Prior to the planned Sculpture days on 26th and 27th August, specifically to work on the sculpture with volunteers, I spent a day building on the Dragonfly structure with thick copper wire, so that it was ready for participants to work on with more colourful, delicate wires. I adjusted the scale of each piece, as the nymph was looking too large against its adult version, and added sawed off bed springs for the basic eye structure on the Dragonfly. See below:
The designated site (above) - the pond in the Sensory Garden
I had been looking forward to my two final days working at Carymoor with volunteers. I was planning relaxed days of creativity! It was lovely to be back. Driving into the Centre always elevates the senses - it's almost a religious feeling! (In fact, the Chairman who set up the Centre - Hamish - explained that his original concept did arise from his Christianity). The entrance is an unusual one, passing the Viridor waste zones and composting area which both send out their own strong aromas! When you finally turn into the Carymoor Oasis, it seems like Heaven! Bouncing down the recycled tyre path towards the Sensory Garden and Pond on Thursday, I thought how wonderful it must be to work here full-time!
After a quiet start to Day 1 (Thursday 26th) with just three of us working on the sculpture (Julia, Adam and me), Chrisi and Debbie arrived to join us. Plied with more wonderful homemade cake by Julia, we worked hard, with few breaks, so engrossed were we in getting on with it. Working on separate parts - the two main bodies and various wings, we made good progress. With different people working on each wing, it was important to compare and communicate at each stage of adding new colours, veins and wire netting. Chrisi created a very intricate lacework effect with fine copper wire on the nymph body - to capture the transparency of the cast, once vacated. There was much chat about the new bees that have been donated by Chrisi, via Stuart, to Carymoor, an exciting new addition to the Centre. Call it Serendipity, Fate, Karma or the Hand of God , but some very strangely connected incidents led to this, starting with a Bee sculpture I once made as a commission for her. We had a few photo shoots of the work (including some with a visiting Photographer from the Wincanton Window) and left feeling much had been accomplished!
Julia hard at work on a wing!
Chrisi getting started on the Nymph body
Chrisi's progress with her fine copper wirework, creating a lacy transparent effect
The results of our work so far... (above & below)
Intergenerational chit chat!
On Day 2 (Friday 27th), the team expanded as Teresa, Mario, Ginny and Kate arrived in the morning. Ginny and Kate made the Nymph wings - both communicating brilliantly to ensure uniformity. Julia took main responsibility for the shimmer effect on the Dragonfly wings, adding patches of ice blue wire netting and many 'wiggly' veins! Teresa built on these with additional fine gold wires, and once Debbie arrived again in the afternoon to help, the wings were finally completed. Mario, Julia and I worked in turn to build up the structure on both Dragonfly and Nymph bodies and Mario made the most beautiful Nymph eyes (though he doubted they were as beautiful as Teresa's!)
All get going earlyish on Friday morning!
Mario adding green wire to the main steel and copper Dragonfly structure
Ginny on a Nymph wing - working alongside Kate who made its twin
Kate adding fine, delicate wires to a Dragonfly wing
A real nymph cast - very useful whilst creating the form. These were the inspiration for the film 'Alien', apparently! And if you press it's jaw down it opens up to a HUGE diameter to swallow tadpoles!
Having a look at our work before Ginny and Kate had to leave
One of Mario's Nymph eyes
Debbie holding up two finished wings
The Nymph has eyes!
The end of Friday... where we are now with the sculpture (above & below)
Although we have achieved a great deal in the past two days, there is still much to do in order to complete the sculpture project. Wirework is time consuming! The legs and bulrushes need to be constructed and both bodies need to have their legs welded on. Colourful wire netting will be added to the Dragonfly body, with final details. The Dragonfly eyes need to be prominent, so I plan to work on them for a few hours.
It will be ready for installation on the Open Day at Carymoor on Saturday 25th September (from 10am). All work created during this project by participants will also be on show that day. Hopefully it will attract plenty of visitors! Julia's homemade cake will feature, in addition to a Moths Exhibition and various family activities. Do please come along!
