On a blustery but mild New Year’s Day we set off to Reading University to do a short art trail based around four globes from The World Reimagined initiative. This was a national art education project to explore the “Transatlantic Slave Trade and its impact on all of us.” 103 globes were created, and seven cities around the country formed trails that people could follow. The initiative finished a while ago, but four of the globes have been permanently placed on the Reading campus for all to continue to enjoy.
Green Space
Reading University’s Whiteknights campus is an attractive place to visit with it’s green spaces, lake and the Harris Gardens all of which are open to the general public. Added to this now are the four globes, which are dotted around the heart of the campus buildings. The centre was absolutely deserted, but I can imagine that it is heaving on a warm day during term time. It looks like a nice place to be studying, although I am not sure that you really appreciate such things when you are actually going through it.
The four globes are as follows:
Ancestral Connections
You can’t really tell the size of each ball as the pictures have no humans for scale, but they stand about six feet tall, so are quite imposing. They are also pretty substantial; they look strong enough to withstand a group of roudy students clambering on them. Each one is painted in a high gloss way which adds to the appeal and they really do stand out – particularly in the grey of a January day.
If you are close to Reading, then they are well worth a visit, although they won’t keep you occupied for long. But the rest of the green spaces on the campus are worth a visit.
