2013 marked the 150th anniversary of Cragside and a series of events took place to commemorate the occasion.  The events were designed to share Lord and Lady Armstrong’s pioneering vision.

I have previously posted a picture of the carpet bedding that was planted in the formal gardens to celebrate the occasion. Another project on display throughout the season was the ‘Building Dreams: Artworks’.   Four artworks were installed at various locations around the Cragside estate.  The works included sailing dinghies on Nelly’s Moss Lake, a live electrical experiment in Cragside House, an art installation featuring over a thousand model cranes and trucks at the Pinetum and a projection inside the house.

I was able to photograph three of them and in this post I feature Hydraulic Colony by rednile projects.  My walk to this feature led to my chance encounter with Douglas.

This work focuses on the achievements of Lady Armstrong who was pivotal in altering the landscape of Cragside by importing millions of North American Pines.

rednile have created their own ‘alien species’ in the lush green of the Pinetum, a sculpture made up of hundreds of childrens toys with hydraulic parts.

The work also references  Lord Armstrong’s influence in the industrial revolution and celebrates the notion of  ’playing’, which is how rednile believe he made many of his discoveries.

rednile projects are artist Suzanne Hutton, Michael Braithwaite and Janine Goldsworthy who are based in the North East and Yorkshire.

*Information taken from a plaque by the installation.