Old Cumbria Gazetteer |
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| Merzbarn, Great Langdale | ||
| Merzbarn | ||
| locality:- | Cylinders Farm | |
| locality:- | Great Langdale | |
| civil parish:- | Lakes (formerly Westmorland) | |
| county:- | Cumbria | |
| locality type:- | barn | |
| locality type:- | sculpture (site) | |
| coordinates:- | NY32740524 | |
| 1Km square:- | NY3205 | |
| 10Km square:- | NY30 | |
| SummaryText:- | Uncertain location. | |
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 BZT67.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT69.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle. |
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 BZT68.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT70.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT71.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT72.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT73.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT78.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT79.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT80.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.  BZT81.jpg (taken 10.1.2014) courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle. |
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| hearsay:- |
This barn was rented to Kurt Schwitters, dadaist poet, painter, sculptor, fugitive
from Nazi Germany, where he began to create a sculptural environment, 1947. Already
very ill, he finished only one wall of the Merzbarn at Elterwater before he died in
1948. For conservation reasons the wall given to the Hatton Gallery, University of
Newcastle, 1965. |
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| For Kurt Scwitters the location was significant:- |
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| "He [the barn's owner] is a genius ... he lets the weeds grow, yet by means of slight
touches he transforms them into a composition as I create art out of rubbish. He wants
to give me every assistance. the new Merz construction will stand close to nature,
in the midst of a national park, and afford a wonderful view in all directions. ..." |
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| The site of the barn was once known as Cylinders Farm, named for the cylindrical charcoal
kilns that stood there as part of Elterwater Gunpowder Mills. |
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