Embedded within the Cambridge Riverside development is a captivating artwork. This artwork is known as The Barnwell Sentence. It’s more than just art. It’s a journey through time and a playful exploration of Cambridge’s heritage.
The Barnwell Sentence was created by Lucy Skaer. She was born in Cambridge. The artwork stretches 100 meters. It uses bronze, brass, glass and stone. The title references the nearby Barnwell area.
Let’s start our journey at the entrance on Newmarket Road. Here stands a striking Atlantic lava stone wall. It measures 30 meters long and three meters high. This wall is cut from a single stone block. It showcases imagery made from Belgian blue limestone and Blue Savoy marble.
Can you see the pictographic language? It tells the story of this site. There’s a life-sized whale skeleton. It is reminiscent of the one at Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology. This represents prehistoric archaeology. Then there are strawberries. These symbolize Strawberry Fair on Midsummer Common. A blazer and the crest represent Brunswick Junior School. The school occupied this site during the 20th century.
Notice the imprints of a domestic chair. This playful alphabet arrangement alludes to the chair’s role in public and domestic life. The chair motif continues throughout The Barnwell Sentence.
Follow the embedded brass chair imprints along the pavement of Newton Court. These imprints lead you further into the development. You will discover more sculptures. Look closely at the paving. Can you spot the bronze carp fish? They appear frozen in time in clear resin and glass. These carp represent the monks’ ponds of the 11th-century Barnwell Prior.
The Barnwell Sentence culminates in a life-size bronze chair. This is the very chair that created the imprints throughout the installation. Visitors are welcome to sit and enjoy the chair.
The Barnwell Sentence bridges the gap between the domestic and public realms. It charts a journey we all make daily. The artwork winds its way through Cambridge Riverside. It leaves clues about the history of this place. It invites us to contemplate the connections between past and present. It prompts reflection on the interplay between public and private life.