Cannock Chase art spectacular: Clay car to be released down 10m ramp
A clay replica of the final Rover 75 to leave the Longbridge car plant in Birmingham will be released down a 10 metre ramp as part of an art installation to celebrate the automotive industry.
Joyride – a one-off live event – will take place at the Tackeroo site on Cannock Chase on the evening of Saturday, September 30 between 5.30pm and 8pm. At dusk, artist Keith Harrison will release the clay replica.
“At this point, I want to use this energy, this velocity, to relaunch the vehicle – it is a release in the forest in all senses, at the edge of night and into unknown territory,” he said.
Visitors are invited to watch the event from viewing the craftsmanship of the model up close through to witnessing its ceremonial release.
The artist was awarded a major £30,000 commission through the most recent edition of Jerwood Open Forest, an initiative established by Forestry Commission England and Jerwood Charitable Foundation, with support from Arts Council England.
Joyride is described as a ‘community-focused live event, which brings together personal and social narratives around the automotive industry in the West Midlands’.
Admission is free for all pedestrians but booking is essential.
On-site parking is £5 per car (maximum 200 spaces). Car tickets are redeemable at the on-site catering for refreshments.
Joyride will be accompanied by a specially commissioned soundtrack and radio transmission that the audience will be able to tune into.
