A forthcoming exhibition and conference entitled ‘One Island Many Visions’ will be held at Portland Sculpture Quarry Trust in Autumn 2025. This will be in association with 28 members of the Royal Society of Sculptors. Members are taking inspiration from the Tout Quarry landscape and the extensive collection of fossils at the Drill Hall.
Portland stone has a unique combination of strength, durability and aesthetic appeal. It has been used for the British Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, the BBC in London, and many others.
Stromatolite fossils – Greek for ‘layered rock’ are the oldest fossils of life on earth dating back one billion years and are pre-dinosaur. Stromatolites are constructed by the salivary secretions of Cyanobacteria. Therefore, Stromatolites are ‘grown’ using biochemical enzymes from microbes. Microbes can exist inside rock formations for hundreds of years seeking protection from UV radiation and predators.
Jane proposes short-lived Probiotic Fossils. The microbial cellulose fossils will biodegrade and all trace of them will be lost.
https://sculptors.org.uk/artists/jane-fox#pid=