Installation at Cobtree

I must admit; transporting a two ton slab of Kilkenny with a big hole in it to Cobtree has kept me awake a few nights! Every detail of the move has to be considered and fortunately there was no need for a ‘Plan B’. I’ve been spending more time on the stone at the workshop over the last week, as much of my emphasis has been on carving the other sculptures. I felt the need to get to know the stone! every inch, scratch, fossil and edge!! I may have even pleaded with it at one stage to be nice to me!! We loaded up in the morning and it was all pinned, fixed and bedded down by 12 noon without any drama, thanks to Mick, Alan, Michael and Tom. The Cob leaf seat was also installed and I was happy with how it looked as well as how it felt to sit on. I finally decided on a very tactile reflective polished finish on its surfaces, which I hope will encourage any passerby to touch the stone while they sit down.The large slab will also be polished but not to the same degree as the seat, I just want to bring out the wonderful soft blue colour, which will help define the inner edge of the leaf cut out. While I’m spending the next few days doing this I will be using the quiet time to contemplate on a title for the work. It has to be right; something that not only suggests the process of carving with modern and traditional tools in stone working but also referencing the ever changing landscape through the window / portal. I know the title will just be the name I refer to the sculpture, as I’m sure the public will quickly come to refer to it as something less pretentious!!