Cobtree Installation - Part 2

It was another great day for installing the second sculpture at Cobtree. The concept for the ‘Zebra Rock’ was created with very ‘site – specific’ intentions. The chosen location was due to its proximity to the ‘Elephant House’, one of the original buildings from the time of Maidstone Zoo and also because of its positioning high upon the hill, looking out across the Medway. The sculpture started to attract some attention from members of the public as it started to slowly and carefully rise higher and higher. This was mainly due to the distinct characteristics of the stone and the carving on the front face. I had one conversation with a lady who commented on the carving and who told me what it reminded her off. Strangely, I have been having the same thoughts about the ambiguity of the front of the stone and it is a definition that I was starting to prefer. The description made was to do with the pattern on the stone suggesting sand on a beach, an impression made by water suggesting the passing of time rather than it suggesting the flow of water.  This idea works just as well with the artwork and I am so pleased to know that the ‘metaphor’ can be deciphered! Once all the pointing had been completed and no more daylight could be seem through the joints the pillar of limestone was solid and all the components fused together.  The next few days will be spent polishing the stone to get a unified colour in the Kilkenny and even the thought of it while writing this is making my arms ache!!