well placed to do both in Olympics year when the whole world will be watching.
Over the past 15 years, the foundation - formerly known as Sculpture At Goodwood - has commissioned more than 160 large-scale sculptures from over 120 British artists.
And with British sculpture's future, as ever, very much in mind, the foundation is definitely stepping up a gear for 2008.
Renewal has always been key to the sculpture park's success - a renewal which has been accelerated this year.
"We have made more progress this year than in any other year in terms of different types of artists. You can't move forward magically every year, but this year will be a big year for us."
Visitors can get a taste of things already arrived and things yet to come at a special Easter preview weekend from March 21-24.
There is no need to book. Just go along and experience the inspiring newly-installed pieces before this year's official summer season opening on April 1.
Since closing for the winter last November, a dozen new pieces have arrived. They will be unveiled during the preview weekend - pieces including Bryan Kneale's Triton 3, Tessa Campbell-Fraser's Hippos and Phillip King's Sun and Moon.
Plenty of other pieces are on their way over the next few months, including pieces by , Peter Burke and Steve Dilworth, to name just a few.
"We have the view that in two and a half years we should have pieces suitable to be loaned to the Olympics. They don't know that they are getting them yet! But we think that by the time 2010 comes everyone will be scrambling around thinking about culture - and we will be able to say that we have some here!
"Our commission process is two to three years. Hopefully we are planning very, very carefully to be ready in 2010."
In the meantime, Mr Cass is delighted to be showing King's Sun and Moon. King's Sun's Roots II has also just arrived.
"Phillip is a past president of the RA and is probably one of the top four artists in the country. When he left the RA, he suddenly got a whole new lease of life, and he came to us because there is nobody else to go to."
With Sun and Moon in particular, it's the colours which impressed: "When you get a good use of colour in sculpture, it really works in an extra dimension to it all."
Sun's Roots II is again very colourful, very basic and very striking.
Also ready to be admired is Nigh Eve by Wells Small, a piece in which he examines our relationship with time. It also happens to be, as Mr Cass, points out, probably the biggest glass piece which has ever been made, measuring in at two and a half metres.
It took almost two years to make - all part of the foundation's long-term view.
"We are taking a ten-year view of where we are going, and the whole place is very successful now. Pieces are moving abroad. The only country where they don't sell is in Britain. We are not great at 3D art, but even that is changing."
And for that, the foundation can claim at least part of the credit.
It's now 14 years since the foundation first opened its doors. Its huge natural advantages were instantly apparent.
The foundation occupies a magical 26 acres of unspoilt ancient woodland within which over 70 regularly changing monumental works by more than 50 carefully selected and innovative British sculptors are on display; artists at all stages of their careers from just out of college to sculptors on the international stage.
And over the years, it has certainly made its mark: "I don't think we ever had any idea when we first started of how it would mushroom to this extent, with 10,000 visitors a year and selling 18-20 large pieces a year."
"we think that by the time 2010 comes everyone will be scrambling around thinking about culture - and we will be able to say that we have some here!"
But the point is that there is just nowhere else like it. Ironic then that some people dismissed it straightaway as a white elephant. How wrong can you be. The vision has been amply realised.
"We stood at our window at the house and looked out. We had been in the house about a year and we had a few sculptures out, and it looked so wonderful. The two of us (Mr Cass and his wife Jeannette) stood there and said 'What shall we do?'
"We decided to take ourselves on a trip around the world to see about 30 places where they had sculpture and then come back and do it ourselves. We chose British sculpture because it would be far too complicated if we had to look all over the world."
And then the other elements fell into place - time, money, an absolutely perfect setting, passion and not a little madness.
"The madness is in constantly wanting to change things, to move on. But it does keep you young."
It certainly has done in Mr Cass' case. There are people a quarter of Mr Cass' 83 years with considerably less energy. And so far British sculpture is standing the pace.
"It is getting harder to find good sculptors. It is not an unlimited supply. It is like everything else. There is a limited number of great sculptors, just as there is a limited number of great artists. We are probably trying to find too many of them.
"It may be as time goes by, we will have to include foreign people in the works we have, but we aren't there yet."
And with the thought of everyone's eyes soon to turn on London, the Olympics are all the motivation Mr Cass and British sculpture need right now.
- During the open season you can visit the sculpture estate at Goodwood from Tuesday - Sunday and bank holiday Monday. Opening hours are 10.30am to 5pm with the last entry at 4.30pm. To see the grounds properly, allow at least two hours for your visit. Admission charges are £10 per person. Children under ten years go free when accompanied by an adult. Telephone 01243 538449; email .
Article by Phil Hewitt. Originally published in Chichester Observer, 13th March 2008.