THE New Mechanics Institution has today unveiled a 150th anniversary art exhibition.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is a stone circle measuring 10 metres in diameter made from local materials by Swindon artist Jonathan Andrews.

The exhibition is being held in the former railway museum in Faringdon Road and the stone circle is visible from the road.

Organiser Martha Parry said: "The more the sun shines on the stone circle, the more it glows."

She had the idea for the stone circle three years ago, but never had the opportunity to make it a reality until Mr Andrews showed an interest and set the ball rolling.

Ms Parry said: "We wanted to start the New Year in a thoughtful way. This is about more than paintings.

"This artwork shows us that we need to respect what we've already got in Swindon, not trash it.

"The stone circle has a pristine sarsen stone in the centre and constituted brickwork around the outside.

"Swindon is at a crossroads and we are throwing it away rapidly."

Ms Parry has lived in the town for 25 years and said: "What have we been doing in Swindon with the materials nature gave us? We have not done enough with what we have got."

The theme of the exhibition, which will be on show until mid-February, is Swindon: Our Place In Time.

Over the New Year holiday period, while most people were knocking back drinks and singing Auld Lang Syne, Ms Parry and about 15 other volunteers were setting up the exhibition.

The sarsen stone at the centre of the circle comes from Broome Manor, while the orange brickwork originates from Purton.

The Mechanics' Institute was established in 1854, the same year as the first edition of the Advertiser was published.

"In this our 150th anniversary year, and we really want to get people thinking about Swindon," said Ms Parry.

She is encouraging artists to come forward and show an interest in the exhibition.

During the Swindon's Favourite Place competition, which the building hosted in November, Mr Andrews came in and was impressed with the former railway museum's potential as an art space.

The artist, 37, of East Street, later brought in some of his work and it now hangs on the walls for public viewing.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition on Saturdays from 9am until 5pm and on Sundays from 10am until 4pm.

In recent months the building has hosted a number of events, including the Swindon's Favourite Place competition, a Sk8 Awareness Week and a children's fete.

elidbury@newswilts.co.uk