CHAPTER TWO

Stopppppppp. Excellent following. Do you see the pride progress flag on the floor up ahead! It is very important that we cross with pride to the other side. Follow me.

Let’s turn left and follow the path down towards the art and design building.

Do you see the square hedge on the right? Designed to be walls that enclose something special. Keep heading down until you see the Art and Design building but don’t cross the road.

This is my neck of the woods. As you’ve guessed by now, I’m no ordinary cat. I’m Picatto! And you must know that my name was not given to me lightly. I am a prolific student and lecturer of the art department. This is where I spent the majority of my time, a hub of creativity and artistry of the highest quality.

Yes, there is more to me than meets the eye. I have inspired a number of different projects through the years including the ‘Gallery Cat Focus Group’ which was created by students in 2019. I’ve been a model for the life drawings classes where people marvelled at my impeccable stillness, and I also appear in a mural by award winning author and illustrator Harry Woodgate, which is still located on the ground floor of the Todd Building today.

Turn to face the sculpture sitting here inside this walled hedge, Stand in front of it. This is The Hatfield Cairn by Andy Goldsworthy. Have a moment to Drink it in. How does it make you feel? What do you think it is?

A Cairn is a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark. Since the 1980s Goldsworthy has worked with this motif, making cairns all over the world in many materials including stone, ice, branches and slate.

I think it looks a bit like an Acorn. A giant seed. Just like one of our students. I think a university is like a giant dandelion full of seeds ready to be blown whichever way the wind takes them.

Any other thoughts or observations about this piece? My thoughts are that it is good to jump on and observe the world from a higher viewing platform. It is also lovely to rub you back and neck against. If you are a cat that is! And, you can easily hide behind it and jump out on people which I have done many times.

Now, I think it’s time for a sit and a purr don’t you? Let’s move on to location number 3. If you are facing the sculpture turn to your right and follow the road. Do you see the bus stop? We are going that way. Along College Lane.