Peter Randall-Page talks about 'Granite Song'

In 1989 the charitable organisation, Common Ground, won the first Prudential Award for Visual Arts. The prize money was for a new commission, and as part of their ongoing campaign for 'Local Distinctiveness', they asked the sculptor Peter Randall-Page to create a series of sculptures in his own home place (North Devon) which would respond to the locality, and reinforce and extend the particularity of the place. At the same time, they commissioned the photographer Chris Chapman to photograph the process.

Peter started work in 1990 and slowly, after many discussions and meetings with local people, he completed the sixth and last piece six years later. In June 2008 these same photographs were shown again as part of 'Granite Song', an exhibition at the Burton Gallery in Bideford North Devon.

A fully-illustrated book, "Granite Song", was published by Devon Books featuring Chris Chapman's photographs alongside essays by Marina Warner (writer, broadcaster, Reith Lecturer); Jane Hayter-Hames (local landholder and writer); Eric Robinson (former President of the Geologists' Association); Sue Clifford and Angela King initiators, founder directors of Common Ground. Available from Common Grounds publication pages.

Thanks to the Peoples Republic of South Devon for the videos