January 2020 began with finishing and casting a new sculpture with a climate change theme. "Where Next?" 60 cm long, 31 tall, 10 wide, resin marble polar bears on white marble, edition 4
Then the coronavirus virus pandemic began and life changed for everyone. Restrictions and lockdowns, planned projects and exhibitions abandoned, a changed lifestyle. However for a few lucky people with resources and space this brought welcomed TIME.
Ancient oak
Living in a wooded area in Kent I had time to continue exploring found oak
Heavy but a promising find? Who can carry it?
Grandchildren working from home
Transformation
Many weeks later, jet-hosed and scraped, the hollow trunk is ready
Originally this was going to be twinned with another piece for The London Group Exhibition in the gardens of Shoreham and titled "Let's be sensible about death". This no longer felt appropriate so I left it to Shakespeare and All The World's A Stage:
THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN Unique, 130cm tall, 70cm diametre, ancient oak with bronze and resin inserts
JUNE: 48 HOURS OF FAME
My tiger, no longer looking so pristine, has sat in a wood for over 20 years enduring all weathers and some vandalism. It alarmed no one except an occasional dog. In June a passing walker took fright and reported an escaped tiger! HELP!
A helicopter was flown in to search the hill side and 10 armed policemen came to the rescue. It was a rescue - when all the news had been of Covid deaths here was a joke which could be enjoyed by everyone. It was reported by almost all the UK newspapers and several from other countries and featured in magazines and television
JULY and AUGUST: UPDATING A MILLENNIUM PROJECT 20 years is a long time for dirt to accumulate and early vandalism to take its toll before CTV is installed
A head was damaged, the nail shows where a cat was stolen. A hand is broken off, dirt has accumulated
Ugly
Ugly black doors blight the area. Other volunteer artists join in.
Two of the doors are transformed, a new cat is installed, as artists give their time during coronavirus to brighten up The Shambles in Sevenoaks. But the year of Covid unfortunately is not finished. See "Update" page.