Willow Badger Sculpture

Nearly there with this baby. Well I lie to myself probably but this is the final week. Next project awaits. The surface weave is black maul, steamed and kindly donated by Musgroves of Somerset who helped with the Otter sculpture ten years ago. Thank you Mr and Mrs Musgrove, very much it is such a pleasure to weave it...black maul was my intro to willows and is a kind  and wonderful bit of stuff to work. all the other willow  comes from local sources. Here are a few more recent piccies to show developments. Thanks to all the  helpers Martin, Martin, Nina, Jill, Claud, Shane, Layla, Meg and Marni, Nathon, Howard, Alpay and Jack.

Willow Badger Sculpture Progress

The Wildlife Park, CilgerranI love my badger...is it a he or a she? What is to be it's name.
The framework is  more or less there some tweaking is  to be done but we have begun the surface weave now which should be completed in  ten days or so. Volunteers always welcome.. arrive after 10 to give me a chance to organize. Busy steaming some longer thicker stuff to give  it a good color.
We stayed late each day this week and one night when the moon was up  and the air warm and still  it did look alive and magical and what

a beautiful location overlooking the reed beds  along the Teifi towards Cardigan town.  The Wildlife Park at Cilgeran is the place. The scale of the sculpture  is great it makes you feel small and child like..I think that is a good feeling. Hope you come and visit us soon...if you can not then here are some photos.

Willow Badger Build Volunteers

The building of the Big Willow Bdger has moved on site and the first part of the rame and head are in place. Tomorrow< Monday we begin to  make the framework that will be the form of the sculpture. I have been busy gathering more huge willows from WAC ( Wales Agricltural Cllege) near Aberystwyth. Fabulous willow so looking forwards to working with them. We should be ready for our first volunteers on Wednesday 17th April at the Wildlife Park at Teifi Marshes in Cilgerran. If your are interested in learning about willow structures, sculpture, weaving etc you are very wellcome. Ring 079317723007.

Narberth Museum Shortlisted for the Art Fund Prize, Museum of the Year.

Just had the amazing news that Narberth Museum have been shorlisted for the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year.This time last year I was fully engrossed in the refit of the Bonded Stores of Narberth into the Museum it is today. My part was to  create  a  Mabinogion inspired, willowy forest,

 storytelling area. What a suprise to hear about the nomination. Things like  that do not cross your mind at al and I am sure everybody concerned is smiling and deservedly so. I know how hard the whole build and design team worked plus the volunteers. A true labour of love. Fantastic news.

Glastonbury Festival Willow Sculpture Installations

 

Some  more of what happened at glasto 2009 to 2011.

Aloe Black rocks.

 

 

Willow Installations for the BBC at Glastonbury Festival with Laura Marling and Metronomy

The original video posts that I posted on the blog of Laura Marling and Metronomy have been  deleted so here are some replacements as this is the only documentation I have of the sculptures during filming.

John Grant Sigourney Weaver BBC Backstage Garden 2011

Just found out we are going to Pilton this June and will be running workshops and creating a beautiful willowy space. Still waiting to here about other things. Just realised lots of my videos from the BBC installation at Glasto have been  deleted. But here is John Grant still and my Sigourney Weaver behind him. Looking forwards to seeing him again soon at the Library, Birmingham

.I love John Grant www.myspace.com/johnwilliamgrant and seeing him at Electric Picnic electricpicnic.ie and on my sons 21st birthday was one of those highlights I will remember for the rest of my days. He belts it out with such wit and warmth and he had the crowd performing kareokiwise, absolute star. Somebody sent me this You Tube film of him at Glastonbury Festival www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk in the BBC's garden infront of my Hey Girl willow sculpture which now has me beleeiving in absolutely extraordinary possibilities, that will move you to scream involuntarily
happening to you at anytime, lol. I rename that scuplture "Sigourney Weaver" in his honour and praise. But you know none of this would happen without the help of my young team and especially Izaac Cain http://soundcloud.com/tracks/search?q=rezaloot who is the real motivator in my life. Thanks buddy