Somehow I hadn’t heard of the Goodwood Art Foundation until earlier in the summer despite it being open over a year. Once I’d learned of it, and discovered that it was dog friendly with the exception of the gallery spaces, I knew that I wanted it to be a family outing. Our initial date was thwarted when I realised that they weren’t open on a wednesday, thank goodness I checked before setting out. Yesterday the weather was good enough for an outdoor wander without being so hot we had an overheating dog to worry about.

Two Eva Rothschild sculptures inside the Pigott Gallery, with the forest visible through the glass wall behind them

As we walked around I began to wonder if it was where the old CASS sculpture foundation space used to be. This was confirmed when I popped into the Pigott Gallery as the guide told me the space used to be the ticket office for CASS. The view from the gallery reminded me of the view from some of the windows of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art near Copenhagen. Looking at art with the green of trees and nature behind it. Stunning.

Looking up from the terrace at the cafe

We stopped in at the on-site cafe, 24, as it was dog friendly, and sat out on the terrace beneath the trees, spotting a couple of the sculptures we’d just seen. Carrot cake for Richard, a raspberry muffin for me, and a treat for Breezy. Three satisfied customers.

Richard and Breezy walk behind Hélio Oiticica's Magic Square #3

Hélio Oiticica's Magic Square #3 with the landscape beyond

The scale of Hélio Oiticica’s Magic Square #3 was breathtaking, and walking through it, hearing how it changed the sound around me, was even better. Colourful panels framing glimpses of the landscape beyond, it was wonderful to be part of the piece rather than just looking at it.

Eva Rothschild's Cosmos

While being dark on the outside, the inner surface of the bars of Eva Rothschild’s Cosmos changes colour from top to bottom, meaning that as I walked around it I got a different feeling from it.

Mirrors of Light II by Nancy Holt

The main exhibition space was showing Nancy Holt’s MoonSunStarEarthSkyWater. I adored this piece, Mirrors of Light II, with its conceptually simple use of mirrors and a light source.

Solange Pessoa's Nihil Novi Sub Sole sandstones in the environment

Solange Pessoa's Nihil Novi Sub Sole, a carved sandstone with a tree motif

Solange Pessoa's Nihil Novi Sub Sole, a carved sandstone with a leaf motif

One of the exhibits, Solange Pessoa’s Nihil Novi Sub Sole, reminded me of the summit stones we’d seen at Pendle Hill the other week. I loved how they were scattered around the pathway leading me along as I looked at the patterns carved into soapstone. I like that, having watched this short film, the artist considers that the way that they age in the environment is part of the art itself.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. If I’d found somewhere like this while on holiday I’d have been delighted. Finding it an hour away from home makes it all the more special. From what I gather some of the sculptures will stick around for a while, and some will be refreshed. And obviously the landscape will vary with the seasons, it’s designed to have 24 seasonal moments, meaning each visit will always offer something new.