Four-stone gain?

THE Alderney Stones are now in various states of erosion.

And, close to a year after they were installed, leading British artist Andy Goldsworthy wants to roll out four more.

When he visited the island in November he saw that some of the existing 11 had, as expected, disintegrated faster than others – for example, the one placed at the breakwater.

The Art and Islands Foundation, which coordinates the project, is trying to raise funds so that the artist and assistants can get started on fashioning stones this spring in Alderney, ready to install them across the island in spring 2013.

The stones each weigh three tonnes and are five feet in diameter. They were installed around the island in April last year. Fashioned out of Alderney earth, they erode to reveal an object related to the island's cultural and physical history.

The last had to be made in situ inside a German bunker.

Eric Snell, founding director of the Art and Islands Foundation, said Mr Goldsworthy was very keen to keep the project going.

'Andy wants it to be a continuous programme that has opportunities for extending investment and interest in them over the next few years, which would be good for Alderney,' he said.

'He was always aware they would erode at different speeds, several quite fast, like the one on the breakwater, and some which haven't moved at all,' he said. 'The idea was to make three more for this spring so they could cure for a year and be brought out next year.

'By then two or three may have eroded and these would replace them. So this could continue the project into 2014-15.'

The current set were created at Fort Albert by assistants Sam Clayton and Mark Jacobs, overseen by Mr Goldsworthy, then left in storage there for a year for the earth to cure.

Inside the balls, the artist sets objects relating to Alderney's cultural history such as berries, seeds, tools and fishermen's gloves.

Mr Goldsworthy explained why the objects appealed: 'All these materials will then be revealed as the elements and the years wear the stones down... It is a project which reveals itself over time, through the natural process of erosion, which I think is very relevant to a small island.'

Features about the Alderney Stones have appeared in newspapers including the Guardian – and it is hoped that another roll-out will continue to stimulate articles.

'The Alderney Stones have attracted a huge amount of interest,' confirmed Mr Snell. 'A German filmmaker is keen to make a feature film about them and that would be more likely to happen if the project extended because he would have more opportunities to record them.'

Before work begins funds are required for labour, storage and materials.

The new Alderney tourist brochure features a Goldsworthy Stones walking route.

* Visit www.artandislands.com for more information and to contact Mr Snell.